Ancient Landscape Flashcards
History of mammals in North America
What was the pleistocene landscape like?
High water levels before and after the ice age, lake habitats common
When and why did extinctions happen during the pleistocene?
13-12k years ago due to warming, humans also thought to be a cause
What types of species went extinct during human migration into a location?
Large mammals went entirely extinct while smaller mammals were harmed but not wiped out
When is the earliest known time of anatomically modern humans?
300 ka (300 thousand years ago)
What is the blitzkrieg model?
Mammals went extinct due to over-hunting by humans
What do humans bring when they migrate into a new area? (multicausal theory)
Non-native species, diseases, fire, their appetite
Page-Ladson site
14.5 ka old, Mastodon kill site in Florida that is now underwater; has evidence of stone tools and cutting marks on bones
El Fin de Mundo
13.4 ka old, kill site in Mexico
Wally’s Beach
13.3 ka old, Canada horse/camel kill site
La Brea
Preservation via tar seeps, found lots of large mammals such as camels, zebras, and big cats
Smilodon
Saber-toothed cat in North America
Miracinanyx
American cheetah
Direwolf
Stocky, strong form of wolf that had shorter forelimbs
Arctodeus
Hyper-carnivorousness bear with long legs and feline teeth
What effect did European immigration have on mammals
Whales, Otters, and Bears were all harvested by colonisers, guns also brought into the country for the first time
