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The southern Brazilian Pleistocene fauna exhibited a rich diversity of large mammalian herbivores, which are now extinct or locally extinct. In this study, we employed stable isotope analysis to investigate the past ecology of these animals. Specifically, we examined the carbonate fraction of bones and teeth and utilized compiled carbon and oxygen isotopic ratios from previous research publications. The δ13C values indicated that most specimens inhabited grassland environments, which aligns with environmental reconstructions based on pollen records of the "Campos" region. The dominant food resource for these herbivores consisted of C 3 photosynthesizers, mainly cool-season grasses. This preference can be attributed to the higher abundance and nutritional quality of cool-season grasses compared with warm-season grasses employing C 4 photosynthesis. The variability in δ18O values within and between taxa may suggest a seasonal climate. Based on these findings, we conclude that the environmental changes during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition were detrimental to the survival of these large herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine megafauna (fishes, jellyfishes, cephalopods, seabirds, and marine mammals) play a pivotal role within aquatic food webs and may be used as ecological indicators of marine ecosystems. Global warming affects the Arctic more than any other region on Earth, supposedly transforming the ecology of marine megafauna and the functioning of oceanic ecosystems. Understanding these processes is essential, but existing knowledge is spatially and taxonomically biased, with a strong focus on commercial or emblematic species and knowledge deficiency in Russian waters. We provide conceptual and methodological guidance to address these burning issues. Notably, combining existing long-term monitoring programs with high-tech approaches and citizen science will help us to fully understand climate change impacts on pan-Arctic marine megafauna. Global warming affects the Arctic more than any other region. Mass media constantly relay apocalyptic visions of climate change threatening Arctic wildlife, especially emblematic megafauna such as polar bears, whales, and seabirds. Yet, we are just beginning to understand such ecological impacts on marine megafauna at the scale of the Arctic. This knowledge is geographically and taxonomically biased, with striking deficiencies in the Russian Arctic and strong focus on exploited species such as cod. Beyond a synthesis of scientific advances in the past 5 years, we provide ten key questions to be addressed by future work and outline the requested methodology. This framework builds upon long-term Arctic monitoring inclusive of local communities whilst capitalising on high-tech and big data approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural Trap Cave (Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming) preserves an abundance of fossil remains from extinct Late Pleistocene fauna and is situated near a past migration route that likely connected populations in Eastern Beringia and the contiguous US—the ice-free corridor between the Cordilleran and Laurentide icesheets. Some palaeontological evidence supports a correspondingly high affinity between fauna recorded in Natural Trap Cave and Eastern Beringia versus elsewhere in the contiguous US, but this hypothesis has not yet been extensively tested using genetic data. In the present study, we analysed 16 horse specimens and one camel specimen from Natural Trap Cave. Of the horse specimens we analysed, we obtained 10 unique and previously unreported mitochondrial haplotypes belonging to two distinct (extinct) genetic clades—two haplotypes corresponded to a caballine horse (Equus sp.) and eight corresponded to the stilt-legged horse (Haringtonhippus francisci). With only one exception, it appears these newly sequenced individuals all shared a common ancestor more recently with Eastern Beringian individuals than with others from the contiguous US. In addition, mitochondrial data from a specimen assigned to Camelops sp. revealed that it shares a closer affinity with specimens from the Yukon Territory than those from Idaho or Nevada, though all appear to belong to a single species ("yesterday's camel"; Camelops cf. hesternus). Together, these results are consistent with a high level of genetic connectivity between horse and camel populations in the Bighorn Mountains and Eastern Beringia during the Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural Trap Cave (NTC) is a well-known fossil locality located in Wyoming that contains a discontinuous record of sediments from the early Sangamonian (∼150 ka) to the present and produces a diverse vertebrate assemblage from 2-9 and 23–47 cal ka BP. This study examines changes in the rank abundance distribution (RAD) of NTC's large-bodied (>8 kg) vertebrates, to assess the stability of the local ecosystem surrounding the cave across the Late Pleistocene-Holocene transition. RADs were generated based on 2208 skeletal elements from four stratigraphic units, collected by Gilbert and Martin from 1974 to 1979. All bones included in this study had: a north-west grid coordinate, a known depth below the sediment surface, were over 20% complete and taxonomically diagnostic. Isotaphonomy was assessed using multinomial regressions of %MAU against multiple taphonomic variables: size, shape, degree of abrasion and weathering, fracture type, percent complete, original bulk density, and surface area to volume ratio. Changes in RADs were analyzed using rank abundance curves (RACs), Wilcoxon Rank Sums test, and kurtosis. RADs were also fit to a suite of standard ecological models (i.e., geometric, log-series, zero-sum multinomial, & log-normal) using maximum likelihood and the Akaike Information Criterion corrected for small sample size (AICc). The four faunal assemblages show little variation in taphonomic biasing, so any changes in the RADs reflects changes in the ecosystem. The four RACs showed little change in their shape or faunal composition and are dominated by a few abundant taxa, representing an ecosystem that experienced perturbations (i.e., a concave RAC and a kurtosis value > 3). The Wilcoxon Rank Sums test found no statistical difference among the RADs from the lower three stratigraphic units. This means that the abundance structure of the large-bodied vertebrates did not change prior to (35.8–25.3 cal ka BP) or during the Last Glacial Maximum (25.3–17.2 cal ka BP) and the local ecosystem surrounding NTC never approached equilibrium. The uppermost stratigraphic unit represented a mixed Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene assemblage, so changes in ecosystem structure from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene (10.5 cal ka BP – present) cannot be evaluated. Unfortunately, the ecological models used in this study provide little insight into the maturity or processes influencing the formation of the local ecosystem surrounding NTC because only three models produced a ΔAICc value between 4.4 and 6.7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paleontological collection of the Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales "Carlos Ameghino" (MCA, Mercedes, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) includes hundreds of mammalian fossil specimens collected from the Luján Formation (Lujanian Stage/Age), bounded to the Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene. Among the specimens of the MCA collection, a caudal vertebra (MCA-117) of Glyptodon sp. (Xenarthra, Cingulata) with pathologies was identified, which are here characterized in order to perform a diagnosis. The main alterations in the vertebra consist of bone erosion and remodeling in the left transverse process, bone erosion in the vertebral centrum, and deformation in the neural arch affecting the prezygapophyses. The features identified in the transverse process were diagnosed as bone remodeling, alterations previously described for Pleistocene xenarthrans. The erosions observed in the vertebral centrum are comparable to spondylosis, Schmorl's node, intervertebral discopathies, or, alternatively, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease. Nonetheless, these could potentially manifest as secondary complications arising from spondylosis. Regarding characteristics such as low bone density, it is concluded that they are indicative of modifications due to osteoporosis. The alterations present in the specimen can be compared with bone pathologies recognized in elderly individuals with large body mass. • Pathology on the sixth caudal vertebra of Glyptodon. • It shows pathological traits likely linked to spondylosis and osteoporosis. • Bone pathologies present in elderly individuals with large body mass. • Caudal pathologies in glyptodonts need to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses tooth meso- and microwear together with bone collagen stable isotope ratios (carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N), and sulphur (δ34S)) to investigate diet and human utilization of two middle Holocene (∼5 ka cal B.P.) populations of wild horses, Equus ferus from northwest Europe. The results of the mesowear analysis places one population (Ginnerup, Denmark) amongst extreme grazers and the other (Hüde I, NW Germany) amongst less-abrasion dominated grazers. These are contrasted by microwear, which suggest that both populations were killed, when browsing. The low microwear scratch variation in the Ginnerup population suggests that the duration of the mortality event(s) was short and confined to the same season. The mesowear analysis further suggests that the horses at Hüde I included more browse in their diet than at Ginnerup. This is supported by depleted δ13C values in the Hüde I population. The δ34S values also differ between the two sites. The higher values at Ginnerup (a coastal site) compared to Hüde I (an inland site) is interpreted as an effect of marine-influenced sulphur-enriched rainfall. Furthermore, the rather consistent δ34S values at the two sites respectively suggest that the horses killed were from locally available herds. In general, δ13C and δ15N isotope values of horses and other animals from Ginnerup and contemporary nearby sites show tendencies towards more depleted values in the horses and other wild herbivores than in livestock. We suggest that this is a result of niche partitioning and hunting pressure. The results presented here further our understanding of some of the youngest known never-domesticated populations of wild horses Equus ferus in northwest Europe. • We investigate two populations of middle Holocene E. ferus from northwest Europe. • Diet and paleoenvironment reconstructed by tooth wear and stable isotope ratios. • Mesowear data suggest that both populations were predominantly grazers. • Microwear data suggest the horses were killed when eating more browse. • Inter-site differences in diet suggested by both tooth wear and isotope analyses. • δ13C and δ15N