How Large Extinct Animals Have Shaped Ecosystems and Us
Presented by Chris Doughty, PhD

From towering dinosaurs to the mighty Pleistocene megafauna, large animals have long influenced the balance and function of ecosystems. Their extinction not only reshaped the natural world—it also had unexpected effects on human evolution and the course of our societies.

Doughty is an Associate Professor in ecoinformatics at Northern Arizona University. He researches how climate change will impact tropical forests and how large animal extinctions could impact ecosystem function.  He also has projects in remote sensing, paleoclimatology and astrobiology.

This presentation is part of the Flagstaff Festival of Science.