Final answer:
The end of the Pleistocene epoch experienced substantial climatic shifts that affected megafauna, leading to the Pleistocene Extinction. Changes in climate and human activities such as overhunting significantly contributed to the loss of species like woolly mammoths. This epoch witnessed significant habitat reorganization and the resulting biodiversity shaped by natural and human-induced processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The end of the Pleistocene epoch, which spanned from 120,000 to 11,500 years ago, saw significant environmental changes due to global cooling and warming cycles. During this period, there was a notable event known as the Pleistocene Extinction, where a large number of megafauna, such as woolly mammoths, giant deer, and saber-toothed cats, went extinct. Researchers have debated whether these extinctions were caused by climate change and habitat loss or by overhunting by humans. Studies suggest that while climate change played a role, human activity was a significant factor, especially as evidenced by the correlation between human arrival and animal extinction in many regions.
The climate fluctuations during the Pleistocene led to a series of ice ages, where sea levels fell, and land bridges formed, allowing animals to migrate. As ice sheets grew and retreated, there were major reorganizations of terrestrial habitats, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Some megafauna adapted to the cold, while others moved to warmer areas or went extinct. The process of adaptation and extinction during this era demonstrates natural processes deeply intertwined with human impacts, leading to the current diversity of life on Earth.