Study Findings
A new study led by Corey Bradshaw from concludes that paleolithic humans caused the extinction of dwarf hippos and elephants in within 1,000 years of arrival.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, combines paleontology and archaeology to model human impact on these species, refuting previous beliefs that a small human population couldn't cause such rapid extinctions.
Methodology and Implications
The team used models considering human energy demand, diet, prey selection, and hunting efficiency, suggesting a population of 3,000–7,000 hunters could drive the extinctions.
This study highlights the significant impact of small human populations on ecosystems, challenging the notion that non-industrialized societies couldn't affect the environment significantly.