Microscopes on the Past Animal Spotlight—Bluebuck

Microscopes on the Past

ENDNOTES

Little remains of the plants and animals that went extinct as a direct result of colonization, but this does not mean that these species are completely lost to us. As scientific knowledge continues to grow, new avenues of exploring the past are made known to us. The evidence of extinct species’ existence remains through fossils, taxidermies, journals, reports, and even other species they share evolutionary ancestors with. Using new DNA technology, scientists have been able to piece together information about the lost species of the Atlantic world, giving us insight into a forgotten world that has been lost to us for over 200 years.

Plant and animal samples of extinct species can be found in our world through fossils, furs, plant presses, and taxidermies which can be found in museums and private collections all over the world. These specimens contain the DNA of the species they belong to, which until as recently as 2001, were not able to be examined by scientists. piece together vital information about these extinct species. Every plant and animal has their own unique sequence of DNA, which determines how they grow, what they look like, and how they survive. In essence, DNA maps out the identity of different species, and for the extinct species of the Atlantic whose DNA still exists, the map of who they remained. By comparing samples to one another, fossils and furs that previously were of unknown species can be identified. Sometimes fossil evidence can also be disproved this way, as several antlers which were once thought to belong to the now-extinct Bluebuck have been proven to belong to the Sable antelope instead.2 Because gene sequences of species are entirely unique, examining what remains of extinct species can teach us about what made them distinct from other species.

From the beginning of life on earth, plants and animals have been evolving to survive as best they can, and within different familial groups of animals, evolution has created changes that have led to the creation of new species. These species diverge from one another, but still share physical and behavioral traits with one another. By comparing the remaining evidence of extinct species with their evolutionary relatives, scientists are able to determine where and how they have diverged. Connections have been found between the extinct Carolina parakeet and other birds of North America, but DNA analysis has been able to prove the birds the parakeet is most closely related to.3 Studies show that while the bird is similar to the monk parakeet, it is more closely related to the North American parrot, understand how it evolved. Similar discoveries have been made with other species such as the extinct Geochelone Atlantica with other known animals, but have identified features that diverge from other species. Specific sequences of genes serve a purpose in the survival and growth of a species, dictating how their cells develop to create features such as feathers or strong hind legs. While the purpose of most of these sequences is unknown, shared gene sequences between species can give scientists some understanding by comparing them to one another. As scientists continue to research and explore plant and animal DNA, their discoveries can be used to understand more about extinct species, as they are seen through their genetic relatives.

There is a lot to learn about the lost species of our past, but as research continues, more is being uncovered. Because the Atlantic species that went extinct due to colonization disappeared no more than 400 years ago, the chances of their DNA still surviving is decent, as some fossils, furs, and prints have been stored by collectors or found with DNA still present on them. As we learn more about genetic sequencing and the specific purposes that DNA has on the characteristics of species, the more we can expect to know about the lost species of the Atlantic world. The infor these species through first-hand accounts of them and fossil evidence, we may just come to know through the examination of their genetic makeup. Does this mean that the extinct Atlantic species are forever lost to us, or are they still waiting for us to find them, hidden in the microscopic strands of their DNA? Only time will tell.

Little remains of the plants and animals that went extinct as a direct result of colonization, but this does not mean that these species are completely lost to us. As scientific knowledge continues to grow, new avenues of exploring the past are made known to us. The evidence of extinct species’ existence remains through fossils, taxidermies, journals, reports, and even other species they share evolutionary ancestors with. Using new DNA technology, scientists have been able to piece together information about the lost species of the Atlantic world, giving us insight into a forgotten world that has been lost to us for over

Plant and animal samples of extinct species can be found in our world through fossils, furs, plant presses, and taxidermies which can be found in museums and private collections all over the world. These specimens contain the DNA of the species they belong to, which until as recently as 2001, were not able to be examined by scientists.1 The technology to analyze this DNA now exists and is being used to piece together vital information about these extinct species. Every plant and animal has their own unique sequence of DNA, which determines how they grow, what they look like, and how they survive. In essence, DNA maps out the identity of different species, and for the extinct species of the Atlantic whose DNA still exists, the map of who they remained. By comparing samples to one another, fossils and furs that previously were of unknown species can be identified. Sometimes fossil evidence can also be disproved this way, as several antlers which were once thought to belong to the now-extinct Bluebuck Because gene sequences of species are entirely unique, examining what remains of extinct species can teach us about what made them distinct

