The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Times Media

.

Giant 'kings of apes' once roamed southern China. We solved the mystery of their extinction

  • Written by Kira Westaway, Associate Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University
Giant 'kings of apes' once roamed southern China. We solved the mystery of their extinction

Giant creatures are usually associated with dinosaurs, woolly mammoths or mystical beasts. But if you go back though the human lineage you’ll find a very distant relative that stood three metres tall and weighed around 250 kilograms. This was Gigantopithecus blacki, the mightiest of all the primates and one of the biggest unresolved mysteries in palaeontology.

Despite surviving for nearly two million years in what is now the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China, the entire species is represented in the fossil record only by a few thousand teeth and four jawbones. Nothing from the neck down.

Added to that is its mysterious disappearance from the fossil record at a time when other primates were flourishing. Where did the giants go and what brought them down?

Since 2015, a team of Chinese, Australian and US scientists has been chasing[1] this mighty beast in the distinctive terrains[2] of southern China. Our findings are published in Nature today[3] and reveal a story of seasonality, stress and vulnerability.

A series of flat-topped tall cliffs covered in greenery set against a blue sky
A karst landscape panorama in southern China. Renaud Joannes-Boyau

Finding the window of extinction

Extensive exploration and excavations in hundreds of caves over a five-year period has been narrowed down into evidence from 22 caves in two regions of Guangxi: Chongzuo, near the Vietnamese border, and Bubing Basin, close to Nanning. Eleven of these caves contain evidence of G. blacki and the other eleven – of a similar age range – do not.

Our team applied several dating techniques to sediments from the caves: luminescence dating[4] of feldspars (a common rock-forming mineral), electron spin resonance dating[5] of quartz, and uranium series dating[6] of stalagmites and similar deposits, as well as fossils. Altogether we ended up with a staggering 157 radiometric ages.

A dark cave with light walls, with several people in hard hats looking through the sediment Excavations in Ma Feng Cave in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China. Kira Westaway

We used these data sets to establish exactly when G. blacki dropped out of the fossil record, to define a “window of extinction”. This window allowed us to target a period of time to look closely at the environmental changes.

Next, we looked at eight sources of environmental and behavioural evidence, including ancient pollen grains, other animal bones and micro details in the sediments.

A close up of a dark faced ape with dark ginger hair, black eyes and a round muzzle The closest primate relative of G. blacki is the critically endangered orangutan. Bob Brewer/Unsplash[7]

Furthermore, we gained a wealth of information from G. blacki teeth themselves – from isotopic signatures[8], trace elements and the wear patterns on the surface of the teeth. This evidence can indicate diet, migration patterns, habitat preferences, diversity of food sources and stress.

This data represents the largest collection of well-dated evidence for the giant ape and for the first time is supported by well-documented environmental and behavioural changes. It reveals the rise and fall of G. blacki in comparison to its closest primate relative – the orangutans.

Stronger seasons

Surprisingly, G. blacki went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago, much more recently than previously assumed. Before this time, G. blacki flourished in a rich and diverse forest.

But between 600,000 and 300,000 years ago the environment became more variable. An increase in the strength of the seasons caused a change in the structure of the forest plant communities. By 200,000 years ago, the forests started to deteriorate.

Differences in trace elements such as barium, strontium and calcium mapped across the inside of G. blacki and orangutan teeth. At earlier sites, clear banding in both species’ teeth suggests diverse food sources and a flourishing population. Diffuse or no banding in later G. blacki suggests less diverse food sources and chronic stress. The orangutan tooth suggests a less stressed population than G. blacki at this time. Nature

Despite being a close relative of G. blacki, orangutans were able to adapt their size, behaviour and habitat preferences to accommodate to these forest changes. Their fossils display a flexible and balanced diet with very little stress during this period.

But G. blacki made the fatal mistake of relying on a less nutritious back-up food like twigs and bark when their favourite food sources such as fruit-bearing plants were unavailable. This meant the diversity of the giant apes’ food decreased and their less mobile body size compared to the more agile orangutans restricted their geographic range for foraging.

Surprisingly, G. blacki also increased in body size over this period, which further contributed to food source problems and caused immense chronic stress to the species. This stress can be seen in the trace element mapping of their teeth, providing an insight into a species on the brink of extinction.