analyses indicate differences between wild and domestic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to high costs and time constraints, it can be difficult for traditional field-based methods to acquire sufficient data to identify priority species or areas in marine conservation planning. Local ecological knowledge (LEK) is increasingly used as an important source of information for evidence-based management strategies, but its usefulness for informing conservation prioritization for threatened marine species has rarely been assessed. Here, we conducted the first range-wide systematic survey of five marine megafauna (Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Indo-Pacific finless porpoise, dugong, whale shark, sea turtles) using interviews with fishers in the northern South China Sea (SCS), one of the richest marine biodiversity hotspots in the world, to assess the ability of LEK to highlight priority species and areas for conservation. Our results reveal that the dugong has become functionally extinct in China, while the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise, whale shark, and sea turtles have all experienced more severe declines compared to the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. Based on the sighting histories of these threatened species, regional conservation priorities and management activities should therefore focus on reducing disturbance pressure in the Beibu Gulf and eastern Guangdong for the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise and in eastern/southern Hainan Island for the whale shark and sea turtles. These findings challenge current conservation strategies that prioritize the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin in the SCS, suggesting that coastal dolphins might not be good indicators of the population trends of sympatric marine megafauna. While LEK cannot provide precise abundance and habitat data for highly threatened marine species, we demonstrate that it offers comparable long-term population trend and wide-scale distribution data to inform the prioritization of conservation actions. • Interview-based approach can be an effective tool to inform regional conservation prioritization of marine megafauna. • We caution that current prioritizing humpback dolphin in the South China Sea may neglect species in greater need of urgent conservation attention. • Priority areas for four marine megafaunas in the South China Sea were identified. • Three specific conservation suggestions were proposed based on the results of local ecological knowledge survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remains of the steppe bison Bison priscus Bojanus, 1827 from the Upper Pleistocene layers of Biśnik Cave were morphometrically analysed and compared to those from other localities in Eurasia. The remains occurred in accumulations with archaeological artefacts. They bore traces of gnawing by carnivores. Morphometric analyses of the skull and post-cranial skeleton point to the small form of bison. The skull belonged to a small male while the bones of post-cranial skeleton indicate the occurrence of both males and females. Here we present all available and newly obtained calibrated 14C dates of the bison remains from this site, supplemented with new data for five specimens from Biśnik Cave, thus confirming the presence of the species during MIS 3 in Poland. The results are relevant to tracing the migration paths of the bison in the Upper Pleistocene during MIS 4-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megafauna, such as cold-water corals, can promote diversity through various processes, such as predation, bioturbation, competition, and facilitation as habitat engineers. Further investigation into their ecology and role in epifaunal community structure in the deep sea is needed. Diversity, abundance, and spatial patterns of epibenthic megafauna (≥2 cm) were quantified at regional-scales (100 s m – 100 s km) using high-resolution imagery from 15 stations in the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area, Canada. A patchy community structure was significantly associated with station and benthoscape class, which in turn was based on geological factors. Three types of assemblages included: (1) dominated by corals Pennatula sp. 2 and/or Hexacorallia (SC.) spp. in shallow eastern benthoscape classes with high abundance and low diversity; (2) a diverse mix of taxa (e.g. sea pens Anthoptilum spp. and Kophobelemnon spp., anemones/cerianthids, etc.) in deeper (>400 m) western benthoscape classes, with low abundance and high diversity; and (3) a unique community dominated by sponges. Overall, eight taxa contributed to most dissimilarities between stations, and communities were similar within 10 km but could differ at greater distances. Benthoscape classes captured environmental factors (e.g. depth and substrate) that may be responsible for changes in diversity and abundance, and are used as a proxy for different habitats. Our study advanced the understanding of regional spatial patterns in the abundance, composition, and diversity of epibenthic communities, by identifying spatial patterns particularly in the Laurentian Channel where data were limited, adding to interpretations of spatial ecology in a previous fine-scale study. Additionally, these spatial patterns reflect various underlying ecological processes that are mostly unknown. Our community analysis and observed changes in abundance and diversity have implications that can help inform future monitoring designs to promote representative and meaningful spatial assessments. • Abundance and diversity of deep-sea epifauna are patchy on 100 m–100 km scales. • Assemblages of varying composition were related to a proxy for different habitats. • Spatial drivers of distributions linked to geological features. • Spacing between images (resolution) can impact estimates of abundance or diversity. • Monitoring designs informed by spatial ecology ensure representative assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossils from natural tanks can contribute to the paleoenvironmental interpretation of the Brazilian Intertropical Region (BIR), an important study area for the Quaternary in South America. In this paper we present results of δ13C and δ18O for Eremotherium laurillardi (δ13C = −4.6 ‰, δ18O = 33.0 ‰), Toxodon platensis (δ13C = −3.8 ‰, δ18O = 35.5 ‰), and Notiomastodon platensis (δ13C = −2.9 ‰, δ18O = 31.6 ‰) from Zabelê tank, compared to other localities, suggesting that these taxa had a mixed-feeder diet with a higher consumption of C 4 plants (p i > 60%), living in a transition zone between woodland savannah and open savannah. The Zabelê tank, northeastern Brazil, presents Optically Stimulated Luminescence ages ranging from 41.2 to 30.4 ky (Lujanian Stage/Age; Late Pleistocene). The origin of the fossiliferous layer through debris flow suggests short periods of intense rainfall under drier climatic conditions. Compared to other locations in the BIR, Zabelê documented a drier climate (δ18O = 31.6–33.4 ‰), which preceded the last glacial maximum. These new isotopic data to OSL ages associated with previous data from the BIR contribute to the understanding of the paleoecology and paleoenvironment dynamics of South America. • New δ13C and δ18O for the three most studied taxa from the Quaternary of the BIR. • These taxa had a mixed-feeder diet with higher consumption of C 4 grasses. • These taxa inhabited a transition zone between arboreal to open savanna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located in the Northeast of Brazil, the city of Paripiranga, State of Bahia, is situated in a karst region called Supergrupo Canudos. The locality boasts a high number of natural cavities, some of which contain Pleistocene mammal fossils and remains of contemporary vertebrates. The cave locally known as Furna do Cazuza is a deep natural cavity in Proterozoic limestone, with a vertical entrance of 16 m in depth, resembling an abyss, serving as natural traps for many animals, especially mammals. The cave has a large area at its entrance, with a significant influx of sediment and a considerable quantity of bones, some of which have already been collected. The collected bone material (appendicular and part of a skull) belongs to three individuals: an armadillo and two giant ground sloths. The osteoderms were attributed to the Pampatheriidae Holmesina sp., and the most abundant bone material to the Megatheriidae Eremotherium laurillardi and the Scelidotheriidae Catonyx cuvieri. This study presents the largest number of bones of C. cuvieri attributed to a single individual in a cave. As paleontological research advances, the understanding of the diversity of the past fauna during the Pleistocene in the municipality of Paripiranga and the surrounding region continues to expand. The caves are still under study, and their fossiliferous richness has not been fully measured and identified. • Solid description of fossils in Furna do Cazuza Cave. • The addition of three new taxa - E. laurillardi , Holmesina sp. and the confirmation of C. cuvieri - to the paleobiodiversity. • The most complete Catonyx cuvieri skeleton found in the municipality of Paripiranga to date. • Amplification of the paleobiogeography of extincted taxons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subfossil remains of the Quaternary megafauna from two Ukrainian natural history collections stored at Kaniv Nature Reserve and the National Museum of Natural History NAS of Ukraine were examined. Most of the bones were collected in 1965–1966, in the building pit and the gateway of the Kaniv hydroelectric power plant. The fauna is represented at least by ten taxa (Gulo gulo , Mammuthus trogonterii chosaricus, Mammuthus intermedius, Coelodonta antiquitatis, Megaloceros giganteus, Alces alces, Bison priscus, Cervus elaphus, Capra cf. ibex, and Equus ferus). Skeletal parts are represented mainly by skulls, long bones, horns, and tusks. Based on the species composition of proboscideans, at least part of the faunal assemblage is dated by the end of the Middle Pleistocene (Dnieper Stage = Saale, Warta, MIS 6), but majority of bones could be older or younger (Late Pleistocene and Holocene age) due to the alluvial origin of accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extinction of large-bodied terrestrial 'megafauna' during earlier phases of the Quaternary had a significant impact on the transforming structure of ecosystems. However, the causes of such losses remains difficult to determine in part because of a paucity of reliable geochronological information about the taxa involved. This is especially true for continents such as Australia where the majority of extinct species have never been dated using radiometric and/or luminescence methods. Here we add new understanding about the geochronology of the world's largest-ever marsupial, the giant wombat-like Diprotodon optatum , an iconic member of the large herbivore guild of Pleistocene Australia. We present 28 new direct U-series ages (dentine) and 10 luminescence ages (sediments) for D. optatum fossils from