Koala Population Collapse Predates Human Arrival, DNA Study Shows
A significant DNA study has reshaped our understanding of the koala's evolutionary history. The research indicates that the species experienced a substantial population crash approximately 100,000 years ago, a period well before humans set foot in Australia. For the first time, scientists were able to determine the koala's mutation rate. By examining hundreds of koala genomes, they found that all current koalas are descendants of a small survivor group. This resilient population managed to endure drastic climate changes and subsequently repopulated eastern Australia.
English Translation:
Koala Extinction Near Miss Long Before Humans, DNA Study Finds
A major DNA study has rewritten the koala's evolutionary story, revealing that the species suffered a dramatic population collapse about 100,000 years ago, long before humans arrived in Australia. By calculating the koala's mutation rate for the first time and analyzing hundreds of genomes, researchers discovered that every living koala traces back to a small group that survived extreme climate shifts and later repopulated eastern Australia.
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