Jump to content

Megafauna: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Undid revision by The way, the truth, and the light Edit rmeoves petinenet information and replaces with unsourced POV.
m revert
Line 6: Line 6:
'''Megafauna''' are generally defined as those species animals whose average adult weight exceed 100 pounds (44 kg). The term is also used to refer to particular groups of large animals, both to extant species and, more often, those that have become [[extinction|extinct]] in [[Quaternary|geologically recent times]].
'''Megafauna''' are generally defined as those species animals whose average adult weight exceed 100 pounds (44 kg). The term is also used to refer to particular groups of large animals, both to extant species and, more often, those that have become [[extinction|extinct]] in [[Quaternary|geologically recent times]].


Megafauna animals are generally [[R/K selection theory|K-strategist]]s, with great longevity, slow population growth rates, low death rates, and few or no natural predators capable of killing adults. These characteristics make megafauna highly vulnerable to human exploitation. Many [[Pleistocene megafauna|species of megafauna]] have become extinct within the last million years, and, although some biologists dispute it, human [[hunting]] is often cited as the cause.
Megafauna animals are generally [[R/K selection theory|K-strategist]]s, with great longevity, slow population growth rates, low death rates, and few or no natural predators capable of killing adults. These characteristics make megafauna highly vulnerable to human exploitation. Large animals with popular appeal, often called [[charismatic megafauna]], are often used by [[environmentalist]] groups to promote attention to our damaging of the world's ecosystems.

==Recent extinctions==
{{main|Pleistocene megafauna}}

Many species of megafauna have become extinct within the last million years, and, although some biologists dispute it, human [[hunting]] is often cited as the cause. Other theories for the cause of the extinctions are climatic change associated with [[Ice age|glaciation]] and the questionable hyperdisease hypothesis.


==Megafauna by continent==
==Megafauna by continent==

Revision as of 00:18, 4 June 2007

The mammoth, an extinct genus of megafauna.

Megafauna are generally defined as those species animals whose average adult weight exceed 100 pounds (44 kg). The term is also used to refer to particular groups of large animals, both to extant species and, more often, those that have become extinct in geologically recent times.

Megafauna animals are generally K-strategists, with great longevity, slow population growth rates, low death rates, and few or no natural predators capable of killing adults. These characteristics make megafauna highly vulnerable to human exploitation. Large animals with popular appeal, often called charismatic megafauna, are often used by environmentalist groups to promote attention to our damaging of the world's ecosystems.

Recent extinctions

Main article: Pleistocene megafauna

Many species of megafauna have become extinct within the last million years, and, although some biologists dispute it, human hunting is often cited as the cause. Other theories for the cause of the extinctions are climatic change associated with glaciation and the questionable hyperdisease hypothesis.

Megafauna by continent

"†" denotes extinct megafauna

African megafauna

Australian megafauna

See also: Australian megafauna

Eurasian megafauna

North American megafauna

Central & South American megafauna

Island megafauna

Ocean megafauna

Arctic megafauna

Domestic megafauna

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megafauna&oldid=135671898"