Emily Chan
The researchers from the recent study argued that allergies would have interfered with several aspects of the mammoth lifestyle.
The mammoths used their sense of smell to find food and mates, to avoid predators, and to navigate migration routes. Therefore, their stuffy trunks aided in their downfall.
By examining mammoths’ stomach contents for plants and pollen that trigger allergies, the researchers can test if mammoths suffered from allergies.
Some carcasses have preserved traces of pollen or plant material that could help identify any allergy sources.
They also suggested looking for the immune system proteins the body produces when it’s experiencing an allergic reaction. One of the main proteins is immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is produced in the intestine.
So, testing fossilized mammoth feces could help determine if the mammoths had allergies. Currently, no published research has investigated ancient mammoth samples for traces of IgE.
Ancient DNA samples have indicated that the last woolly mammoths lost their ability to smell certain plants.
When the genome of a mammoth from Wrangel Island was reconstructed, it showed genetic mutations associated with the ability to smell floral scents.
Overall, the evidence hints at allergies being another factor that pushed the mammoths to extinction. Further research is needed to test the idea.
The study was published in the journal Earth History and Biodiversity.
