Scarce emergence of new species drove the decline of African megaherbivores, study suggests
A new scientific study suggests that the decline of African megaherbivores was primarily driven by low rates of speciation rather than increased extinction vulnerability. Researchers analyzed thousands of fossil records to conclude that the loss of diversity began millions of years before human intervention.
Why it matters
Understanding the evolutionary history of megaherbivores provides critical context for modern conservation efforts and ecosystem management.
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Add as preferred source Credit: Chané Timmerman from Pexels A study by the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), the National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH) and the University of Alcalá offers a new explanation for the decline of African megaherbivores. These animals, weighing more than a tonne (2,200 pounds) and today including elephants and hippopotamuses, are known for acting as ecosystem engineers. The results, published in Nature Communications , reveal that their loss of diversity throughout history was not due to their being more vulnerable to extinction, as had previously been proposed, but rather that their decline was driven by particularly low rates of speciation—the emergence of new species.
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