Patagonian Ice Age Mammal Extinction Took Place Because of Climate Change, Not Sudden Onslaught

The mammals that existed during the giant ice-age era in Patagonia were extinct because of drastic changes in the climate and not because of a sudden onslaught of the human hunters that appeared around that time.

These are the findings of a new study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Adelaide. According to the study, the mammals that roamed until about 12,300 years ago fell prey to rapidly changing environment and climatic conditions and not to the human hunters.

The study, led by the University of Adelaide's Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD), explains how the climate started to warm rapidly after the arrival of the humans in Patagonia. Because of this, the collective group of large animals called megafauna died off suddenly.

Several animals were a part of the group, including camels, horses, gigantic bears, saber-toothed cats and elephant-sized sloths. Patagonia is a geographical location at the base of South America. The cause of extinction of several special of animals from the region has always been a mystery.

However, this is the first time that a team of researchers has figured out the extinction of the animals from the region was not a direct result of human invasion. In fact, the researchers say that the human occupation has already taken place in the region for more than 1,000 years before the climate became warmer suddenly, resulting in the extinction of the species within the next 100 years.

The researchers based their findings on the analysis of the DNA and bones of the animals recovered from the region. The analysis revealed that extinction occurred long after the humans has already established themselves in the region.

The complete details of the study have been published in the journal Science Advances.