Giant herbivores such as mammoths dominated the landscape during the Pleistocene epoch, and researchers have been struggling to figure out how these ravenous creatures did not destroy the environment. New research suggests predatory animals protected local plant life by keeping the large vegetarians in check. The researchers made their findings by looking at ancient carnivores' teeth an body size and comparing this data with an analysis of modern carnivore attacks.

A recent study reveals evidence of brutal attacks from large carnivores such as saber-toothed tigers, and these massacres played a vital role in shaping the ecosystem during the Pleistocene epoch that lasted from about 1.8 million to 11,500 years ago, the University of California, Los Angeles, reported. The research could have implications for modern endangered species' that first evolved during the Pleistocene epoch, but experience much different conditions today.

"Recreating these [Pleistocene] communities is not possible, but their record of success compels us to maintain the diversity we have and rebuild it where feasible," the researchers wrote.

This era's carnivores were much larger than the ones we see today, allowing them to take down young mastodons and mammoths. The extinction of these large carnivores was likely caused by the disappearance of larger prey.

"Based on observations of living mega-herbivores, such as elephants, rhinos, giraffes and hippos, scientists have generally thought that these species were largely immune to predation, mainly because of their large size as adults and strong maternal protection of very young offspring," said Van Valkenburgh, who holds an appointment in the UCLA College's department of ecology and evolutionary biology. "Data on modern lion kills of elephants indicates that larger prides are more successful and we argue that Pleistocene carnivore species probably formed larger prides and packs than are typically observed today -- making it easier for them to attack and kill fairly large juveniles and young adult mega-herbivores."

In today's ecosystems, large carnivores' carcasses provide food for smaller animals. During the Pleistocene this was also true, but the carnivores also ensured there was plenty of vegetation left for smaller herbivores to feast on.

The findings were published in a recent edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.