Articles tagged with Megafauna
A study of lake sediments reveals three major declines of plant-eating megafauna in Panama, which had significant impacts on forests and grasslands. Rewilding efforts by introducing new species or increasing populations of existing ones could restore nature and its benefits to humans.
In 2025, global unprovoked shark bites returned to near-average levels, with a significant decrease in the United States. The country accounted for 38% of worldwide incidents, down from over 50% in recent years. Australia followed closely, with 32% of global bites and 56% of fatalities.
Researchers found that bison hunters stopped using a kill site in central Montana around 1,100 years ago due to severe droughts. The team's study suggests that environmental stressors, social and economic pressures, and the need for larger hunting operations drove the abandonment of the site.
Despite sea ice losses, Svalbard polar bears' body conditions have improved due to increased fat reserves and access to land-based prey. The study found that the number of ice-free days in the Barents Sea region increased, but the mean body condition index of adult polar bears rose following 2000.
Research reveals that threatened species are overrepresented in professional sports emblems, offering a powerful new avenue for biodiversity conservation partnerships. Fans' emotional connections with team mascots can mobilize audiences to support conservation initiatives.
Researchers found that pterosaurs developed flight with a smaller brain similar to non-flying dinosaurs. Advanced imaging tools were used to study the brain cavities of pterosaur fossils, revealing a larger optic lobe that may have aided in their ability to fly.
A new study reveals that Dunkleosteus was an oddball among ancient armored fishes, with a cartilage-heavy skull and unexpected feeding behavior. The research places Dunkleosteus in proper evolutionary context, highlighting the diversity of arthrodire groups.
A new study reveals that polar bears act as crucial providers for Arctic species, leaving behind millions of kilograms of prey annually. This carrion provides a vital energy source for a wide network of arctic scavenger species, including Arctic foxes and ravens.
A new study suggests that Indigenous Australians may have been fossil collectors, rather than hunters, of Australia's megafauna. The researchers re-analyzed a fossilized tibia bone with an incision and found that it was likely already fossilized when the cut occurred.
A study by researchers at Kyoto University found that Asian elephants understand the importance of visual attention for effective communication. The elephants gestured most when both the experimenter's body and face were oriented towards them, suggesting they use a combination of cues to recognize human visual attention.
A recent study found that 62% of whale sharks in the Bird's Head Seascape off Indonesian West Papua have scars and injuries from preventable human causes. Simple interventions, such as modifying traditional fishing platforms and boat designs, could greatly lessen this burden on the local population.
A new study highlights the importance of Vast Marine Protected Areas in protecting diverse marine species. Tracking data from sea turtles, manta rays, and seabirds revealed that 95% of tracking locations were recorded inside the Chagos Archipelago MPA.
A new statistical model using GPS tracking data accurately predicted nest success for the California Condor, demonstrating its potential to inform conservation decisions. The model's results were corroborated by field observations and camera footage, allowing researchers to assess nest fate with high accuracy.
A new study warns of the dangers of human interactions with wildlife, particularly feeding wild animals, which can lead to habituation and dangerous encounters. The research found that provisioning food to wild animals can cause them to become bolder and more prone to causing problems.
A new study found that a wildfire and drought led to an increase in jaguar population density in the Brazilian wetlands. The site, which is home to a unique population of jaguars with aquatic diets, may serve as a climate refuge, buffering extreme climate events.
Wildlife forensic scientists develop a cheap and rapid method to distinguish between elephant and mammoth ivory using stable isotope analysis. The technique can quickly identify suspect pieces of ivory and prevent the illegal trade of elephant ivory.
Studies suggest that straight-tusked elephants ( Palaeoloxodon antiquus ) could still inhabit Europe today due to the continent's suitable climate. The species helped shape Europe's landscape, maintaining open spaces and light woodlands that still support native plant species.
Researchers propose that timing hypothesis explains the mystery of missing blue whale calves, where births occur in fall and winter, and calves are weaned before returning to feeding areas. This explanation offers alternative insight into high pregnancy rates vs. low sightings of mother-calf pairs.
The study highlights the potential of novel techniques to collect and analyse plankton data more efficiently, filling knowledge gaps and generating complete pictures of plankton dynamics. However, integrating old and new methods is crucial to ensure accurate assessments of marine biodiversity.
A new study reveals that prehistoric kangaroos in southern Australia had a general diet that allowed them to adapt to environmental changes and climate shifts, contradicting previous assumptions about their survival. The research used advanced dental analysis techniques to study microscopic wear patterns on fossilised teeth.
