"Prehistoric Poop Uncovers Extinction Waves in Colombia's Megafauna"

Fungal spores found in prehistoric dung reveal that large animals went extinct in two "waves" in the Colombian Andes, with major impacts on ecosystems. The study used samples from a peat bog in Pantano de Monquentiva and found that large animals became locally extinct about 23,000 years ago and again about 11,000 years ago. The cause of these local extinctions is unknown, but climate changes and hunting by humans are two possibilities. The findings highlight how the disappearance of large animals could once again transform ecosystems that sustain wildlife and humans.