three sites in tropical north and subtropical eastern Australia. The luminescence ages lie close to saturation for the tropical northern site of Floraville and therefore indicate minimum ages, and sediments from Gowrie Creek in the Darling Downs were mixed and can only be stated as a likely age range. Nevertheless the results assist in our broader understanding of the timing of persistence of the species. Our results demonstrate that the species roamed the northern tropics at least until the mid-Pleistocene (ca. 420 ka). They likely remained widespread during Marine Isotope Stage 5 (ca. 110 ka) and were abundant on the Darling Downs of eastern Australia. The youngest of the new ages that we report (ca. 60 ka) are from Neds Gully on the Darling Downs, a catchment previously considered by some to contain among the last survivors of the now-extinct megafauna. The new dated record demonstrates that deposits of varying ages occur within the catchment. Consequently, existing species lists that treat Neds Gully as a single faunal assemblage are likely significantly time-averaged and overinflated in terms of palaeo-diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the chemical composition and surface aspects of fossilized dental calculus from the South American Quaternary proboscidean Notiomastodon platensis and the first record of fossilized oral bacteria from extinct megafauna. Blocks of dental calculus removed from the third molar of five specimens of Notiomastodon platensis collected from Brazil, Argentina, and Ecuador. We analyzed five samples of dental calculus by SEM and SEM-EDS, following a rigid protocol to avoid bacterial contamination. The dental calculus surface is homogeneous, porous, with various crystals, and composed mainly by oxygen and calcium. One sample revealed a well-preserved mineralized biofilm, with several rods and cocci bacteria. This is the first fossilized record of oral bacterial communities associated with extinct proboscideans. This record confirms the parasitism between oral bacteria and Notiomastodon platensis and will enable the study of paleogenomic aspects of oral microbiota of proboscideans. Fossilization conditions of proboscidean teeth with dental calculus are variable among specimens. Although rare, the preservation of oral bacteria is expected because of the oral biofilm composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A palynological record from Girraween Lagoon sediments (Darwin region of the Northern Territory, Australia) provides detailed long-term insight into tropical savanna vegetation community patterns, climatic and fire relationships, through Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS 4: 71–57 thousand years ago, ka) and Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3: 57–29 ka). Owing to a lack of data in reconstructing northern Australian environments, this paper looks to define and describe to a greater degree the nature and scope of these stadial and interstadial stages for the region. Girraween Lagoon simultaneously provides proximal palaeoecological data for the time and region of Aboriginal people's first arrival into Australia, also encompassing the late Pleistocene continental decline of megafauna. This study provides a dataset enabling full exploration of long-term people-landscape and faunal-floral interactions. Sea levels and associated variations imposed on the transportation of moisture and heat, held implications for MIS 4 and MIS 3 monsoon strength, which was particularly consequential for Girraween regional ecology. Results reveal a prolonged transition from wooded- to grassy-savanna, into a cool drier semi-arid savanna. Increasingly episodic delivery of moisture influenced the permanency of freshwater in the landscape. • A detailed picture of vegetation in monsoonal north Australia during MIS 4 and MIS 3. • An ultimate transition from grassy eucalypt savanna into semi-arid savanna revealed. • Changed monsoonal delivery particularly consequential for regional ecology. • An indication of baseline landscapes during people's first arrival into Australia. • Assisting to place megafaunal decline within an ecological landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Long-term (∼40 y) record of deep-sea sharks denotes mercury accumulation. • Anthropogenic Hg accumulation is enhanced in oligotrophic deep-sea sharks. • Long-living deep-sea species show a temporal increase in THg levels. • THg is expected to further increase in deep marginal seas sharks. • Consumption of deep-sea sharks is potentially a high risk to human health. Deep-sea habitats are currently recognized as a hot spot for mercury (Hg) accumulation from anthropogenic sources, resulting in elevated concentrations of total mercury (THg) in deep-sea megafauna. Among them, deep-sea sharks (Class Chondrichthyes) are characterized by high trophic position and extended longevity and are, therefore, at high risk for mercury contamination. Despite this, sharks are overexploited by fishing activity in increasingly deeper water, worldwide, imposing health risks to human consumption. While it is imperative to better understand long-term mercury contamination in deep-sea megafauna, few historical data sets exist to capture this process. Here we explore four decades (1985–2022) of THg accumulation in five species of deep-sea sharks (G. melastomus, E. spinax, S. rostratus, C. granulosus, and D. licha) of the ultra-oligotrophic Southeastern Mediterranean Sea (SEMS) sampled during 19 research cruises. We exhibited exceptionally high THg levels (per length/weight), the highest as 16.6 μg g−1 (wet wt.), almost entirely (98.9 %; n = 298 specimens) exceeding the limit for safe consumption (0.3–0.5 μg THg g−1 wet wt.). The maximal THg levels of the long-lived species D. licha and C. granulosus in the SEMS were enriched by a factor of ∼ 7 and >10 compared to counterpart species from other oceanic areas, respectively. We attribute this to the ultra-oligotrophic conditions of the SEMS, which cause slower growth rates and dwarfism in deep-sea sharks, resulting in an extended exposure time to mercury contamination. In the long-lived species, C. granulosus and D. licha, a temporal increase of average THg levels of ∼ 80 % was recorded between 1987–1999 and 2021–2022. This likely reflects the long-term accumulation of historical anthropogenic Hg in deep-sea environments, which is further amplified in marginal seas such as the Mediterranean, impacted by global air pollution crossroads and surrounded by land-based pollution sources. Future consumption of products from deep-sea sharks is potentially high risk to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving marine megafauna is a complex task, particularly due to the gaps in our knowledge regarding their distribution and susceptibility to human pressures. While the Ionian Sea, eastern Mediterranean, is renowned for hosting nesting sites for sea turtles and supporting diverse cetacean populations, identifying key marine habitats for elusive species remains a significant challenge in the region. This study offers insights drawn from 15 years of stranding data collected in the Ionian Sea, shedding light on the utilization of marine habitats by marine megafauna. Stranding records of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), reported even beyond the breeding season, highlight the ecological significance of the area as a year-round foraging and developmental habitat. Stranding records have consistently revealed the presence of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the region, emphasizing the need for further research on their habitat utilization. The higher stranding frequencies observed during the spring/summer months can be attributed to factors such as increased individual abundance, heightened reporting rates, or intensified human activities at sea. While human-induced disturbances are evident in the reporting of stranded cetaceans in the region, the annual records of stranded Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) raise questions about the viability of the local population of this endangered species. This study provides substantial evidence suggesting the significance of the Ionian Sea as a potential hotspot for marine megafauna in the Mediterranean. Results highlight the need for policy measures aimed at safeguarding the marine habitats of these charismatic creatures. • 15 years of stranding data for marine megafauna in the Ionian Sea were examined. • The region features diverse megafauna species alongside human-induced pressures. • Year-round presence of sea turtle individuals was highlighted. • Results emphasize the need for a marine action plan to address human disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bottom trawling significantly impacts benthic communities, reducing habitat complexity and biodiversity. The distribution and abundance of key species in the northeastern Gulf of Cádiz, Spanish waters of Atlantic Ocean, such as soft-bottom octocorals and burrowing megafauna, were examined using video observations and Spatial Distribution Models developed with Random Forest. The study was conducted in the Site of Community Importance " Volcanes de fango del golfo de Cádiz " focusing on depths between 300 and 950 metres depth. The effects of environmental variables and bottom trawling on octocoral distribution and abundance were assessed, and management strategies for habitat protection were proposed. Bottom trawling was found to decrease habitat suitability for large octocoral species while the abundance of Norway lobster was positively correlated with certain values of bottom trawling effort. The study suggests that bottom trawling causes significant reduction in octocoral distributions, substrate homogenization, and habitat differentiation. A 200 km2 area is recommended for a specific bottom trawling regulation to protect soft-bottom octocorals and support the recovery of commercial burrowing megafauna. • Soft-bottom octocorals and Nephrops norvegicus distributions were examined using video and Spatial Distribution Models. • Bottom trawling was found to decrease habitat suitability for large octocoral species. • N. norvegicus exhibit high densities in mud and trawling effort apparently does not significantly impact their density. • N. norvegicus abundance predictions was positively correlated with certain values of fishing effort. • A 200 km2 area is recommended for a specific bottom trawling regulation to protect soft-bottom octocorals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional deep-sea structures enhance substrate complexity and can shape numerous ecological hotspots that play critical roles in the diversity and distribution of benthic faunal assemblages. The characteristics of these features are not fully understood due to the logistical challenges of exploring at great depths and remote locations. One such deep-sea feature, the Wallaby-Zenith Fracture Zone (WZFZ) located in the East Indian Ocean, was mapped using a full-ocean depth multibeam echosounder system. Additionally, twelve baited landers and five crewed