Scientists uncovered the first direct evidence that ancient Americans primarily relied on mammoth and other large animals for food. The study sheds light on both the rapid expansion of humans throughout the Americas and the extinction of large ice age mammals.
A new study reveals that European forests before modern humans arrived were dominated by light woodland and open vegetation. Hazel, oak, and yew thrived in these dynamic ecosystems, providing a diverse mix of habitats.
Large-scale declines in African elephant populations have been confirmed over 53 years of survey data. Forest elephant populations decreased by 90%, while savanna elephant populations fell by 70%. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides a comprehensive assessment of African elephants and highli...
A new study reveals that palaeolithic hunter-gatherers on Cyprus are responsible for the disappearance of two species of megafauna: dwarf elephants and hippos. The research suggests that these small human populations could have driven both species to extinction due to their hunting practices.
A new study from Simon Fraser University has provided the clearest picture yet of when mammoths roamed Vancouver Island. The study found that mammoths lived on the island up to 45,000 years ago, with the youngest sample dated around 23,000 years old.
A recent study maps landscape connections to optimize elephant movement corridors and reduce genetic isolation, addressing a major conservation priority in southern Africa. The research provides insights into how elephants navigate their vast home ranges and identifies key routes to maintain gene flow across protected areas.
A study published in PLOS ONE found cut marks on fossils of a glyptodont, a giant relative of armadillos, that are consistent with known marks made by stone tools. The placement of these marks indicates a butchering sequence targeting areas of dense flesh.
Scientists at the University of Malaga have uncovered a natural quicksand trap in the 'elephant graveyard' of Orce, dated to over 1.4 million years ago. The discovery provides insights into human presence in Western Europe and competition with large carrion hyenas for meat resources.
Researchers from Aarhus University conclude that human hunting was responsible for the extinction of at least 161 species of large mammals over the past 50,000 years. The analysis of various research fields, including climate history and genetic estimates, suggests that human hunting was widespread and consistent across the world.
The newly discovered Lokiceratops rangiformis is a massive horned dinosaur found in the badlands of northern Montana. It boasts two enormous blade-like horns on its frill, as well as an asymmetric spike, making it one of the most ornate species ever found.
Researchers found that Pacific Coast Feeding Group gray whales, a subset of the Eastern North Pacific population, have been getting smaller since around 2000. This decline could have major consequences for their health and reproductive success, and also raises alarm bells about the state of the food web.
Researchers used novel biomolecular methods to analyze fossil bone fragments at the Smithsonian Museum, revealing excellent preservation of collagen proteins that can provide a molecular barcode for identification. The study provides new insights into the mysterious disappearance of North America's large mammals 50,000 years ago.
A new study by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers challenges the long-held scientific principle that animals in high-latitude climates are larger than their relatives in warmer climates. The study found that Bergmann's rule applies only to a subset of homeothermic animals and ignores other climatic variables.
Researchers created a model to predict extinction likelihood based on human hunting and environmental pressures. The model accounted for interactions between humans, animals, and their environment, considering factors like climate change and life history traits.
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a new technique to extract usable DNA from bones of fire victims, allowing identification through dental records or DNA testing. The method uses two different techniques to extract DNA, one suitable for temperatures below 350 degrees and the other for hotter fires.
A new large-scale study finds that functional traits, not nativeness, play a key role in shaping the effects of large mammalian herbivores on plant communities. Introducing feral cattle or water buffaloes into local areas could be a good idea for complementing native deer and promoting plant diversity.
A global meta-analysis of six continents reveals that large wild herbivores have a significant impact on ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and ecosystem variability. The study found that megafauna communities with larger herbivores tend to have positive effects on local plant diversity, while smaller species communities decrease it.
A new study from Aarhus University confirms that human activity, not climate change, caused the dramatic decline of giant mammals over the past 50,000 years. By analyzing DNA data from 139 large living mammal species, researchers found that populations fell dramatically around 50,000 years ago, coinciding with the spread of modern humans.
A new study identifies the best regions for rewilding European bison, pinpointing areas where conservation efforts can be most effective. The research suggests that understanding the species' decline is crucial to ensuring long-term protection and recovery.
A new conservation tool, Lion Localizer, helps authorities track the origin of illegally traded lion parts by analyzing mitochondrial DNA. The tool provides critical information on population impact and resource allocation, supporting efforts to protect tiny West African lion populations.
New research confirms the age of the White Sands footprints using multiple lines of evidence, including radiocarbon dating and pollen analysis. The study provides strong support for the 21,000 to 23,000-year age estimate, resolving a controversy sparked by earlier results.
