Portland Public Library

The invaders, how humans and their dogs drove Neanderthals to extinction, Pat Shipman

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

The invaders

bibliography

893897294

Pat Shipman

how humans and their dogs drove Neanderthals to extinction

"The Invaders musters compelling evidence to show that the major factor in the Neanderthals' demise was direct competition with newly arriving humans. Drawing on insights from the field of invasion biology, which predicts that the species ecologically closest to the invasive predator will face the greatest competition, Pat Shipman traces the devastating impact of a growing human population: reduction of Neanderthals' geographic range, isolation into small groups, and loss of genetic diversity. But modern humans were not the only invaders who competed with Neanderthals for big game. Shipman reveals fascinating confirmation of humans' partnership with the first domesticated wolf-dogs soon after Neanderthals first began to disappear. This alliance between two predator species, she hypothesizes, made possible an unprecedented degree of success in hunting large Ice Age mammals--a distinct and ultimately decisive advantage for humans over Neanderthals at a time when climate change made both groups vulnerable"--Publisher's Web site

And he is us -- Here we come, ready or not -- Time is of the essence -- Who wins in an invasion? -- How do you know what you think you know? -- What's for dinner? -- What does an invasion look like? -- Going, going, gone -- Guess who else is coming for dinner? -- Bearing up under competition pressure -- The Jagger principle -- Dogged -- Why dogs? -- When is a wolf not a wolf? -- What happened and why

How humans and their dogs drove Neanderthals to extinction