A5057581522- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Augmented Reality Applications
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Museums and Cultural Heritage
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
- Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Sports Performance and Training
- Psychological and Educational Research Studies
- Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Geological formations and processes
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
2018-2024
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
2017-2024
Southern California Earthquake Center
2022-2024
University of Southern California
2020-2024
Institute of the Environment
2021-2024
University of California, Los Angeles
2020-2023
University of California, Berkeley
2009-2017
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
2009-2017
Integra (United States)
2015
Brown University
2006
Significance Removing megafauna from contemporary ecosystems changes vegetation and small mammal communities over ecological time scales. We show that similar dynamics seem to operate millennial scales but only if the megafaunal loss includes ecosystem engineers in settings also contain plant species susceptible release. Under such conditions, extinction can initiate quickly lead new, lasting states. This implies should some currently at risk for actually become extinct, their characteristic...
South America lost around 52 genera of mammals during a worldwide event known as the Late Quaternary Extinction episode. More than 80% American weighing > 44 kg succumbed. Analysis megafaunal extinction chronology in relation to human arrival and major climate changes have revealed slightly different patterns eco‐regions continent, highlighting importance detailed regional analysis order understand how possible drivers operated. Here we present an Última Esperanza (UE) area southwestern...
The cause, or causes, of the Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions have been difficult to establish, in part because poor spatiotemporal resolution fossil record hinders alignment species disappearances with archeological and environmental data. We obtained 172 new radiocarbon dates on megafauna from Rancho La Brea California spanning 15.6 10.0 thousand calendar years before present (ka). Seven extinct disappeared by 12.9 ka, onset Younger Dryas. Comparison high-resolution regional datasets...
Human impacts have left and are leaving distinctive imprints in the geological record. Here we show that North America, human-caused changes evident mammalian fossil record since c. 14,000 years ago as pronounced earlier faunal subdivide Cenozoic epochs into American Land Mammal Ages (NALMAs). Accordingly, define two new Ages, Santarosean Saintagustinean, which Holocene time complete a biochronologic system has proven extremely useful dating terrestrial deposits revealing major features of...
Understanding extinction drivers in a human-dominated world is necessary to preserve biodiversity. We provide an overview of Quaternary extinctions and compare mammalian events on continents islands after human arrival system-specific prehistoric historic contexts. highlight the role body size life-history traits these extinctions. find significant size-bias except for small times. Using phylogenetic regression classification trees, we that while are poor predictors extinctions, those...
14 C dates disprove Holocene survival of Pleistocene megafauna in the Pampas and show humans hunted Megatherium at 12,600 CAL BP.
Informal learning environments, such as museums, provide unique opportunities for science learning. They are deliberately designed to impact public understanding of and shape visitors' attitudes behaviors. As a developing technology, augmented reality (AR) offers the transformative potential support museums' educational missions by enhancing experience, thereby creating effective conditions personalized interactions with science. We implemented an AR-enhanced exhibit at La Brea Tar Pits...
MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 306:223-231 (2006) - doi:10.3354/meps306223 Influence of biogenic habitat on recruitment and distribution a subtidal xanthid crab Emily L. Lindsey, Andrew H. Altieri*, Jon D. Witman Department Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Box G-W, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA *Corresponding author. Email:...
Drivers of Late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions are relevant to modern conservation policy in a world growing human population density, climate change, and faunal decline. Traditional debates tend toward global solutions, blaming either dramatic change or dispersals Homo sapiens new regions. Inherent limitations archaeological paleontological data sets often require reliance on scant, poorly resolved lines evidence. However, recent developments scientific technologies allow for more local,...
Functional traits of vertebrates can be used to infer paleoenvironmental conditions, allowing research into past climate changes and biotic responses. Birds are generally considered poor palaeoclimatic proxies due their high vagility. Here, we analyze biogeographical climatic niche information from multiple vertebrate groups including small mammals, reptiles, birds the paleoclimatic conditions present during Late Pleistocene (~14,500–17,000 years BP) at Talara, an asphaltic paleontological...
As fossilized feces, coprolites represent direct evidence of animal behavior captured in the fossil record. They encapsulate past ecological interactions between a consumer and its prey and, when they contain plant material, can also guide paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Here we describe first from lagerstätte Rancho La Brea (RLB) Los Angeles, California, which confirmed an asphaltic ("tar pit") context globally. Combining multiple lines evidence, including radiocarbon dating, body size...
Abstract Reconstructing the behavior of extinct species is challenging, particularly for those with no living analogues. However, damage preserved as paleopathologies on bone can record how an animal moved in life, potentially reflecting behavioral patterns. Here, we assess hypothesized etiologies pathology a pelvis and associated right femur Smilodon fatalis saber-toothed cat, one best-studied from Pleistocene-age Rancho La Brea asphalt seeps, California, USA, using visualization by...
Paleoart is an important medium that communicates scientific understanding about prehistoric life to both the public and researchers.However, despite its broad influence, aesthetic decisions go into paleoart are rarely described in formal academic literature or subjected peer review.This unfortunate, as can easily create perpetuate misconceptions carried through generations of iterative popular media.As example what we hope will become a standard article type paleontological journals,...
A simple quantitative approach is presented for determining the relative importance of climate change and human impact in driving late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions. This method designed to determine whether or alone can account these extinctions, both were important, acting independently (additively) and/or synergistically (multiplicatively). applied extinction Última Esperanza region southern Chile. In this region, there a complex pattern extinction. Records environmental include...
Studies of Rancho La Brea predators have yielded disparate dietary interpretations when analyzing bone collagen vs. enamel carbonate—requiring a better understanding the relationship between stable carbon isotopes in these tissues. Stable isotope spacing and carbonate (Δ ca-co ) has also been used as proxy for inferring trophic level mammals, with higher Δ values indicative high carbohydrate consumption. To clarify ecology carnivorans, past present, we analyzed (carbon nitrogen) (carbon)...