Researchers analyzed 120,000-year-old fossils of European fallow deer from central Germany. The fossils revealed a significant loss of genetic diversity in the species since the last interglacial period. The study found that modern fallow deer represent only a fraction of the genetic variety of their Ice Age ancestors. This decline is attributed to climate and human actions that reshaped the species over time. The research may inform conservation efforts, highlighting the impact of human activities and climate on species diversity.

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