Age and diet of fossil California condors in Grand Canyon, Arizona
A dozen new radiocarbon dates, together with a thorough review of its fossil distribution, shed new light on the time and probable cause of extinction of the California condor, Gymnogyps californianus, in Grand Canyon, Arizona. The radiocarbon data indicate that this species became extinct in Grand Canyon, and other parts of the inland West, more than 10,000 years ago in coincidence with the extinction of megafauna (proboscidians, edentates, perissodactyls). That condors relied on the megafauna for food is suggested by the recovery of food bones from a late Pleistocene nest cave in Grand Canyon. These fossil data have relevance to proposed release and recovery programs of the present endangered population of California condors. 19 references, 1 figure, 2 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Florida, Gainesville
- OSTI ID:
- 5600277
- Journal Information:
- Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 237
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
BIRDS
BIOLOGICAL EXTINCTION
DIET
AGE ESTIMATION
ARIZONA
CARBON 14
DISTRIBUTION
ENDANGERED SPECIES
FOSSILS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
HABITAT
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
ISOTOPE DATING
MAMMALS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON ISOTOPES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION IX
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
USA
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)
570000 - Health & Safety