From the beginning of life on earth, plants and animals have been evolving to survive as best they can, and within different familial groups of animals, evolution has created changes that have led to the creation of new species. These species diverge from one another, but still share physical and behavioral traits with one another. By comparing the remaining evidence of extinct species with their evolutionary relatives, scientists are able to determine where and how they have diverged. Connections have been found between the extinct Carolina parakeet and other birds of North America, but DNA analysis has Studies show that while the bird is similar to the monk parakeet, it is more closely related to the North American parrot,4 which can help us Geochelone Atlantica tortoise5 and the giant Tenerife rat,6 which show that the species share similarities with other known animals, but have identified features that diverge from other species. Specific sequences of genes serve a purpose in the survival and growth of a species, dictating how their cells develop to create features such as feathers or strong hind legs. While the purpose of most of these sequences is unknown, shared gene sequences between species can give scientists some understanding by comparing them to one another. As scientists continue to research and explore plant and animal DNA, their discoveries can be used to understand more about extinct species, as they are seen through their genetic

There is a lot to learn about the lost species of our past, but as research continues, more is being uncovered. Because the Atlantic species that went extinct due to colonization disappeared no more than 400 years ago, the chances of their DNA still surviving is decent, as some fossils, furs, and prints have been stored by collectors or found with DNA still present on them. As we learn more about genetic e we can expect to know about the lost species of the Atlantic world. The information we cannot know about these species through first-hand accounts of them and fossil evidence, we may just come to know through the examination of their genetic makeup. Does this mean that the extinct Atlantic species are forever lost to us, or are they still waiting for us to find them, hidden in the microscopic strands of their DNA? Only time will tell.

DNA. Pixabay, Wikimedia Commons.

Blue antelope (Hippotragus leucophaeus), Natural History Museum website, Vienna, Austria, 2021. Fair use.

Helianthus praetermissus (Lost sunflower), photograph by Richard Spellenberg, 2001,New Mexico Rare Plants. Fair use.

Animal Spotlight: Blue Antelope

Amongst a golden sea of rippling grass stand a dozen blueish-grey mounds. Two curved eyes scan their surroundings for any signs of danger whilst hungry mouths chew on the vegetation. Looking almost identical to other antelopes, these creatures are set apart by their blue hides, which awarded them the name ‘Bluebuck’. Traveling in groups, the Bluebucks work together to avoid predators, alerting one another if they sense danger. They are at home in the heat of South Africa’s plains.

The game parks of South Africa could have been dotted with these animals if the majestic Bluebuck—also known as the Blue Antelope—was not hunted to extinction two hundred years ago. Today, all that remains of this beautiful antelope are sixteen preserved specimens and taxidermies, one of which can be found in the Vienna Museum of Natural History. The DNA taken from these specimens shows that they are closely related to other antelope such as the roan and sable antelope, but they have their own unique genealogies which set them apart in ways scientists are still trying to determine. By studying their taxidermy and looking at first-hand accounts of these antelope, we have been able to deter twenty. Whilst they most likely would have been extremely similar to other antelope, their extinction means that we can no longer study them and that there is much about them we do not know.

When European colonizers came into contact with the Bluebuck, their numbers were fairly limited, as habitat loss and disrupted migratory patterns caused a decline in their populations. Nonetheless, it was the desire to kill these animals that caused them to face extinction, as colonists overhunted these already rare creatures. Advanced weapons such as hunting rifles made it easier to kill pr before. In South Africa, prey would have only been hunted for necessity, but once traders and sports hunters arrived, hunting became profitable, as hides could be traded. European collectors would have taken pride in collecting trophies of an animal so scarce in the environment, that the issue of their extinction may not have crossed their minds. When the antelope finally disappeared in 1800, it was notable, as it was one of the first extinction of a larger mammal caused by hunting for sport, and made people question the impact of the activity on the ecological world.