submersible dives were conducted in water depths between 4709 and 6591 m. We use seafloor bathymetry, bathymetric derivatives and video footage from the submersible dives to characterise the benthic structures, substrate types, habitat diversity, and the distribution of associated functional groups of megafauna for the WZFZ. The Benthic Terrain Modeler toolbox was used as an initial semi-automated step to generate benthic structural classes, which were further characterized through the inclusion of bottom salinity and temperature data collected by the scientific landers and integrated with the observations of seafloor substrate from the submersible video footage. This resulted in identification of nine benthic habitat classes characterised by unique seafloor morphological structure and substrate texture. A polymetallic nodule field, a possible extension of the previously reported Cape Leeuwen nodule field, was also observed along submersible transects conducted on the slopes of the WZFZ. The distribution and diversity of the functional megafauna groups observed are influenced by the deep-sea benthic habitats, defined by seafloor structures and substrate heterogeneity, especially the presence of hard substrates such as outcropping bedrock and polymetallic nodules within the WZFZ. • High resolution multibeam bathymetry of the Wallaby-Zenith Fracture Zone was mapped. • Structural classes and substrate types of the fracture zone were analysed. • A large polymetallic nodule field, a possible extension of the Cape Leeuwin nodules was discovered. • Benthic habitats were associated with megafauna functional groups. • Diversity and abundance of the benthic megafauna were supported by environmental heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying survival in megafauna populations is a challenge. Survival can vary over time and can be altered by increasing pressures from human activities. Considering time variations in inter-annual survival or cumulative survival is necessary to evaluate conservation status and anticipate detrimental demographic changes before large declines in abundance materialize. Estimating survival is straightforward with mark-recapture methods but remains a challenge if individuals cannot be easily identified or recaptured. This is often the case for marine mammals because natural marks are insufficient to identify individual or because tagging raises insuperable logistical difficulties. Here, we propose to fill this methodological gap using age-at-death data with a flexible Bayesian linear modelling framework. We designed a simulation study with several scenarios of decline in survival and size of the data set. We also applied the approach to a real dataset on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). We evaluated the ability of a model that includes both a trend and yearly random effects to estimate time variations in survivorship, age-specific survival, and hazard rates. We compared the performance of the model to that of simpler models. Our results show that the model is very effective in detecting a trend in survivorship, but can yield biased estimates of age-specific survival rates. We provide a pragmatic modelling framework to address time variations in a megafauna species survivorship using age-at-death data. This framework will enhance our ability to study populations that cannot be individually identified and to design proactive conservation management measures. • We developed a modelling approach to estimate time variations in megafauna survival rates from age-at-death data. • This approach is very effective in estimating time variations in survivorship from age-at-death data. • This approach makes it possible to estimate the decline in survival within a population of megafauna by cross-sectional monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat consumption by early hominins is a hotly debated issue. A key question concerns their access to large mammal carcasses, including megafauna. Currently, the evidence of anthropic cut marks on proboscidean bones older than -or close to- 1.0 Ma are restricted to the archaeological sites of Dmanisi (Georgia), Olduvai (Tanzania), Gona (Ethiopia), Olorgesailie (Kenya) and La Boella (Spain). During an inspection of the almost complete carcass of Mammuthus meridionalis (FN3-5-MPS) from the Oldowan site of Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Spain, c. 1.2 Ma), a few traces compatible with human-made cut marks and carnivore tooth marks were found. From this finding and previous interpretations the following questions arise: When and under what conditions was FN3-5-MPS deposited? What is the nature of the marks found on the surface of the bones of this mammoth? To answer, we have conducted a high-resolution analysis of these remains, combining both taphonomic and microstratigraphic data. Our results, using microstratigraphic and micromorphological analyses of sediments based on thin-sections, show that this individual was deposited in a marshy environment. Subsequently, the carcass was exploited by hominins and large felids that left their marks on the surface of some of its bones. For this purpose, the identification and characterisation of both cut marks and tooth marks were performed using high-resolution 3D modelling, geometric morphometrics, and artificially intelligent algorithms. Based on the anatomical position of both the cut and tooth marks, we propose that both the hominins and the saber-toothed cats had early access to the animal. Finally, this paper shows how an interdisciplinary approach can shed detailed light on the particular story regarding the death and processing of the carcass of a female mammoth, deposited at Fuente Nueva 3. • Original contextual approach combining taphonomy and microstratigraphy. • Proboscidean found in FN3 (FN3-5-MPS) died in a watery environment. • Cut and tooth marks reveal proboscidean exploitation by felids and Homo. • Earliest evidence of cut marks on proboscideans bones in western Eurasia. • New insights into the behaviour of the first inhabitants of western Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many oceanic areas are still in need of baseline information on their structure and functioning. This is particularly important due to the ever-increasing impacts of global changes, which have led to the decline of marine life, and top predators in particular. The study of the structure and functioning of food webs can help understand the consequences of the disappearance of this group in marine ecosystems. Here, we develop a mass-balanced model for the marine Exclusive Economic Zone of the archipelago of Madeira, with emphasis on the role of marine megafauna in this ecosystem. A total of 50 functional groups were defined, representing coastal and open ocean areas, and epipelagic and deep-sea levels. The total biomass of the Madeira system was calculated at 52.68 t km−2, with lower trophic level organisms comprising 89.9 % of its biomass. Marine megafauna, namely pelagic sharks and coastal birds had the highest impacts across other trophic levels and were classified as keystone species, together with monk seals. The food web was characterized by a linear-like food chain, with a large proportion of specialized organisms, including dolphins, shearwaters, and large pelagic fish. The low mean trophic level of the system was 2.03, much lower than that of fisheries (4.3) targeting mainly tunas and Black scabbardfish. Considering the importance of marine megafauna in this food web and the threats they are facing; monitoring studies of key species in the region should be a priority. This study can now be used to build a needed ecosystem-based fisheries management and integrate conservation measures to declining species. • Lower trophic level organisms comprise 89.9 % of Madeira's marine biomass. • Sharks, coastal birds, and monk seals are the keystone species of this food web. • Marine megafauna have the highest overall average Mixed Trophic Impact on the food web. • The ecosystem has a reduced resilience due to the high number of specialists. • High-trophic level fisheries require management reassessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, wildlife has been observed getting entangled in and affected by plastic litter. Despite the increasing annual accumulation of plastic waste in the Indian environment and its potential threat to marine biodiversity, the specific impacts of this litter often go unmeasured in India. Based on a search of social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google), we evaluated the negative impacts of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) on Indian biodiversity. Among the cases posted detailing interaction with anthropogenic litter, 35 species were affected with 144 individuals reported. Of the species entangled in this study, 13 are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered according to the IUCN. Sea turtles, fish and marine mammals were the most reported groups entangled in ALDFG. We also identified birds, land mammals (the Asian elephant), reptiles and invertebrates (crustaceans and sponges). These findings reveal that the majority of entangling litter impacting animals in India is from fishing activity. Five types of materials (fishing nets, rope, monofilament lines, trap and fish hook) accounted for the most (98 %) of entanglements. This study shows that ALDFG are not only a problem for marine species, but also for freshwater species. The presence of ALDFG in aquatic and marine environments contributes to the extinction risk of wildlife in India, which are already threatened by other human activities. There is therefore an urgent necessity to continue building management programs and develop government policies which attempt to protect the aquatic environment from ALDFG. • ALDFG is a major threat to Indian wildlife. • A total of 35 animals are documented to have interacted with the ghost gear. • These included cases of entanglement of 13 endangered species. • Sea turtles and marine mammals are more affected by entanglements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow coastal lagoons are vital ecosystems for many aquatic species and understanding their biodiversity is essential. Very little is known about the distribution and abundance of globally threatened marine megafauna in coastal lagoons of the Arabian Gulf. This study combined underwater and aerial surveys to investigate the distributions and relative abundance of marine megafauna in a large lagoon. We identified 13 species of megafauna including sea turtles, sharks, and rays. Eleven of these are globally threatened according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Critically Endangered Halavi guitarfish (Glaucostegus halavi), and the Endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) were the most frequently occurring species. Results demonstrate the value of combining aerial and underwater video surveys to obtain spatially comprehensive data on marine megafauna in shallow coastal lagoons. This new information emphasises the importance of Umm Al Quwain lagoon for