四年纪后期哺乳动物的体型下降
Felisa A Smith1, Rosemary E Elliott Smith2, S Kathleen Lyons3
1Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. fasmith@unm.edu.
概括
大型哺乳动物的灭绝是由人类活动驱动的, 这种前所未有的趋势正在重塑地球的生物圈,
科学领域:
- 古生物学
- 生态学
- 进化生物学
背景情况:
- 大型哺乳动物 (巨型动物) 在普莱斯托纪后期以来在全球显著下降.
- 剩下的巨型动物主要集中在非洲,与过去的全球分布形成鲜明对比.
- 这种下降与四年纪人类的扩张相吻合.
研究的目的:
- 量化过去12万5千年的哺乳动物灭绝选择性和体型分布, 并预测未来200年.
- 分析跨大陆和食用模式的分类多样性变化.
- 确定规模选择性巨大动物灭绝的主要驱动因素及其生态后果.
主要方法:
- 对哺乳动物灭绝模式,体型分布和分类学多样性在五个不同的时间间隔进行分析.
- 对大陆,热量模式和地质时间的选择性灭绝进行比较研究.
- 模拟大型动物群和生态系统结构的未来趋势.
主要成果:
- 哺乳动物的尺寸选择性灭绝从最早的分析间隔 (超过125,000年前) 显而易见,并且发生在全球范围内.
- 在过去的6500万年哺乳动物进化过程中,观察到的规模选择性灭绝的程度是前所未有的.
- 人类活动被确定为这些分类损失和由此产生的生态系统同质化的主要驱动因素.
结论:
- 人类的行为推动了长期的,前所未有的大型动物灭绝的趋势.
- 大型动物数量和多样性的减少从根本上改变了地球的生物圈结构和功能.
- 哺乳动物的持续体型下降对生态系统稳定性和生态过程构成重大风险.
更多相关视频
相关概念视频
Cell Size
132.0K
Cell sizes vary widely among and within organisms. Bacterial cells range between 1-10 micrometers (μm)and are considerably smaller than most eukaryotic cells. The smallest bacteria are 0.1 μm in diameter—about a thousand times smaller than eukaryotic cells, which typically range from 10-100 μm.
Surface Area
Cells can take in nutrients and water via diffusion through the plasma membrane itself or through specific channels in the membrane. The area of the membrane surrounding...
Surface Area
Cells can take in nutrients and water via diffusion through the plasma membrane itself or through specific channels in the membrane. The area of the membrane surrounding...
132.0K
Brick Sizes
352
Brick sizing plays a crucial role in construction, influencing both the aesthetics and structural integrity of buildings. Bricks are defined by three dimensions: width, thickness, and length. They are commonly designed to fit modular measurements, typically in multiples of 4 inches or 8 inches in width, to facilitate uniform construction and compatibility with other building materials.
Modular bricks are the most common type and are sized to include the mortar joint, which is essential for...
Modular bricks are the most common type and are sized to include the mortar joint, which is essential for...
352
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
9.2K
While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
9.2K
Body Temperature
4.9K
The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
4.9K
Body Temperature
1.5K
Body temperature reflects the equilibrium between heat production and heat loss within the body. Most heat is generated by metabolically active tissues, particularly the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and endocrine organs. At rest, skeletal muscles contribute 20–30% of total heat production, but during vigorous exercise, this can increase up to 30–40 times.
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C...
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C...
1.5K
Centroid of a Body
1.9K
The centroid is an important concept in engineering, physics, and mechanics. It is the geometric center of a body. It always lies within the body except in cases with holes or cavities. When the material that a body is composed of is uniform or homogeneous, the centroid coincides with its center of mass or the center of gravity.
For a homogeneous body with constant density, the centroid can usually be found using equations representing a balance of the moments of the body's volume. If the...
For a homogeneous body with constant density, the centroid can usually be found using equations representing a balance of the moments of the body's volume. If the...
1.9K


