The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $798,000 Project Grant under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to the University of New Mexico (UNM) for a 3-year research project entitled "The New Normal: The Continuing Influence of the Late Pleistocene Megafauna Extinction on the Structure and Function of Mammal Communities." The project aims to quantify the ecological legacy of the extinction of large mammals such as mammoths, llamas, and saber-toothed cats in the Edward's Plateau region of Texas over the past 20,000 years. The research team will analyze the diet, morphology, and ecological interactions of extinct and surviving mammals through techniques like stable isotope analysis and 3D imaging to understand how mammal communities were impacted and potentially recovered following this major biodiversity loss event. This research is expected to provide critical baseline information to support conservation efforts and offer insights into the functioning of modern mammal communities. The project period runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. No subawards are planned for this award.