The Mammoth Steppe: A Frosty Savanna

This study investigates the potential of using contemporary African Grasslands as an ecological analog to understand the Pleistocene Eurasian Mammoth Steppe, a complex ecosystem known primarily through estimations, proxies, and extrapolation of the limited direct evidence. By examining the themes of climate, flora, and fauna, the research aims to assess the validity of African Grasslands in offering insights into the dynamics of the Mammoth Steppe, particularly in the context of megafaunal interactions. Despite the inherent challenges of employing proxies, this analysis highlights significant, albeit inconsistent, parallels between the two ecosystems, such as bioproductivity and mammalian biodiversity. Results indicate that while the African Grasslands cannot serve as a comprehensive proxy for the Mammoth Steppe, they present a valuable opportunity for generating hypotheses and stimulating further research on megafaunal impacts during the Pleistocene. The findings underscore the necessity for cautious application of proxy methods in paleoecological studies, emphasizing the importance of establishing independent comparisons to enhance the scientific understanding of extinct ecosystems. This work lays the groundwork for future investigations into the relationships between existing and extinct ecological systems.