The earliest Ethiopian wolf : implications for the species evolution and its future survival
Martínez-Navarro, Bienvenido (Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Departament d'Història i Història de l'Art)
Gossa, Tegenu (Arba Minch University. Department of History and Heritage Management)
Carotenuto, Francesco (University of Naples "Federico II". Department of Earth, Environment and Resource Sciences)
Bartolini-Lucenti, Saverio (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Palmqvist, Paul (Universidad de Málaga. Departamento de Ecología y Geología)
Asrat, Asfawossen (Addis Ababa University. School of Earth Sciences)
Figueirido, Borja (Universidad de Málaga. Departamento de Ecología y Geología)
Rook, Lorenzo (University of Florence. Earth Science Department, Paleo[Fab]Lab)
Niespolo, Elizabeth M. (Berkeley Geochronology Center)
Renne, Paul R. (Berkeley Geochronology Center)
Herzlinger, Gadi (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Institute of Archaeology)
Hovers, Erella (Arizona State University. Institute of Human Origins)

Date:	2023
Abstract:	In 2017, a hemimandible (MW5-B208), corresponding to the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), was found in a stratigraphically-controlled and radio-isotopically-dated sequence of the Melka Wakena paleoanthropological site-complex, on the Southeastern Ethiopian Highlands, ~ 2300 m above sea level. The specimen is the first and unique Pleistocene fossil of this species. Our data provide an unambiguous minimum age of 1. 6-1. 4 Ma for the species' presence in Africa and constitutes the first empirical evidence that supports molecular interpretations. Currently, C. simensis is one of the most endangered carnivore species of Africa. Bioclimate niche modeling applied to the time frame indicated by the fossil suggests that the lineage of the Ethiopian wolf faced severe survival challenges in the past, with consecutive drastic geographic range contractions during warmer periods. These models help to describe future scenarios for the survival of the species. Projections ranging from most pessimistic to most optimistic future climatic scenarios indicate significant reduction of the already-deteriorating territories suitable for the Ethiopian Wolf, increasing the threat to the specie's future survival. Additionally, the recovery of the Melka Wakena fossil underscores the importance of work outside the East African Rift System in research of early human origins and associated biodiversity on the African continent.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CGL2017-92166-EXP Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2019-111185GB-I00 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CEX2019-000945-M Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-01238
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Palaeontology ; Conservation biology
Published in:	Communications Biology, Vol. 6 (May 2023) , art. 530, ISSN 2399-3642

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04908-w
PMID: 37193884

14 p, 5.8 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles