Novel dynamics of human-carnivore interactions linked to the arrival of H. sapiens in Europe

Upon the arrival of H. sapiens in Europe, the abundance and diversity of secondary consumers progressively diminished. The factors contributing to this increased human pressure and its potential association with Neanderthal extinction remain unknown. This study identifies biotic and abiotic effects on the structure and assembly of secondary consumers at the European scale during Marine Isotope Stage 3 by integrating analyses of their geographic ranges, co-occurrence patterns, and generalized mixed models. Results show that during the replacement of Neanderthals by Homo sapiens , the range of secondary consumers contracted and their co-occurrence frequency increased, leading to new intra-guild interaction dynamics. Additionally, H. sapiens occupied a larger portion of the secondary consumers’ fundamental niche. Climate change, the demographic decline of keystone species, and the broader niche breadth of H. sapiens reduced the interconnectivity of the co-occurrence network among secondary consumers, shaping novel dynamics of human-carnivore interactions in Europe.