{"product_id":"the-invaders-how-humans-and-their-dogs-drove-neanderthals-to-extinction","title":"The Invaders: How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction","description":"\u003cp\u003eWith their large brains  sturdy physique  sophisticated tools  and hunting skills  Neanderthals are the closest known relatives to humans. Approximately 200 000 years ago  as modern humans began to radiate out from their evolutionary birthplace in Africa  Neanderthals were already thriving in Europedescendants of a much earlier migration of the African genus Homo. But when modern humans eventually made their way to Europe 45 000 years ago  Neanderthals suddenly vanished. Ever since the first Neanderthal bones were identified in 1856  scientists have been vexed by the question  why did modern humans survive while their evolutionary cousins went extinct? 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 mammalsa distinct and ultimately decisive advantage for humans over Neanderthals at a time when climate change made both groups vulnerable.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44946477088821,"sku":"ByrdShop_0674736761","price":30.38,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780674736764_bfda7d04-0d46-4169-bc09-22f145f85b50.jpg?v=1770146698","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-invaders-how-humans-and-their-dogs-drove-neanderthals-to-extinction","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}