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Population Histories of Artiodactyls during the Holocene of Western North America: Archaeological Evidence and Implications for Management
Jack M. Broughton |
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A rich body of data bearing on the Holocene history of
artiodactyl populations resides in archaeological and
paleontological deposits distributed across western
North America. Viewed from the perspective of foraging
theory and combined with high-resolution paleoclimatic
records and archaeological information on human
demographic trends, these data suggest that artiodactyl
populations experienced a series of dramatic long-term
fluctuations over the last 10,000 years. During the
early and middle Holocene (9,000 to 5,000 B.P.),
artiodactyl populations in many areas were substantially
depressed due to prevailing drought conditions. Human
populations were negatively affected at these times as
well, to judge from the paucity of archaeological
remains dating to these periods. With the abrupt onset
of moister conditions of the late Holocene (5000 to 3000
B.P.) and with human predator populations then low,
artiodactyl populations expanded to reach record-high
densities. However, in many settings, burgeoning human
populations and hunting pressure ultimately overtook
ungulate herds causing dramatic late Holocene population
declines. After A.D. 1492, European-based diseases
rapidly swept through many areas of the west causing
dramatic declines in native hunters and ultimately
irruptions of artiodactyl herds. These patterns suggest
that Holocene artiodactyl populations have been limited
by both climate-based deterioration of forage quality
and human predation and have implications for the future
management of mountain areas. |
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