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Species-specific responses of Late Quaternary megafauna to climate and humans

Author

Listed:
  • Eline D. Lorenzen

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • David Nogués-Bravo

    (Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)

  • Ludovic Orlando

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Jaco Weinstock

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Jonas Binladen

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Katharine A. Marske

    (Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)

  • Andrew Ugan

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Tupper Building, 401 Balboa, Ancón, Punamá, República de Panamá
    University of Utah, 271N1400E, Salt Lake City
    Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael, (5600) Parque Mariano Moveno)

  • Michael K. Borregaard

    (Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)

  • M. Thomas P. Gilbert

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Rasmus Nielsen

    (University of California, Berkeley, 4098 VLSB, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
    University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200, Denmark)

  • Simon Y. W. Ho

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia)

  • Ted Goebel

    (Center for the Study of the First Americans, Texas A&M University)

  • Kelly E. Graf

    (Center for the Study of the First Americans, Texas A&M University)

  • David Byers

    (Missouri State University, 901 South National, Springfield, Missouri 65807, USA)

  • Jesper T. Stenderup

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Morten Rasmussen

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Paula F. Campos

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Jennifer A. Leonard

    (Uppsala University, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
    Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio, 41092 Seville, Spain)

  • Klaus-Peter Koepfli

    (University of California
    Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Building 560, Room 11-33, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA)

  • Duane Froese

    (University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada)

  • Grant Zazula

    (Government of Yukon, Yukon Palaeontology Program, PO Box 2703 L2A, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Y1A 2C6, Canada)

  • Thomas W. Stafford

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
    Stafford Research Inc., 200 Acadia Avenue)

  • Kim Aaris-Sørensen

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Persaram Batra

    (Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street)

  • Alan M. Haywood

    (School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Joy S. Singarayer

    (School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK)

  • Paul J. Valdes

    (School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK)

  • Gennady Boeskorov

    (Diamond and Precious Metals Geology Institute, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 39 Prospect Lenina, 677891 Yakutsk, Russia)

  • James A. Burns

    (Royal Alberta Museum
    The Manitoba Museum)

  • Sergey P. Davydov

    (North-East Science Station, Pacific Institute for Geography, Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Malinovy Yar Street, 678830 Chersky, Russia)

  • James Haile

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Dennis L. Jenkins

    (Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 1224 University of Oregon)

  • Pavel Kosintsev

    (Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Marta Street, 202, 620144 Ekaterinburg, Russia)

  • Tatyana Kuznetsova

    (Moscow State University, Vorob’evy Gory, 119899 Moscow, Russia)

  • Xulong Lai

    (State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences)

  • Larry D. Martin

    (University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas)

  • H. Gregory McDonald

    (Park Museum Management Program, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 150, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525, USA)

  • Dick Mol

    (Natural History Museum, Rotterdam, c/o Gudumholm 41, 2133 HG Hoofddorp, Netherlands)

  • Morten Meldgaard

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Kasper Munch

    (Bioinformatics Research Centre (BiRC), Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 8, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark)

  • Elisabeth Stephan

    (Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, Stromeyersdorfstrasse 3, D-78467 Konstanz, Germany)

  • Mikhail Sablin

    (Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia)

  • Robert S. Sommer

    (Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Institute for Nature and Resource Conservation, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany)

  • Taras Sipko

    (Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninsky Prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia)

  • Eric Scott

    (San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, California 92374, USA)

  • Marc A. Suchard

    (David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
    UCLA School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA)

  • Alexei Tikhonov

    (Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia)

  • Rane Willerslev

    (Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, St. Olavsgate 29, Postboks 6762 St. Olavsplass, 0130 Oslo, Norway)

  • Robert K. Wayne

    (University of California)

  • Alan Cooper

    (Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia)

  • Michael Hofreiter

    (The University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Andrei Sher

    (Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninsky Prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia)

  • Beth Shapiro

    (The Pennsylvania State University, 326 Mueller Laboratory, University Park)

  • Carsten Rahbek

    (Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)

  • Eske Willerslev

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

Abstract

Despite decades of research, the roles of climate and humans in driving the dramatic extinctions of large-bodied mammals during the Late Quaternary period remain contentious. Here we use ancient DNA, species distribution models and the human fossil record to elucidate how climate and humans shaped the demographic history of woolly rhinoceros, woolly mammoth, wild horse, reindeer, bison and musk ox. We show that climate has been a major driver of population change over the past 50,000 years. However, each species responds differently to the effects of climatic shifts, habitat redistribution and human encroachment. Although climate change alone can explain the extinction of some species, such as Eurasian musk ox and woolly rhinoceros, a combination of climatic and anthropogenic effects appears to be responsible for the extinction of others, including Eurasian steppe bison and wild horse. We find no genetic signature or any distinctive range dynamics distinguishing extinct from surviving species, emphasizing the challenges associated with predicting future responses of extant mammals to climate and human-mediated habitat change.

Suggested Citation

  • Eline D. Lorenzen & David Nogués-Bravo & Ludovic Orlando & Jaco Weinstock & Jonas Binladen & Katharine A. Marske & Andrew Ugan & Michael K. Borregaard & M. Thomas P. Gilbert & Rasmus Nielsen & Simon Y, 2011. "Species-specific responses of Late Quaternary megafauna to climate and humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 479(7373), pages 359-364, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:479:y:2011:i:7373:d:10.1038_nature10574
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10574
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    Cited by:

    1. Freitas, Osmar & Araujo, Sabrina B.L. & Campos, Paulo R.A., 2022. "Speciation in a metapopulation model upon environmental changes," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 468(C).
    2. Tyler J. Murchie & Alistair J. Monteath & Matthew E. Mahony & George S. Long & Scott Cocker & Tara Sadoway & Emil Karpinski & Grant Zazula & Ross D. E. MacPhee & Duane Froese & Hendrik N. Poinar, 2021. "Collapse of the mammoth-steppe in central Yukon as revealed by ancient environmental DNA," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.

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