biodiversity conservation to protect threatened marine species and their habitats. • Coastal lagoons of the Arabian Gulf host globally threatened marine megafauna. • We combined aerial and underwater surveys to investigate megafauna. • We identified 13 species of megafauna, including sea turtles, sharks, and rays. • Threatened Halavi guitarfish and green turtles were the most abundant. • Key information to support conservation actions in UAE coastal lagoons [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) can substantially modify their habitat through their interactions with woody vegetation. Nonetheless, the scale, intensity and characteristics of these relations are not yet fully understood. Consequently, it is unclear how vegetation-megafauna interactions can be disrupted by external factors, such as land management. This study attempted to quantify and characterize structural changes in vegetation caused by elephants, from landscape to tree level scales. We applied multi-scale geospatial tools, including airborne (ALS) and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), to address the following questions: (1) How do elephants shape landscape level vegetation structure in conservation areas? (2) Are the impacts of elephants evident on individual tree architecture? Our study area was located at the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in South-eastern Kenya. The occurrence of elephants was estimated using elephant observation records and proximity to elephant tracks. Landscape level structure was assessed using tree density maps calculated based on individually detected treetops from ALS data. Next, TLS measurements of 72 trees were processed using quantitative structural modelling to characterize their architecture. Our results demonstrate a widespread influence of elephants on both landscape and tree level structural characteristics. This influence was strongly mediated by management, as we observed differences in vegetation structure inside and outside conservation areas. Tree density was up to 42% lower (5.84 trees/ha) in conservation areas than in non-conservation areas (10.17 trees/ha). Trees were relatively larger with closer proximity to elephant tracks, while smaller trees were more often observed in areas further away from elephants. At an architectural level, trees closer to elephant tracks had lower ratio between the crown length and the tree height, demonstrating a substantial influence of elephants on the morphological characteristics of trees. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for vegetation fauna interactions when planning conservation areas in African savannahs. • We quantified structural changes in vegetation caused by elephants at multiple scales. • The impacts of elephants were assessed using airborne and terrestrial LiDAR. • We demonstrate the influence of elephants on landscape and individual tree levels. • Tree density was up to 42% lower in conservation areas than in non-conservation areas. • Trees consumed by elephants had reduced crown length-to-height ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The many high-resolution tools that are uniquely applicable to specimens from the Quaternary period (the past ~2.5 Ma) provide an opportunity to cross-validate data and test hypotheses based on the morphology and distribution of fossils. Among these tools is palaeogenomics – the genome-scale sequencing of genetic material from ancient specimens – that can provide direct insight into ecology and evolution, potentially improving the accuracy of inferences about past ecological communities over longer timescales. Palaeogenomics has revealed instances of over- and underestimation of extinct diversity, detected cryptic faunal migration and turnover, allowed quantification of widespread sex biases and sexual dimorphism in the fossil record, revealed past hybridisation events and hybrid individuals, and has highlighted previously unrecognised routes of zoonotic disease transfer. Under ideal conditions, it is possible to retrieve genomic data from the remains of organisms hundreds of thousands of years old. These 'palaeogenomic' data can be used to test hypotheses about past biological change with a level of resolution that is not possible using other methods. Palaeogenomic studies have revealed underappreciated taxonomic diversity and intraspecies morphological variation in past ecological communities, as well as documenting processes such as hybridisation and migration that are challenging to infer from fossilised remains. Although the temporal range of palaeogenomic studies is limited by the half-life of DNA, the deeper understanding of biases in the recent fossil record provided by cross-referencing with palaeogenomic data is likely to stimulate reevaluation of patterns observed in the fossil record over much longer time-periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1980's, micro-analysis techniques applied to worldwide extinctions of Quaternary megafauna have resulted in revolutionary insights. However, in the Asia-Pacific, the infrastructure facilitating micro-analyses is still relatively limited. In this review, the potential of micro-analytical research applied to iconic megafauna will be discussed and evaluated. To address the imbalance between hominin versus faunal focused research we highlight the lack of knowledge of some taxa, the extent of unexplored regions and specific underutilised techniques that are relevant to megafaunal sites. Increased exchange of techniques, facilities and ideas is recommended to bridge the gap with Euro-American regions. This could provide a toolbox for conservation of modern megafauna across the Asia-Pacific to ensure these do not succumb to the same fate as mammoths, megalanias and other megabeasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most striking human impacts on global biodiversity is the ongoing depletion of large vertebrates from terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Recent work suggests this loss of megafauna can affect processes at biome or Earth system scales with potentially serious impacts on ecosystem structure and function, ecosystem services, and biogeochemical cycles. We argue that our contemporary approach to biodiversity conservation focuses on spatial scales that are too small to adequately address these impacts. We advocate a new global approach to address this conservation gap, which must enable megafaunal populations to recover to functionally relevant densities. We conclude that re-establishing biome and Earth system functions needs to become an urgent global priority for conservation science and policy. The loss of large vertebrates (megafauna) from the world's ecosystems has been occurring throughout human history. Emerging evidence suggests these losses can have dramatic impacts on ecological functions, including the near collapse of biogeochemical cycles at biome and Earth system scales. Although the biodiversity conservation community increasingly recognises the need to restore ecological functions at landscape scales, it currently operates at scales that are too small to adequately address the functional consequences of megafaunal losses at biome and earth system scales. Re-establishing biome and Earth system functions needs to become a global priority for the biodiversity conservation community, and we will need a new global initiative to deliver this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of and the technologies and resources applied to the ex situ care for wildlife have improved greatly in recent years. This has resulted in numerous successes bringing back populations from the brink of extinction by the reintroduction or restoration of animals from conservation breeding programmes. Controlled breeding of wildlife by humans is discussed controversially in society and in scientific circles and it faces a number of significant challenges. When natural breeding fails, Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) have been postulated to increase reproductive output and maintain genetic diversity. Furthermore, technical advances have improved the potential for successful collection and cryopreservation of gametes and embryos in many wildlife species. With the aim of creating a better understanding of why ex situ and in situ conservation of threatened species must complement each other, and under which circumstances ART provide additional tools in the rescue of a threatened population, we elucidate the current situation here by using as examples three different megavertebrate families: elephantidae, rhinoceridae and giraffidae. These mammal families consist of charismatic species, and most of their members are currently facing dramatic declines in population numbers. On the basis of these and other examples, we highlight the importance of captive zoo and other managed wildlife populations for species survival in a human dominated world. Without the possibility to study reproductive physiology in trained or habituated captive individuals, major advances made in wildlife ART during the past 20 years would not have been possible. This paper reviews the benefits and future challenges of large mammal conservation breeding and examines the role of assisted reproduction in such efforts. • Due to human encroachment, wildlife will more and more require managment in reserves, especially in Africa. • Conservation breeding programmes will play a decisive role for megavertebrate species survival. • For an integrated conservation approach, captive and free roaming individuals of a species need to be managed as one population. • Assisted reproduction techniques are key to connnect isolated populations and increase genetic diversity in and ex situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural revolution is a significant turning point in human history. Its effects are still deeply felt on many aspects of humankind's social, political, and economic development. For the first time, this study empirically examines the birth of agriculture and identifies the global extinction of megafauna (large mammals) in the past 100,000 years as a paramount related event. During the ice ages, humans and plants heavily depended on megafauna for survival. Megafauna's decreased abundance shifted human subsistence strategies toward more control over vital common resources. These strategies, in turn, underpinned the type of coevolutionary interactions between humans, animals, and plants that eventually resulted in domestication. The severity of extinction varied considerably in regions occupied by hominins (different species of humans) at different times over the past seven million years. Extinctions were negligible in Africa, moderate in Asia, and severe in the New World. Regression analyses of these exogenous differences reveal a non-monotonic effect of extinction on agriculture. Agriculture was most likely to emerge independently in the lower latitudes of Asia. All other regions experienced suboptimal extinction events, which had varying effects on the birth of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taphonomic