Late Pleistocene megafauna extinction leads to missing pieces of ecological space in a North American mammal community.

ABSTRACT: The conservation status of large-bodied mammals is dire. Their decline has serious consequences because they have unique ecological roles not replicated by smaller-bodied animals. Here, we use the fossil record of the megafauna extinction at the terminal Pleistocene to explore the consequences of past biodiversity loss. We characterize the isotopic and body-size niche of a mammal community in Texas before and after the event to assess the influence on the ecology and ecological interactions of surviving species (>1 kg). Preextinction, a variety of C₄ grazers, C₃ browsers, and mixed feeders existed, similar to modern African savannas, with likely specialization among the two sabertooth species for juvenile grazers. Postextinction, body size and isotopic niche space wer

SUBMITTER: Smith FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9522422 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature