The scientists also ruled out the popular theory that climate change played a direct role in the mammoth's extinction, since the mammoths "sailed through The Last Glacial Maximum (the time of maximum extent of the ice sheets) with little effect on their overall diversity." The woolly mammoth populations on mainland North America and Siberia did not die out until 9,800 to 11,000 years ago. Much smaller populations, on Wrangel Island off the coast of Siberia and the Pribilof Islands off Alaska lived on until 3,500 to 5,000 years ago. Poinar admits that climate probably played some role in the mammoth's demise but, he adds, "I cannot buy that humans did not have a hand in (the extinction) as well." Jim Mead, professor and chair of East Tennessee State University's Department of Geosciences, told Discovery News that the new study "is very interesting." "It certainly indicates that we all must look to other models about the various megafaunal populations in the Holarctice," Mead said, adding that, "it is intriguing that the mammoth mirrors that of bison and other megamammals." Bison, mammoths, early relatives of bears, horses and other large mammals all experiencd population expansions and reductions at similar times. This suggests that climate change was affecting these groups, humans were hunting them more, or perhaps both climate and a human fondness for meat together affected these ancient animals. Related Links: Discovery News blog: Born Animal |
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