comparison among ten Quaternary tank deposits bearing megafauna remains in northeastern Brazil allowed the identification of four regional-scale taphonomic aspects controlled by climate seasonality: differential preservation of mega-mammal bones, poor physical integrity, spatial resolution (local) and time averaging (104 years). Sedimentary aspects, such as the high degree of packing of fossiliferous layer, indicate conditions of low clastic detrital sediment input in arid conditions. The correlation among geochronological data of tank deposits and paleoclimatic curves of northeastern Brazil suggest that the climate was arid/semi-arid characterized by seasonality between dry and rainy periods. Thus, we postulate the succession of the two paleoenvironmental and paleoecological scenarios during the late Quaternary affecting the formation of fossiliferous tank deposits: (i) the intensity and duration of arid periods led animals to search for water and food, and consequently, concentration and death near these water sources; and (ii) in the rainy season, carcasses, disarticulated and fragmented bones around these water sources were transported and accumulated through high-energy tractive flows, reworking previously buried skeletal material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dicynodonts, a lineage of non-mammalian therapsids, who's derived taxa evolved edentulous beaked jaws sporting a pair of caniniform tusks, dominated the herbivorous terrestrial vertebrate fauna for much of the Permian and Triassic periods. Long assumed to have met their demise during the end-Triassic extinction event, the discovery of a fragmentary possible dicynodont in Cretaceous rocks in Queensland Australia, potentially extended the longevity of the lineage by nearly 100 million years. This study reassesses the geological, anatomical and historical aspects of this specimen through museum archival research, detrital zircon geochronology, trace element analysis and x-ray synchrotron microtomography, and present new knowledge regarding its temporal, geographical and biological origins, supporting a late Cenozoic (Pliocene-Pleistocene) mammalian megafaunal affinity for the specimen, resulting in a lack of evidence for post-Triassic survival of dicynodonts. Unlabelled Image • Archives, geochemistry and anatomy reunite fossil specimens after 100 years. • Cretaceous dicynodont material now referred to Late Cenozoic mammalian megafauna. • No evidence for a post-Triassic ghost lineage of Cretaceous dicynodonts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological processes at local to global scales impact spatial patterns in abundance and distribution of megafauna. Fine-scale patterns have rarely been investigated through explicitly spatial analytical methods in the deep sea and have been assumed random, uniform, or similar to neighbouring areas. We used spatial statistics (Moran's I , Gi* , and local Moran's I) to identify significant megafaunal patterns (0–100s of meters; 8 focal taxa) in the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area, based on imagery from a remotely operated vehicle, using 8 parallel transects at each of 7 stations. Our results included 2 spatial scales, station level (0.256 km2) and paired transect level (0.004 km2). We found local areas with significant aggregations (e.g., Pennatula sp. 2 and Hexacorallia (SC.) spp.) and patches extending for ∼7–27 m, and in one case for ∼155 m. Patchiness also existed between neighbouring images (≤10 m apart). Patterns varied among taxa within stations and for the same taxon among transect pairs. Station-level patterns appear to be related to geological factors, such as BPI (bathymetric position index), benthoscape, pockmarks, and slope. We propose that patterns at the transect level were likely caused by biological factors, possibly related to reproduction due to local currents and retention, or community interactions (e.g., competition). Fine-scale patterns should be considered to ensure effective sampling designs when using fine-scale tools (e.g., imagery), and for establishing accurate community metrics (e.g., abundance and diversity). Our study is relevant to future ecological research, linking patterns to processes, as well as monitoring and conservation in deep-sea ecosystems. • Fine-scale spatial statistics reveal local patterns for megafauna in the deep sea. • Non-random distributions with local aggregations and image-level patchiness. • Megafauna formed patches at scales of ∼7–27 m and ∼155 m. • Ecological factors (geological, biological, anthropogenic, etc.) regulate patterns. • Small-scale patterns need to be considered for effective sampling in ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coprolites provide information about the presence, diet, and feeding behavior of the producer, besides the trophic relationships between extinct taxa and the regional paleoclimatic context where these organisms lived. Here, we present a paleobiological and paleoecological investigation of a Late Pleistocene carnivore coprolite found in southern Brazil (Touro Passo Formation, Rio Grande do Sul). Our analyses include morphological and morphometric approaches employing scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and CT-scanning. The analyzed coprolite is cylindrical, measuring 180 mm in length and 40 mm maximum in diameter, and contains a high proportion of phosphorus and calcium. Interestingly, it presents a large quantity of 102 osteoderms attributed to a Pleistocene ground sloth (Mylodontidae indet.). The size and contents of the coprolite suggest that it was produced by a large carnivorous animal comparable to representatives of Smilodon or another large carnivore mammal. The structure of the osteoderms resembles the morphological pattern found in Mylodontidae, but they are smaller than those described for adult individuals, suggesting that the coprolite producer possibly fed on a juvenile ground sloth. Palynological analysis was also performed, and the low pollen content indicates accidental consumption of plants or pollen, through the viscera of the prey or with the ingestion of water. These paleoenvironmental data suggest that the coprolite producer may have inhabited floodplain regions near river courses, where the coprolite was deposited. These results help to understand the ecological dynamics during the Late Pleistocene of South America. • A record of one of the few coprolites in South American Pleistocene. • Multi-proxy analysis indicate a large carnivore producer (e.g. Smilodon). • More than 102 Mylodontidae osteoderms preserved in the matrix. • The palynological analysis indicates dry and cold grassland environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bycatch is a global problem for marine megafauna. Peru is a major fishing nation known in particular for its industrial purse-seine fishery for the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens). However, Peru also has an artisanal purse-seine fishery for this same resource and other species such as Pacific bonito (Sarda chiliensis), Pacific chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) used for human consumption. While there is limited documentation of bycatch of megafauna by the industrial purse-seine fishery, there is no similar information for the artisanal purse-seine fishery. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the marine megafauna (small-cetaceans, seabirds, sea turtles, and elasmobranchs) bycatch interactions of the Peruvian artisanal purse-seine fishery for consumption for the year 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) through interviews with artisanal fishers in 5 landing ports (San Jose, Santa Rosa, Callao, Pucusana, and San Andres). We found that these fisheries had bycatch with all taxa groups, with dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), guanay cormorants (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) and eagle rays (Myliobatis spp.) having the highest quantity and most frequently reported bycatch. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) indicated an association between the bycatch of 1–3 common dolphins (Delphinus spp.) per set from the northern ports (San Jose and Santa Rosa) and vessels of 20–36 MT. Likewise, a relationship was found between smooth hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna zygaena) and vessel storage capacity, with a similar result reported for the bycatch of humpback smoothhounds (Mustelus whitneyi). In addition, a relationship of eagle ray (Myliobatis spp.) bycatch with a landing port was identified, and several respondents mentioned catching more than 1 MT per set. Fifty-three percent of fishers considered bycatch to be a problem, mainly because it wastes their time during fishing operations. This preliminary study is the first research that demonstrates bycatch in artisanal purse-seine in Peru and can serve as a baseline for future research. We also highlight the need to quantify bycatch rates of marine megafauna using additional methodologies, such as monitoring with onboard observers. • First study that evidences the interaction between marine megafauna and the artisanal purse-seine fishery. • Batoids, seabirds, and dolphins had the most frequently reported bycatch. • Relationship of marine megafauna bycatch, latitude of port and vessel storage capacity. • Human consumption persists as a final fate of some bycatch species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extinction of a species is a key demographic event often signalling major climatic, ecological and/or evolutionary shifts that can be investigated using the fossil record. In that context, radiocarbon (14C) dating has become a popular tool to time and test for scenarios of extinction that can inform on how species respond to past and future ecosystem changes. We develop CRIWM, a method for estimating extinction (and arrival) time from time series of 14C dates while accounting for probability density functions (PDF) deriving from 14C calibration. The sister method GRIWM assumes normal chronometric errors and is inappropriate for 14C chronologies as PDFs are often non-Gaussian and multi-modal. Compared to GRIWM, CRIWM reduces by 4-fold the gap between true and estimated extinction times and the width of the confidence intervals, and is less sensitive to sample size, dating errors and the temporal distribution of specimens in a species' fossil record. We build the R package Rextinct with three user-friendly functions for computing CRIWM and GRIWM, and the PDF moments, modes and intercepts of 14C calibrations. CRIWM and GRIWM accept time series comprising only 14C dates or observations (fossils, sightings) dated by multiple chronometric methods, and calibration curves for fossils sampled in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and marine environments. For both methods, we implement two different estimators of extinction time whether they are reliant on a p -value (original conceptualization) or not (novel). CRIWM and Rextinct are robust tools to time extinction and arrival events using 14C