Siberian Woolly Rhino DNA From Ice Age Found in Fossilized Poop of Ancient Hyena

From the fossilized poop of Ice Age hyenas, scientists were able to obtain the DNA of Siberian woolly rhinos. What does this mean in terms of wildlife and climate change?

Ice Age DNA in Coprolite Samples

A German research team, comprising paleontologists, evolutionists, and geoscientists, has successfully extracted Ice Age wooly rhino DNA from fossilized excrement samples, known as coprolites, found in two caves within Germany's Lone Valley. These coprolite samples were left by ancient hyenas, which were known to prey on various large animals, including woolly rhinos. The study focused on shedding light on the history of the European woolly rhinoceros, a species distinct from the Siberian variety.

Despite severe DNA degradation, the team managed to isolate and assemble the mitochondrial genome of a woolly rhino, marking a groundbreaking achievement. Their analysis revealed that the European and Siberian woolly rhinos split from a common ancestor around 45,000 years ago. Mitochondrial genomes, found in mitochondria, the "powerhouse of the cell," are inherited from an organism's mother and are more resilient to degradation than nuclear DNA.

They play a crucial role in tracing ancestry and provide essential insights into the evolutionary history of these ancient woolly rhinos, enhancing our understanding of these Ice Age giants and their genetic lineage.

Siberian Wooly Rhino

The woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), a prominent species of the Eurasian Pleistocene megafauna, thrived in Eurasia until its decline around 10,000 years ago. Genomic data from European populations were previously lacking, with existing data only from Siberian populations. However, a research team utilized coprolites from cave hyenas in Germany's Bockstein-Loch and Hohlenstein-Stadel caves to isolate and assemble the first European woolly rhinoceros mitochondrial genomes, along with hyena mitochondrial genomes.

These coprolite samples contained significant sequences from both the cave hyena (27% and 59% mitogenome coverage) and the woolly rhinoceros (27% and 81% coverage). While DNA degradation limits some conclusions, it's evident that European woolly rhinoceros populations are genetically distinct from Siberian counterparts. Analysis suggests a population split, potentially aligning with early woolly rhinoceros fossil records in Europe.

This study highlights the underexplored potential of studying fossilized dung to trace the ancestry of ancient creatures, providing valuable insights into the Pleistocene's iconic megafauna.

Coprolite and Implications of Climate Change on Wildlife

The research indicates that the divergence of these two populations coincided with the appearance of woolly rhinoceros fossils in Europe's records. Peter Seeber, a study author, emphasized the significance of these findings for understanding our ancient past and their potential relevance in today's context, particularly in the face of the ongoing climate crisis.

Insights into the dynamics of (sub)species that went extinct possibly due to climate change can aid in predicting the future of existing wildlife populations. Climate change poses various threats to wildlife in our parks, with rising temperatures affecting their survival rates by altering food availability, and reproductive success, and disrupting natural habitats in the National Capital Area parks.

As plants adapt to changing temperatures, wildlife faces new challenges, including finding suitable food sources. Some species may thrive in warmer conditions, outcompeting others and potentially introducing invasive species that can harm native communities. The impact of climate change on ecosystems underscores the importance of studying the past to inform conservation efforts in the present and future.