Megaherbivores: Earth’s Lost Ecosystem Engineers

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The decline of megafauna has reshaped ecosystems globally. Reintroducing or recreating extinct species could restore lost ecological functions, according to our guest author.

Recently, Colossal Biosciences, a genetic engineering firm, announced their efforts to revive the “terrible dog” (Aenocyon Dirus), an animal that vanished approximately 10,000 years ago, generating considerable buzz.

Tho, the animals presented are essentially modern gray wolves with some genetic modifications.

Ecological Roles of Extinct Species

Regardless of the “terrible dogs” designation, Colossal Biosciences claims to have genetically reconstructed a lost ecological function. This raises questions about the ecological roles missing from contemporary ecosystems due to human-caused extinctions.

Ecological function refers to the influence animals exert on their environments. Bees and other insects pollinate plants, beavers construct dams, elephants topple trees, and ants and termites move earth and decompose organic matter.

It remains unclear how the genetically engineered dogs would differ ecologically from gray wolves, although thay might hypothetically hunt different prey or behave differently.

With only three wolves, demonstrating statistically significant ecological effects is unlikely. Though, the idea that these dogs could fulfill different ecological roles than gray wolves is more compelling than the claim of bringing back the wolf.

Animals weighing over half a ton have significant ecological impacts. Human activities have drastically reduced their numbers, with many species going extinct in the last ten thousand years.

As humans colonized new continents, larger animals faced higher extinction rates. Following human arrival in the Americas, megafauna like ground sloths, mammoths, elephants, giant bison, tapirs, and even giant armadillos and camels disappeared.

Australia lost its megafauna, including the Diprotodon, short-faced kangaroos, and a tapir-like marsupial.

These extinctions also included marsupial lions and terrestrial crocodiles, large constrictors, and monitor lizards. Europe and asia also experienced megafaunal extinctions as humans populated these regions.

A Once-African world

Africa remains the only continent with diverse megaherbivores like rhinos, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and buffalo. Though, even there, extinctions occurred, including a wildebeest-like animal and elephant species, potentially due to human activity.

In Africa, megaherbivores fulfill crucial ecological roles lost elsewhere. Elephants maintain savannas, while hippos create grazing areas and enrich aquatic ecosystems with their waste, supporting food chains.

Large herbivores trample vegetation and riverbanks, contribute to nutrient cycling through their feces, disperse seeds, and create habitat diversity.

these processes influence wildfire frequency, ecosystem types, and even weather patterns and climate.

The loss of megafauna, particularly in Australia, significantly altered ecosystems from tropical forests to deserts. Fire regimes and nutrient cycles changed, and the disappearance of apex predators led to increased grazing pressure from smaller herbivores like kangaroos and koalas, hindering forest preservation.

Without large native predators, remaining marsupials lost their fear. Introduced cats,dogs,and foxes decimated marsupial populations,driving some to extinction. Smaller bilbies, desert bandicoots, and broad-faced potoroos were lost due to predation.

Reviving Large Herbivores?

A significant achievement for colossal Biosciences would be the reintroduction of large animals to restore lost ecological functions. Reviving megaherbivores like diprotodons and short-faced kangaroos, or predators like marsupial lions, would be impressive. However, this may remain scientifically unattainable.

Jurassic Park remains a work of fiction, as does the idea of recovering Australian fauna from 60,000 years ago.Even if revival were possible, the success of reintroduced animals is uncertain, given the significant ecological changes in Australia since their extinction.

instead of attempting to reconstruct lost ecological functions through genetic manipulation of extant animals, which may not be suitable for rewilding, a different approach is needed.

The focus should be on preserving existing species in their habitats and restoring ecological functions. while less sensational than genetic manipulation, this approach is more achievable and beneficial.