Researchers have been utilizing yak dung analysis to gather insights on ancient climate and vegetation patterns, and how these potentially contributed to the extinction of mammoth and woolly rhino. The study primarily offers a detailed reflection of yak’s dietary habits and how it changed with climatic alterations, while also providing information on the plant species which existed during that time. This research, therefore, offers crucial insights on the significant role that dung analysis can play in understanding the climatic factors and adaptation strategies of extinct mega herbivores.
The Link Between Yak Dung and Historical Vegetation
Yak dung, according to scientists, provides an excellent record of the type of flora consumed by these animals. This helps in drawing out the botanical profile of the region where they lived. Through the study of yak dung, researchers detected a variety of pollen, spores, and phytoliths, silica bodies found in plants. These findings indicated that yaks had a diverse diet, feeding on several types of plants available to them.
The Yak’s Dietary Adaptations to Climate Change
One of the most significant findings from this research is that yaks were able to adapt their diet according to the climatic changes in their surroundings. In contrast to the yaks, mega herbivores like the woolly rhino and the giant mammoth, which coexisted with yak between 18,000 to 20,000 years ago, could not adjust their feeding habits to match the changing climate and eventually went extinct.
Fossilized Dung: A Key to Understanding Extinct Animals
By comparing the dietary patterns of the present fauna with the extinct ones, scientists worldwide are getting a clearer understanding of past climatic conditions and adaptation strategies. The exploration of fossilized dung is a valuable tool in this process, opening a window to the prehistoric world that can give us more knowledge about our environment’s ancient state.
Some Facts about Yak (Bos grunniens)
Name
Status
Diet
Threats
Yak (Bos grunniens)
Vulnerable (IUCN Red list), listed under Appendix I of CITES, Scheduled II in Indian WildLife (Protection) Act of 1972
Herbivore, adaptable to varying types of plants
Casual and market hunting for meat, horns, and other materials
The Yak’s Natural Habitat and Survival Threats
The Yak, primarily found in the Tibetan Plateau and the adjacent high-altitude regions, is capable of tolerating extremely low temperatures, even as low as -40 degrees Celsius. Belonging to the Bovini tribe, which also includes bisons, buffaloes, and cattle, the yak’s current status on the IUCN Red list is vulnerable. The most severe threat to the yak’s survival comes from casual and market hunting for its meat, horns and other materials, leading to a stark decline in its population.