Researchers used radiocarbon dating and time-series modeling to study the timing and causes of megafauna extinctions at Rancho La Brea Tar Pits. The team found that a sharp decline in population occurred between 13,070 to 12,900 years ago, coinciding with warming and drying climate change and increased fires sparked by humans.
A study by Newcastle University reveals that gillnets in Thailand's small-scale fisheries catch an estimated 5.6 million rays, 457 thousand sharks, and other threatened species each year. The researchers urge regulation of these fishing methods to protect megafauna from extinction.
Fungal spores found in dung indicate large animals went extinct in two waves in the Colombian Andes, with major impacts on ecosystems. The study reveals that megafauna existed for thousands of years before disappearing and reappearing again, highlighting the sensitivity of habitats to local herbivore declines.
Research reveals island-dwelling mammal species face higher extinction risks, with those experiencing extreme size changes being particularly endangered. Human arrival on islands multiplies the probability of extinction by 16, contributing to a 'protracted extinction event' spanning over 100,000 years.
Researchers from iDiv and MLU found that species with extreme body size shifts have a higher risk of extinction on islands. The study analyzed over 1,200 extant and extinct island mammals and found a correlation between human colonization and increased extinction rates.
The expansion of forests in Central Europe, circa 11,000 years ago, led to the decline and eventual extinction of large Ice Age mammals such as mammoth and bison. The growth of trees deprived these herbivores of their main food source, grass.
Researchers from Griffith University have shed light on a large species of ancient 'giant wombat' found in Queensland, which belonged to the modern-day wombat family. The discovery provides unprecedented insights into the biology and appearance of this previously little-known species, including its cranial sinuses and premaxillary spine.
Researchers used dental microwear texture analysis to infer feeding habits of large theropods, including T. rex and Allosaurus. The study found that these dinosaurs did not eat bones as frequently as thought, with juveniles having a different feeding behavior.
A new study suggests that human activities such as burning forests for introduced grazing species led to the disappearance of Madagascar's large animals. The researchers found a drastic increase in charcoal and domesticated species like zebu cattle around 1,000 years ago, coinciding with the extinction of megafauna.
A new study suggests that sensory deterrents can work in some circumstances and may be part of the solution to reduce bycatch. The authors found that LED lights were the only technology to date found successful in trials across all marine megafauna groups, but also led to increased bycatch in some species.
A distinct population of oceanic manta rays was identified off the coast of Ecuador, with an estimated total population of over 22,000 individuals, making it more than 10 times larger than any other known subpopulation. The population is large and potentially healthy due to favorable conditions in the region.
A new study re-examines fossil bones from the Nombe Rock Shelter in PNG Highlands and suggests that several large mammal species may have survived for another 40,000 years. The research challenges general assumptions about megafaunal extinction timelines and provides fresh insights into the natural history of PNG.
A team of researchers has observed orcas killing white sharks in South Africa using drone and helicopter footage. The study provides the first direct evidence of this behavior, showing that orcas are capable of pursuing, capturing, and incapacitating white sharks.
Researchers analyzed high-resolution photos of SUE's jaw with healed breaks in other fossil skeletons and compared them to trepanation holes made by Inca surgeons. The study found that SUE's injuries were consistent with these examples, suggesting the animal survived long enough for bones to begin repairing themselves.
A new study found that North American mammal communities have become more than twice as homogenous as they were 10,000 years ago, primarily due to early human hunting and farming activities. The accelerated homogenization is likely linked to the spate of large-mammal extinctions, which increased similarity among remaining species.
Flinders University researchers describe a new genus of giant fossil kangaroo from PNG, diverging from Australian kangaroos and belonging to a unique species. The discovery sheds light on New Guinea's faunal history, with the animal likely evolving from ancient lineages in the late Miocene epoch.
Researchers at the University of Washington discovered that African wild dogs, a highly endangered species, shifted their breeding dates later in response to changing temperatures, leading to reduced pup survival rates. The study highlights how large predators can be vulnerable to climate change and its impact on life history events.
A new study reveals that red pandas are being driven closer to extinction due to human activities such as infrastructure projects and habitat fragmentation. The research suggests that minimizing human-induced disturbances is crucial for the survival of this species.
A team of researchers has identified the ancient bird species behind giant prehistoric eggs in Australia, resolving a years-long debate. The study found that the eggs belonged to a unique duck-like line of megafauna known as the 'Demon Ducks of Doom', which was laid by the Genyornis newtoni bird.