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Nature2003; 426(6963); 169-171; doi: 10.1038/nature02098

Rapid body size decline in Alaskan Pleistocene horses before extinction.

Abstract: About 70% of North American large mammal species were lost at the end of the Pleistocene epoch. The causes of this extinction--the role of humans versus that of climate--have been the focus of much controversy. Horses have figured centrally in that debate, because equid species dominated North American late Pleistocene faunas in terms of abundance, geographical distribution, and species variety, yet none survived into the Holocene epoch. The timing of these equid regional extinctions and accompanying evolutionary changes are poorly known. In an attempt to document better the decline and demise of two Alaskan Pleistocene equids, I selected a large number of fossils from the latest Pleistocene for radiocarbon dating. Here I show that horses underwent a rapid decline in body size before extinction, and I propose that the size decline and subsequent regional extinction at 12,500 radiocarbon years before present are best attributed to a coincident climatic/vegetational shift. The present data do not support human overkill and several other proposed extinction causes, and also show that large mammal species responded somewhat individualistically to climate changes at the end of the Pleistocene.
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Publication Date: 2003-11-14 PubMed ID: 14614503DOI: 10.1038/nature02098Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses findings that suggest a rapid decline in the body size of Pleistocene horses in Alaska before they went extinct. It proposes that their size decline and subsequent extinction around 12,500 years ago is best attributed to concurrent changes in climate and vegetation. The data does not support the idea of human overkill as the reason for their extinction, and also indicates that large mammal species had individualized responses to the climate changes at the end of the Pleistocene epoch.

Research Background

  • The study was prompted by the mystery surrounding the extinction of large mammal species at the end of the Pleistocene epoch, where approximately 70% of North American species were lost.
  • Much debate has been focused on whether humans or climate were the primary cause of this mass extinction, with horses playing a central role in the discussion because of their dominance in terms of abundance, geographical distribution, and species variety during the late Pleistocene era.
  • Despite their abundance, no equid species survived into the Holocene epoch.

Research Methods

  • The researcher in this study sought to better understand the timeline and evolutionary changes accompanying the regional extinctions of horses by radiocarbon dating a large selection of late Pleistocene fossils.

Research Findings

  • The data revealed a rapid decline in the body size of Alaskan Pleistocene horses before they became extinct.
  • It’s proposed that the size decline and regional extinction of these horses at around 12,500 radiocarbon years ago are best explained by simultaneous shifts in climate and vegetation.
  • The research found no evidence to support the theory of human overkill or several other suggested causes of extinction.
  • The study also found that large mammal species didn’t have a uniform response to end Pleistocene climate changes. Rather, their reactions varied base on individual species.

Cite This Article

APA
Guthrie RD. (2003). Rapid body size decline in Alaskan Pleistocene horses before extinction. Nature, 426(6963), 169-171. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02098

Publication

Nature
ISSN: 1476-4687
NlmUniqueID: 0410462
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 426
Issue: 6963
Pages: 169-171

Researcher Affiliations

Guthrie, R Dale
  • Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA. ffrdg@aurora.alaska.edu

MeSH Terms

  • Alaska
  • Animals
  • Biodiversity
  • Body Constitution
  • Climate
  • Fossils
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Human Activities
  • Models, Biological
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Time Factors

Citations

This article has been cited 34 times.
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