Plant Spotlight: New Mexico Sunflower

All that remains of the New Mexico sunflower is an old, dried-out plant press that was collected over 150 years ago. No greenhouses cultivate it. No science labs examine it. There is only one plant press, which happened to be preserved the last time anyone saw it. Mexico sunflower’s disappearance is what awarded it the alternate name ‘the lost sunflower’, as it, unfortunately, has been lost to history. tall, this sunflower was far more modest than the common sunflower which often looms over eight feet and has a much larger head. Atop the lost sunflower’s head, yellow petals sprung outward from a circle of hard, black seeds, echoing the appearance of a little sun. When these plants existed, they grew like weeds, spurting wherever their seeds landed, but unlike weeds, they were unable to survive their changing environments. Their disappearance has been largely attributed to urbanization in North America after colonizers expanded into the continent. When new houses and towns were created, plants were destroyed to create clearings for the settlements, and farmers allowed their herds to graze on wild flora. It has been speculated that when colonizers brought new crops to cultivate, they brought new diseases as well. The lost sunflower may have suffered from a fungal disease that caused their flowerheads to rot, support this claim, as the people in North America at this time took no notice of this fairly discrete plant. Indeed, when settlers moved into North America, the plant numbers may have already been dwindling but because there is little evidence that this plant existed, there is no way to know. Today, this unknown plant remains a mystery, lost to time and circumstance.

Katrina Nicolle

Humanities major, English concentration, History minor

Amongst a golden sea of rippling grass stand a dozen blueish-grey mounds. Two curved horns peak out from on top of each mound and jut towards the sky. Beady eyes scan their surroundings for any signs of danger whilst hungry mouths chew on the vegetation. Looking almost identical to other antelopes, these creatures are set apart by their blue hides, which awarded them the name ‘Bluebuck’. Traveling in groups, the Bluebucks work together to avoid predators, alerting one another if they sense danger. They are at home in the heat of South Africa’s plains.

The game parks of South Africa could have been dotted with these animals if the majestic Bluebuck—also known as the Blue Antelope—was not hunted to extinction two hundred years ago. Today, all that remains of this beautiful antelope are sixteen preserved specimens and taxidermies, one of which can be found in the Vienna Museum of Natural History. The DNA taken from these specimens shows that they are closely related to other antelope such as the roan and sable antelope, but they have their own unique genealogies which set them apart in ways scientists are still trying to determine. By studying their taxidermy and looking at first-hand accounts of these antelope, we have been able to determine that they preferred to live in open grasslands, were grazers, and traveled in groups of around twenty. Whilst they most likely would have been extremely similar to other antelope, their extinction means that we can no longer study them and that there is much

When European colonizers came into contact with the Bluebuck, their numbers were fairly limited, as habitat loss and disrupted migratory patterns caused a decline in their populations. Nonetheless, it was the desire to kill these animals that caused them to face extinction, as colonists overhunted these already rare creatures. Advanced weapons such as hunting rifles made it easier to kill prey in comparison to bows and arrows or spears which the South Africans might have used to hunt before. In South Africa, prey would have only been hunted for necessity, but once traders and sports hunters arrived, hunting became profitable, as hides could be traded. European collectors would have taken pride in collecting trophies of an animal so scarce in the environment, that the issue of their extinction may not have crossed their minds. When the antelope finally disappeared in 1800, it was notable, as it was one of the first extinction of a larger mammal caused by hunting for sport, and made people question the impact of the activity on the ecological world.

sunflower is an old, dried-out plant press that was collected over 150 years ago.1 Nowhere on Earth does this small plant grow. No greenhouses cultivate it. No science labs examine it. There is only one plant press, which happened to be preserved the last time anyone saw it.2 The New Mexico sunflower’s disappearance is what awarded it the alternate name ‘the lost sunflower’, as it, unfortunately, has been lost to history.3 Standing at three feet tall, this sunflower was far more modest than the common sunflower which often looms over eight feet and has a much larger head. Atop the lost sunflower’s head, yellow petals sprung outward from a circle of hard, black seeds, echoing the appearance of a little sun. When these plants existed, they grew like weeds, spurting wherever their seeds landed, but unlike weeds, they were unable to survive their changing environments. Their disappearance has been largely attributed to urbanization in North America after colonizers expanded into the continent. When new houses and towns were created, plants were destroyed to create clearings for the settlements, and farmers allowed their herds to graze on wild flora. It has been speculated that when colonizers brought new crops to cultivate, they brought new diseases as well. The lost sunflower may have suffered from a fungal disease that caused their flowerheads to rot,4 but there is no substantial evidence to support this claim, as the people in North America at this time took no notice of this fairly discrete plant. Indeed, when settlers moved into North America, the plant numbers may have already been dwindling but because there is little evidence that this plant existed, there is no way to know. Today, this unknown plant remains a