4. What was the probable cause of the extinction of the ''P. boisei''?

The Australopithecus Boisei, or P. Boisei, lived a contented life during the dry spell in Africa about 1.5 million years ago. India had recently merged with the continent of Asia. This plate collision formed a mountain range that we now know as the Himalayas. Before, Africa had been a tropical climate, but these new mountains caused the air coming from Asia to be drier, leading to a lack of options for food for the native African species. The P. Boisei had adapted to have strong teeth that could crush vegetation, which was necessary because the plants had become very dry. Unfortunately, this adaptation couldn't save the P. Boisei, and it eventually went extinct. The question is, why? While Earth’s irregular climate was fluctuating between hot and cold spells, there may have been changes in the proportions of food resources available to P. Boisei. Certain plants could have dwindled or died out. A species’ ability to adapt to changing resources, like food, is key to their survival. The P. Boisei was too specialized for one particular type of food, leading them to be unable to adapt to other situations, and to their eventual extinction.

Natasha Faruqui

citations

Video Guide: "Walking with Cavemen", question 5

read more: http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/paranthropus-boisei