A graph showing more arboreal plants and fewer ferns before the window of extinction, and a more even spread of plants afterward Pollen records from caves in the region showing the change in plant communities over time. Nature

Failure to adapt

As a direct consequence, G. blacki numbers dwindled as the species was placed under increasing environmental stress.

It would seem that by having such specific food and habitat preferences, G. blacki was vulnerable to environmental and habitat changes. Its size and choice of food hampered its adaptation compared to more agile and mobile species like orangutans.

The story of G. blacki is a lesson in extinction – how some species are more equipped to survive change and others are more vulnerable. This is a lesson we must take on board with the looming threat of a sixth mass extinction event.

Trying to understand past extinctions is a good starting point to understand primate resilience. It may offer clues to the fate of other large animals, both in the past and in the future.

Read more: What is a 'mass extinction' and are we in one now?[9]

References

  1. ^ has been chasing (www.wheregiantsroamed.com)
  2. ^ the distinctive terrains (education.nationalgeographic.org)
  3. ^ are published in Nature today (www.nature.com)
  4. ^ luminescence dating (www.thoughtco.com)
  5. ^ electron spin resonance dating (en.wikipedia.org)
  6. ^ uranium series dating (www.britannica.com)
  7. ^ Bob Brewer/Unsplash (unsplash.com)
  8. ^ isotopic signatures (en.wikipedia.org)
  9. ^ What is a 'mass extinction' and are we in one now? (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/giant-kings-of-apes-once-roamed-southern-china-we-solved-the-mystery-of-their-extinction-219304

The Times Features

Joykids Australia Presents the Joykids Family Rave: A Weekend Adventure Like No Other

Get ready to kick off the first day of summer and the festive season with an unforgettable family adventure! Joykids Australia is excited to announce the Joykids Family Rave—an...

New study suggests weight loss drugs like Ozempic could help with knee pain. Here’s why there may be a link

The drug semaglutide, commonly known by the brand names Ozempic or Wegovy, was originally developed[1] to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. How...

Maintaining Your Pool After a Marble Interior Upgrade

After upgrading your pool with a marble interior, it’s crucial to understand that maintenance is key to preserving its elegance and longevity. You’ll want to regularly skim for d...

Labor using explanatory document to hide true powers of Misinformation Bill

The opinions and commentary of individuals could be deemed misinformation under Labor’s proposed legislation changes, according to James McComish of Victorian Bar. Appearing in...

Hotel Indigo launches limited-edition candle collection inspired by local neighbourhoods across ANZ

Hotel Indigo, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' luxury and lifestyle portfolio, is releasing a limited-edition candle collection inspired by the unique neighbourhoods its hotel...

Kyndryl ANZ appoints new Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances

Former Head of Marketing to lead and grow Kyndryl’s local channel ecosystem and bolster technological capabilities Kyndryl has strengthened its local leadership team with the ...

Times Magazine

How to Analyze and Repair Complex Non-Volatile Memory Failures: Advanced Techniques for Handling NAND Flash Degradation

Non-volatile memory is the unsung hero of our digital world, quietly storing crucial data even when power is lost. But what happens when this silent guardian begins to fail? For laptop users, understanding and addressing complex NAND flash degradat...

Alcohol and your brain: study finds even moderate drinking is damaging

It’s a well-known fact that drinking too much alcohol can have a serious impact on your health, including damaging your liver. But how much is too much? For conditions such as liver cirrhosis, that’s usually more than 21 units of alcohol a we...

Inclusion of the Best Dog Beds to Buy

It can be difficult to find a suitable dog bed that is cosy and long-lasting. It should be durable enough to withstand stains and keep up with your active dog but cosy enough for them to unwind and rest. Even though it might seem like a difficult e...

How to Create an Engaging and Functional Web Design

A website is an essential tool that many businesses use to reach out to their target audience and promote the goods and services they offer. It also helps businesses in developing and maintaining a pool of loyal customers. However, these goals ca...

Tinseltown - Keeping up with the Kardashians no more: the complicated legacy of reality’s first family

Kim Kardashian West has announced to her 160m followers on Instagram that Keeping Up with the Kardashians will end after its next season. The Kardashians, particularly Kim, have been at the centre of cultural debates and controversies for 13 yea...

Benefits of building in timber frame

If you have a plan to do a home construction project, choose a solid and reliable timber frame for your best bet. A timber frame uses wood studs and rails with a sheathing board to create structural support for the uninitiated. But the myth is th...