chronologies spanning the entire Holocene to 50,000 calendar years Before Present, and can be used to investigate demographic phenomena queried through the fossil record such as migrations, domestications and extirpations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last 30 years the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea has been the focus of a number of oceanographic studies funded either from the EU and/or from various national research initiatives. In this review we attempt to summarise some of the major outcomes of this research regarding the environmental factors that influence its deep benthic communities. Benthic components such as microbiota, meiofauna, macrofauna and megafauna are investigated under the prism of knowledge acquired gradually, based on the evolution of both modern sampling techniques as well as laboratory analytical capabilities. In all cases, it was found that food availability is a key factor shaping the structure of these communities. Secondarily, it was sediment texture that also played a key role, mainly with regards to the larger benthic components. Processes such as dense shelf water cascading, fluctuations in surface productivity due to various environmental forcings are presented in order to understand how potential benthic responses are elicited. Last but not least we feature the recent findings regarding the ecological services provided by hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial consortia in the biodegradation of crude oil constituents. Since the area is already under enormous anthropogenic pressures and is very soon bound to experience intense oil and gas extraction activities, this review comes as a reminder to stress its vulnerability. • 30 years of deep-sea research in the Eastern Mediterranean are reviewed. • Benthic components such as microbiota, meiofauna, macrofauna and megafauna primarily depend on food availability. • Environmental forcings influence key processes triggering the response of benthic communities. • Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria may provide significant ecological services in the biodegradation of crude oil contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shark and ray megafauna have crucial roles as top predators in many marine ecosystems, but are currently among the most threatened vertebrates and, based on historical extinctions, may be highly susceptible to future environmental perturbations. However, our understanding of their energetics lags behind that of other taxa. Such knowledge is required to answer important ecological questions and predict their responses to ocean warming, which may be limited by expanding ocean deoxygenation and declining prey availability. To develop bioenergetics models for shark and ray megafauna, incremental improvements in respirometry systems are useful but unlikely to accommodate the largest species. Advances in biologging tools and modelling could help answer the most pressing ecological questions about these iconic species. Energetics studies have illuminated how animals partition energy among essential life processes and survive in extreme environments or with unusual lifestyles. There are few bioenergetics measurements for elasmobranch megafauna; the heaviest elasmobranch for which metabolic rate has been measured is only 47.7 kg, despite many weighing >1000 kg. Bioenergetics models of elasmobranch megafauna would answer fundamental ecological questions surrounding this important and vulnerable group, and enable an understanding of how they may respond to changing environmental conditions, such as ocean warming and deoxygenation. Larger chambers and swim-tunnels have allowed measurements of the metabolism of incrementally larger sharks and rays, but laboratory systems are unlikely to be suitable for the largest species. Novel uses of biologging and collaboration with commercial aquaria may enable energetics of the largest sharks and rays to be measured. Innovative use of technology and models derived from disparate disciplines, from physics to artificial intelligence, can improve our understanding of energy use in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbivory is an important ecological process than has influenced the evolution of grassland-savannah systems. The evolutionary history of herbivory largely determines how resilient plant communities are to herbivory, with communities evolving with a long history generally possessing plant adaptations that make them able to cope with such disturbance. Thus, the evolutionary history of herbivory can serve as an indicator of a system's resilience to modern grazing. Determining this history, however, is problematic because quantitative measures of herbivory and knowledge of plant origin are needed over appropriate evolutionary time frames. Paleoecology offers a useful framework for assessing this evolutionary history of plant-herbivore interactions. The Patagonian steppe is a phytogeographic province of South America whose evolutionary history of herbivory has been debated. Past discussions have focused completely on the abundance of its sole large ungulate herbivore—the guanaco (Lama guanicoe Müller 1776)—since European colonization of the continent. Here we use a paleoecological approach to reconstruct the evolutionary history of herbivory and plant evolution in the Patagonian steppe over a much broader, geologic time frame (Cenozoic) to shed light on the matter. We examine the role of past climate, ancient megafauna, and guanaco in shaping the vegetation and briefly discuss how present land use may be misaligned with the steppe's evolutionary history of herbivory. • We used a paleoecological approach reconstruct the evolutionary history of herbivory in the Patagonian steppe. • Xenarthrans, which have lower metabolic requirements than other placental herbivores, characterized the ancient megafauna. • The guanaco was the sole large ungulate to inhabit the steppe after megafaunal extinction and too almost became extinct. • An arid climate characterized the Patagonian steppe well before a diversity of ungulates dispersed into South America. • Paleoecological evidence suggests the Patagonian steppe likely evolved under low herbivory and prolonged aridity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earliest hippopotamid fossils from the Indian Subcontinent come from the Miocene of the Siwalik Group. South Asian hippopotamidae are represented by the genus Hexaprotodon , and remains of these hippos are commonly found in Neogene and Quaternary sites. Here we report on the first directly dated specimen of Hexaprotodon sp. from the Narmada Valley of Central India and its associated paleoecological implications. The specimen, an upper right canine fragment, was dated to 16,467–15,660 cal BP using accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating method. This individual lived during Heinrich Event 1, a particularly arid period. Isotopes from dental enamel revealed this animal to have lived in a savanna environment, and likely experienced a shortage of water. Using other dated remains of Hexaprotodon from the Indian Subcontinent, we developed a tentative extinction chronology, which showed that Hexaprotodon likely survived into the Early Holocene. We hypothesize that a combination of climatic stress and anthropogenic impacts would have caused the species' eventual extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a revision, dating and interpretation of the Late Pleistocene megafauna of Guatemala based on paleontological material located in collections in the country and other fossils housed in the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Assemblages are dominated by proboscideans (Cuvieronius) and xenarthrans (Eremotherium , Glyptotherium), while co-occurring Equus and Mixotoxodon are significantly less frequent, and Holmesina , Palaeolama , Tapirus , Neocherus, Mammuthus and other ground sloth taxa (Paramylodon ; Megalonyx) are rare. Contrary to published records the faunal assemblage is dominated by North American faunal elements. The underrepresentation of typical South American fauna therefore suggests a more southernly located biogeographic juncture between the two subcontinents, at least for the Late Pleistocene. The biogeographical barrier was either formed by the high mountain chains, or alternating periods of low and high precipitation that triggered the intermittent expansion of either grass- or woodland, thus leading to an alternating filter for either grazers or browsers. The presence of an oak-dominated forest vegetation with Mixotoxodon , Eremotherium and Cuvieronius supports high precipitation rates during MIS 3 and 2, followed by drought during the Late Pleistocene deglaciation. The expansion of grassland during the Younger Dryas period favored the migration of Mammuthus along the Mesoamerican Corridor, which is otherwise absent in Guatemala. Our data also suggest a survival of Cuvieronius into the early Holocene in the southeastern lowlands of Guatemala along the Motagua river. Our review is important as Guatemala is key to understanding migrations along the Mesoamerican Corridor that acted as a bridge but also as a filter of faunal interchange between North- and South America. Image 1 • Guatemala is a key area along the Mesoamerican Corridor for the understanding of faunal migration during the Late Pleistocene. • The faunal assemblage is dominated by North-American elements and we include the first radiocarbon dated megafaunal fossils from Guatemala. • There is evidence for the Holocene survival of the gomphothere Cuvieronius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition of hominins to a largely meat-based diet ∼1.8 million years ago led to the exploitation of other mammals for food and resources. As hominins, particularly archaic and modern humans, became increasingly abundant and dispersed across the globe, a temporally and spatially transgressive extinction of large-bodied mammals followed; the degree of selectivity was unprecedented in the Cenozoic fossil record. Today, most remaining large-bodied mammal species are confined to Africa, where they co-evolved with hominins. Here, using a comprehensive global dataset of mammal distribution, life history and ecology, we examine the consequences of 'body size downgrading' of mammals over the late Quaternary on fundamental macroecological patterns. Specifically, we examine changes in species diversity, global and continental body size distributions, allometric scaling of geographic range size with body mass, and the scaling of maximum body size with area. Moreover, we project these patterns toward a potential future scenario in which all mammals currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN's Red List are extirpated. Our analysis demonstrates that anthropogenic impact on earth systems predates the terminal Pleistocene and has grown as populations increased and humans have become more widespread. Moreover, owing to the disproportionate influence on ecosystem structure and function of megafauna, past and present body size downgrading has