Question 30

The extinction of North American megafauna, such as mammoths and mastodons, at the end of the Pleistocene epoch has long been a subject of contention among researchers. The "overkill hypothesis" suggests that the arrival of skilled human hunters was the decisive factor, asserting that these animals were quickly eradicated by the proliferation of the Clovis culture. Proponents point to the synchronization between human arrival and the disappearance of large mammals as definitive proof. Conversely, other scholars emphasize the role of climate change, noting that the warming world altered vegetation zones and fragmented habitats, placing immense stress on large herbivore populations independent of human activity. More recent analyses, including examinations of fungal spores in ancient sediment to track population density, indicate that some species were declining significantly prior to widespread human settlement. This evidence has led to a growing consensus around a synergistic explanation. In this view, climate-driven habitat loss reduced megafauna resilience, rendering them susceptible to extinction when the additional pressure of human hunting was introduced. Thus, neither factor acts as a solitary agent; rather, the convergence of ecological transformation and predation likely sealed the fate of these ancient giants. Which of the following best summarizes the author's conclusion regarding the extinction of North American megafauna?