Ancient diets, ecology, and extinction of 5-million-year-Old horses from florida.
Abstract: Six sympatric species of 5-million-year-old (late Hemphillian) horses from Florida existed during a time of major global change and extinction in terrestrial ecosystems. Traditionally, these horses were interpreted to have fed on abrasive grasses because of their high-crowned teeth. However, carbon isotopic and tooth microwear data indicate that these horses were not all C4 grazers but also included mixed feeders and C3 browsers. The late Hemphillian Florida sister species of the modern genus Equus was principally a browser, unlike the grazing diet of modern equids. Late Hemphillian horse extinctions in Florida involved two grazing and one browsing species.
Publication Date: 1999-02-05 PubMed ID: 9933161DOI: 10.1126/science.283.5403.824Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research investigates the diets and ecological conditions of horse species in Florida that lived five million years ago, during a period known as late Hemphillian. The study indicates that these ancient horses had diverse diets and didn’t only consume grass, contradicting previous theories based on their dental features. The study also reveals the extinction event among these horses impacted both grazing and browsing species.
Study Focus and Methodology
- The research study focuses on six horse species that coexisted during the late Hemphillian period, a time that saw significant changes and extinction events in terrestrial ecosystems.
- These horse species, traditionally believed to have been grazers due to their high-crowned teeth, are evaluated for their actual dietary habits and ecological roles.
- The research utilized carbon isotopic analysis and tooth microwear data as key techniques for reconstructing the dietary habits of these ancient horse species.
Findings on Ancient Horse Diets and Ecology
- The analysis indicated that these ancient horses did not exclusively feed on abrasive grasses (C4 plants) as previously speculated. Instead, their diets included various types of vegetation (C3 plants) and were thus mixed-feeders and browsers.
- This finding is quite significant as it goes contrary to earlier theories based solely on dental morphology, suggesting a more diverse ecological scenario than originally assumed.
Horse Extinction in the Late Hemphillian
- The study also uncovered that the extinction event that happened during the late Hemphillian period affected three horse species in Florida – two species that were grazers and one that was a browser.
- Interestingly, the Florida sister species of the modern genus Equus that existed during the late Hemphillian was mainly a browser, a stark contrast to the grazing diet of today’s horses.
Cite This Article
APA
MacFadden BJ, Solounias N, Cerling TE.
(1999).
Ancient diets, ecology, and extinction of 5-million-year-Old horses from florida.
Science, 283(5403), 824-827.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.283.5403.824 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Department of Anatomy, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA. Department of Geology.
Citations
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