Estimated loss in species, phylogenetic and functional diversity as a consequence of Late Pleistocene and Holocene range collapse and extinctions
He tries to work out what the modern world animal distributions would have looked like if there had been no Pleistocene extinctions or human influenced range reductions. Some very striking maps show that megafaunal diversity in Americas and Eurasia would have been as high as Africa. Africa would have been nothing special. Highest megafaunal diversity in the world would have been in southern South America (around southern Brazil and Uruguay)! How different the modern biosphere looks from this world without the megafaunal extinctions.
What are the drivers of this loss? Similar story as previous talks. First human contact dominates in Americas and Australia, .and insular E Asia Japan, Madagascar. Climate drives northern N America and Eurasia. Elevation range change affects biodiversity loss in high mountains (Andes, Tibet etc.)
He tries to work out what the modern world animal distributions would have looked like if there had been no Pleistocene extinctions or human influenced range reductions. Some very striking maps show that megafaunal diversity in Americas and Eurasia would have been as high as Africa. Africa would have been nothing special. Highest megafaunal diversity in the world would have been in southern South America (around southern Brazil and Uruguay)! How different the modern biosphere looks from this world without the megafaunal extinctions.
What are the drivers of this loss? Similar story as previous talks. First human contact dominates in Americas and Australia, .and insular E Asia Japan, Madagascar. Climate drives northern N America and Eurasia. Elevation range change affects biodiversity loss in high mountains (Andes, Tibet etc.)