reshaped Earth's biosphere. Thus, macroecological studies based only on modern species yield distorted results, which are not representative of the patterns present for most of mammal evolution. Our review supports the concept of benchmarking the 'Anthropocene' with the earliest activities of Homo sapiens. • For most of the Cenozoic mammal extinction was not size-biased, this changed in the late Quaternary. • Late Quaternary extinctions were temporally and spatially coincident with hominin migration. • Extinctions have led to much loss of phylogenetic and functional diversity. • The loss of the largest mammals leds to changes in the continental body size distribution. • Range fragmentation and constriction have influenced the largest mammals disproportionately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Adverse impacts of marine litter is documented on >1400 species, including marine megafauna (fish, birds, sea turtles and mammals). The primary impacts include ingestion and entanglement, and there is increasing concern about chemical contamination via ingestion. Numerous survey approaches and monitoring programs have been developed and implemented around the world. They may aim to provide data about parameters such as species distribution and interactions with anthropogenic activities. During the Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, a session was dedicated to the tools and constraints in monitoring interactions between litter and megafauna. In the present paper, we summarize 7 case studies which discuss entanglement and ingestion including macro- and micro-debris in several taxa and across multiple geographic regions. We then discusses the importance of tools and standardizing methods for assessment and management purposes, in the context of international environmental policies and marine litter strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The study of two caves from the Serra do Ramalho region is here presented, this is one of the most important karstic areas in Brazil. A taxonomic analysis revealed 29 taxa including Xenarthra, Cetartiodactyla and Carnivora, ranging from Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene. Taphonomic studies reveal taphocoenosis consisting mainly of complete elements, without significant transportation, but also of transported elements, composing spatial-mixed, predominantly in situ-preserved assemblages. The predominance of Xenarthrans found within the caves is probably biased by a taphonomic pattern since these animals would have life habits related to cave environments, therefore with higher chances of preservation. There is evidence of accidental death of the scelidotheriines in Lapa dos Peixes cave, where entrapment of the animals during one or more events of river flooding is pointed as a hypothesis. Deposition took place within different periods of dry and humid climate incorporating bones in clastic and chemical deposits. Cycles of sedimentary deposition and reworking (erosion) may have acted in generating complex and overlapping depositional patterns with time averaging. During depositional phase, while the cave environment was occupied rather by Xenarthrans, parts of other animals were transported in the scope of fluvial systems and gravity loads, as well as by accidental falling or scavengers. The sedimentary deposits are currently being eroded by rain runoff in both caves, causing the reallocation of finer sediments to deeper conduits but the fossils keep close to their original location. This process is exposing a large amount of fossils, allowing extensive sampling which would be impossible with active excavations, since it would require an excessively longer time and damages to the caves. Highlights • Fossils naturally exposed by erosion were studied in two caves from Brazil. • 29 taxa, mostly Xenarthrans, were found with life habits related to caves. • Taphocoenosis mainly of complete elements, but also transported elements. • Dry and humid climates formed clastic and chemical deposits with time averaging. • Low energy erosive phase has transported fine sediments while keeping the fossils in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Timor has yielded the earliest evidence for modern humans in Wallacea, but despite its long history of modern human occupation, there is little evidence for human-induced Late Pleistocene extinctions. Here, we report on Late Pleistocene and Holocene bird remains from Jerimalai and Matja Kuru 1, sites that have yielded extensive archaeological sequences dating back to >40 ka. Avian remains are present throughout the sequence, and quails (Phasianidae), buttonquails (Turnicidae) and pigeons (Columbidae) are the most abundant groups. Taphonomic analyses suggest that the majority of bird remains, with the exception of large-bodied pigeons, were accumulated by avian predators, likely the Barn owl Tyto sp. All species represent extant taxa that are still present on Timor today, with the exception of a crane, Grus sp., from the Late Pleistocene of Jerimalai, and a large buttonquail, Turnix sp., from Matja Kuru 1. The crane likely represents an extirpated population of cranes, which were much more widespread throughout the Indonesian archipelago during the Quaternary. The large buttonquail is present at Matja Kuru 1 alongside the extant T. maculosus until at least 1372–1300 cal BP. These two species represent the first records of avian extinctions on Timor. However, a causal relationship between the extinction of these two taxa and human impact cannot be demonstrated at this point. Highlights • Jerimalai and Matja Kuru 1 record the first avian extinctions on Timor. • The majority of avian remains were accumulated by avian predators. • Quails, buttonquails, and pigeons are abundant groups at both sites. • The Late Pleistocene of Jerimalai records an extinct population of cranes. • A species of large buttonquail is present at Matja Kuru 1 until 1372–1300 cal BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The use of diagnostic methods that prevent irreplaceable samples (from museum collections, archaeological and paleontological samples) of being consumed or that increase their yield is relevant. For museum collections, archaeological and paleontological samples it is essential to conserve samples, subsamples or portions for future research. We are addressing methods for conservation of irreplaceable samples that could be fully consumed. Innovations in methodologies that are used in studies of Paleoparasitology and Paleomicrobiology will contribute to the preservation of collections. Therefore, to the development of archaeology and paleontology in the future, we evaluated whether the discarded material of the immunochromatography test could be used for molecular diagnosis and vice versa. We used a genotyped experimental coprolite positive for Giardia duodenalis. The diagnosis was positive for giardiasis in both cases. This methodology can be corroborated with the coprolite of a Paleolama maior (extinct llama) previously diagnosed for G. duodenalis with an immunoenzymatic test. The residue of the pre-digestion step of the DNA extraction before adding Proteinase K was confirmed positive with the immunochromatographic test. Also, the DNA extraction residue from a coprolite of Nothrotherium maquinense (ground sloth) was tested positive with immunochromatographic test for G. duodenalis. These are the oldest findings for G. duodenalis confirming that this intestinal parasite occurred among Northeastern Brazilian Megafauna animals from the late Pleistocene period, correlated to human occupation. The relevance of these results will allow the study by different methodological approaches from a small amount of material, reusing discarded materials. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Residue of DNA extraction can be used for paleoparasitological immunodiagnosis. • Residue of imunodiagnosis can be used for recovery ancient DNA from parasites. • Giardia duodenalis occurred among Northeastern Brazilian Megafauna. • Innovation in existing diagnostic methodologies help preserve rare samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notiomastodon platensis was a Pleistocene proboscidean endemic to South America, and until now, the unique proboscidean taxon recognized in Brazil, representing one of the most important herbivorous megamammals present in the Brazilian Intertropical Region (BIR). The aim of this study was to analyze δ 13C and δ 18O isotopic signatures from samples from two dentin incremental layers of an individual tusk from the Sousa municipality (Paraíba State, Brazil), in order to infer diet, niche breadth, and paleoenvironment. Radiocarbon dating suggests that the studied individual lived in the Last Glacial Maximum age (24,190–24,567 Cal yr BP), and probably had a mixed-feeder diet with slightly higher consumption of C 3 plants (δ 13C = −7.5 ± 0.2‰, p i = 68%) during two years of its life. We suggest a generalist habit (B A = 0.83) for this individual, similar to the results found for this species in other BIR locations. In addition, we suggest that the individual from Sousa/PB lived in a wetter environment (δ 18O = 27.2 ± 0.5‰) when compared to other localities in the BIR. • A two years isotopic diet for a mastodont is presented; • This individual lived between 24,190–24,567 Cal yr BP; • The δ 13C indicate a mixed-feeder diet; • The δ 18O signature suggests a wetter moment in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleistocene fluvial sequences have been recognised in some regions of México as an important source of information on past environmental change using a wide range of proxies. However, this has not been attempted in Mexico's southernmost state of Chiapas until the current paper, where the main aim is to describe and date five new Late Pleistocene fossil rich sequences and to interpret their paleoenvironmental record and changes that they indicate. This interpretation is based on the sedimentology, pollen record and stable isotopes from vertebrate fossils together with the radiocarbon dating of the fluvial sediments. At Los Mangos and El Bajión fossil sites the fluvial sediment record reported here includes a conspicuous layer with aerodynamic Fe magnetic microspherules associated with the Younger Dryas (YD) meteorite impact which adds to the type of paleoenvironments in which such meteorite impacts have been recognised. The sediment dating indicates that the fossiliferous sites are Late Pleistocene in age, and they add new locations and information for México for this climatic phase. • We present a revisión, dating and interpretation of the Late Pleistocene megafauna from Chiapas State, southern Mexico. • Five fossiliferous fluvial sequences showed important changes in the river direction and energy during the Late Pleistocene. • Late Pleistocene paleoenvironment was mainly of savanna with sporadic trees. • First record of the Younger Dryas Meteorite layer preserved in fluvial sediments in Central America. • The megafauna assemblages are of Rancholabrean age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]