Co-authors Dr Felipe Franco-Gaviria and Ismael G. Espinoza gathering sediment samples at Monquentiva. Credit: J. Oughton 2019
” We understand that large animals such as elephants play a vital function in managing environments, for example by eating and running over vegetation,” stated Dr Dunia H. Urrego, of Exeters Global Systems Institute. “By examining samples of fungal spores, in addition to pollen and charcoal, we had the ability to track the extinction of big animals, and the repercussions of this termination for plant abundance and fire activity. We found the Monquentiva ecosystem altered significantly when big animals vanished, with various plant types prospering and wildfires increasing.”
Analysis of the fungal spores does not reveal which large animals were present, however species known to wander Colombia in this duration include the huge armadillo and the six-meter-tall giant ground sloth.
The findings reveal that abundant megafauna existed in the area for countless years, then disappeared totally about 23,000 years ago.
About 5,000 years later, megafauna began to live in the location once again– likely at lower numbers– before another wave of extinction about 11,000 years ago minimized them nearly to absolutely no.
The reason for these local terminations is unidentified, however environment changes and hunting by people are 2 possibilities. Scientists have even suggested that a meteorite strike was the cause.
” After the megafauna disappeared, plant species at Monquentiva transitioned, with more woody and palatable plants (those favored by grazing animals), and the loss of plants that depend on seed dispersal by animals,” said first author Felix Pym, a Masters by Research in Physical Geography student at the University of Exeter. “Wildfires became more typical after the megafauna terminations– probably due to the fact that flammable plants were no longer being eaten or run over upon. In general, our findings show that this environment was highly conscious the decrease of its megafaunal populations.”
The paper concludes that, given the existing biodiversity crisis, preservation efforts need to account for the impacts of regional herbivore decreases on the dispersal of certain plant types, on fire activity, and the possible loss of ecosystem services (the worth humans gain from nature).
Recommendation: “The timing and eco-friendly effects of Pleistocene megafaunal decrease in the eastern Andes of Colombia” by Felix C. Pym, Felipe Franco-Gaviria, Ismael G. Espinoza and Dunia H. Urrego, 26 April 2023, Quaternary Research.DOI: 10.1017/ qua.2022.66.
Scientists led by the University of Exeter determined that the local extinction of large animals at Pantano de Monquentiva occurred roughly 23,000 years earlier and once again around 11,000 years back, significantly impacting environments. “By examining samples of fungal spores, as well as pollen and charcoal, we were able to track the extinction of large animals, and the effects of this extinction for plant abundance and fire activity. We discovered the Monquentiva ecosystem altered dramatically when large animals disappeared, with different plant types prospering and wildfires increasing.”
” After the megafauna disappeared, plant types at Monquentiva transitioned, with more woody and palatable plants (those favored by grazing animals), and the loss of plants that depend on seed dispersal by animals,” stated first author Felix Pym, a Masters by Research in Physical Geography trainee at the University of Exeter.
Frailejones (Espeletia sp.) in Monquentiva, a member of the daisy household (Asteraceae) typical in the Colombian páramo. Credit: F. Pym 2022
Fungal spores discovered in dung have actually revealed that megafauna experienced 2 distinct extinction “waves” in the Colombian Andes. Coprophilous fungi spores, which are essential to the life cycle of large animals weighing over 45 kg, go through the gastrointestinal systems of these animals. The existence of such spores in sediment samples shows that these large animals when lived in particular places and time durations.
Researchers led by the University of Exeter identified that the regional termination of big animals at Pantano de Monquentiva happened approximately 23,000 years earlier and once again around 11,000 years back, substantially impacting communities. The study relied on samples taken from a peat bog in Pantano de Monquentiva, located about 60 km from Bogota in the eastern cordillera. Especially, this research study was the very first of its kind to be carried out in Colombia.
With biodiversity now in crisis, the findings highlight how the disappearance of large animals might as soon as again transform environments that sustain wildlife and human beings.
