Megafauna Loss Simplifies Food Webs

A PNAS study using predator–prey data from 389 tropical sites finds that the loss of large mammals tens of thousands of years ago still shapes today's ecosystems: regions that lost most megafauna (notably the Americas) now have fewer predators, narrower prey choices, and smaller, less mobile prey species. Those long‑running legacies mean past extinctions reduce ecological complexity and may increase present‑day vulnerability for remaining species. — If the disappearance of large animals produces persistent simplification and fragility in ecosystems, conservation and restoration strategies need to prioritize large‑animal protection and consider deep‑time legacies when assessing ecosystem health and extinction risk.