Ancient livestock linked to native herbivore decline in Madagascar

New analyses of ancient cattle, sheep, and goat bones on Madagascar suggest the rapid spread of introduced livestock 1,200 years ago coincided with forest loss and population declines of large native herbivores.

Researchers from Oregon State University and Columbia University conducted the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The study indicates that livestock spread alongside expanding grasslands, with sedimentary pollen analysis showing increased grass abundance within the last millennium.

Paleoclimate data suggest that drying occurred at different times across the island, but livestock likely adapted to drier conditions by relying more on C4 grasses.

The earliest documented presence of sheep and cattle in Madagascar's interior over a millennium ago suggests a rapid spread of livestock, which aligns with the decline of native large herbivores.

The study highlights a causal link between livestock proliferation and past extinctions, indicating that factors beyond hunting, such as habitat change, played a significant role.