A new study suggests clouds of pollen may have contributed to the extinction of woolly mammoths. As the last ice age ended, the world warmed up, resulting in an increase of plants. This led to more pollen, which may have triggered allergies in these giant creatures.
Researchers believe these allergies could have affected mammoths’ sense of smell, which was crucial, especially during mating season. Without it, they might have had trouble identifying mates. This could have led to a substantial loss of the mammoth population, eventually leading to their extinction.
How have changes in the environment affected animal communication?
The study, published on August 27th in the journal Earth History and Biodiversity, explores how changes in the environment might have affected animal communication. Such changes may have played a significant role in the extinction of these ancient giants.
Woolly mammoths lived during the Pleistocene epoch from about 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago. They vanished from most of their habitat around 10,000 years ago. However, a small group survived until about 4,000 years ago on Wrangel Island off northeastern Russia.
Other factors such as inbreeding and hunting by humans also contributed to mammoths’ decline. However, the extent to which each factor played a role is questionable. The idea that allergies affected the daily lives of these mammoths is a novel idea that researchers are currently examining.
Causes of woolly mammoths’ pollen allergies
Researchers suggest it would be helpful to look into the contents of mammoths’ stomachs for signs of plants and pollen. Such evidence could confirm whether mammoths suffered from allergies. In certain cases, pollen has been identified in mummified tissues or preserved with plants around mammoth remains. This might help identify the cause of past allergies.
Researchers also propose checking for certain immune system proteins that signal allergic reactions. These proteins, if found in ancient mammoth droppings, might indicate severe allergies such as hay fever. Nonetheless, scientists have not yet been successful in finding such proteins in mammoth remains.
Skepticism over the pollen allergies theory
Vincent Lynch, an evolutionary biologist at the University at Buffalo, New York is skeptical about this allergy theory. He doubts that it played a significant role in the mammoths’ extinction.
He notes that ancient DNA samples from the last mammoths show they had lost the ability to detect certain plant smells. This loss could mean they were less affected by flowering plants.
Despite his skepticism, Lynch agrees that environmental changes and human activities were likely the main drivers of mammoth extinction. He emphasizes that more research and tests are necessary to support the allergy theory.
This new angle adds to our understanding of what might have led to the demise of the woolly mammoths. While the idea is still being debated, it opens up new avenues for research into how ancient animals interacted with their changing environments.
