Ecological Consequences Of Late Quaternary Extinctions Of Megafauna

As humans spread over the globe from about 50 000 years ago, megafauna such as mammoths, giant kangaroos and many others vanished. How did this sudden loss of large herbivores affect ecosystems?



This review finds evidence that in many places vegetation types changed dramatically, becoming less open and less diverse. Many plant species that evolved in environments with megafauna may be in long-term decline, for example because they now lack effective seed dispersers.



To properly understand and conserve living vegetation, we need to consider how it was once shaped by giant animals, and if possible re-create those interactions.



Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences


Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of the journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.


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