This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) provides $180,000 to support research on the drivers of late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions in Southern Africa over the last 50,000 years. The research aims to reconstruct changes in rainfall seasonality across the Pleistocene-Holocene transition and evaluate its potential link to the observed extinctions of large plant-eating animals during this period. The project involves developing methods for studying seasonality in the fossil record, including generating enamel isotope data from ungulate teeth to track precipitation patterns. This will provide environmental context for understanding the African megafaunal extinctions, which represent a significant global event. The research also includes educational and public outreach components to promote diversity in the geosciences. The award period runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2026.
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