Climate, African and Beringian subaerial continental shelves, and migration of early peoples

The LGM simulation identifies cooler LGM temperatures and increased aridity in South and particularly Central Africa, and associated large reductions in LGM broadleaf tree NPP and coverage in Africa, reduced C3 grass NPP particularly in Central Africa, decreased needleleaf tree NPP in South Africa, reduced shrub coverage in North and Central Africa, and greater barren ground coverage in Central and South Africa. Reduced productivity and shifting vegetation during the LGM may have squeezed flora, fauna, and human populations onto the potentially more productive and proximally located exposed continental shelf.