Assessing contemporary Arctic habitat availability for a woolly mammoth proxy

Area of Science:

• Paleoecology
• Ecosystem restoration
• Arctic ecology

Background:

• Arctic megafauna extinction ~12-15 ka altered ecosystems.
• Megafaunal ecological engineering is of growing interest.
• Contemporary Arctic conditions for megaherbivore rewilding are unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess Arctic ecosystem suitability for megaherbivore rewilding.
• Use woolly mammoth (M. primigenius) as a proxy species.
• Inform potential rewilding strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of woolly mammoth diet.
• Biomass estimation using ORNL DAAC Carbon Density Maps (300 m resolution).
• Biomass adjustment using NASA ABVE dataset and NPP conversion factors.

Main Results:

• Estimated carrying capacity for woolly mammoths on Alaska's North Slope: 0.0-0.38 individuals/km² (mean 0.13).
• Analysis considered plant functional types, digestible biomass, and net primary productivity.
• Habitat variability influences potential megaherbivore densities.

Conclusions:

• Alaska's North Slope may support low densities of woolly mammoths.
• Results provide a quantitative basis for Arctic rewilding feasibility.
• Findings can guide future megafaunal reintroduction initiatives.