Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ∼47 ka
| Autor: | Christopher Florian, Doug Williams, Peter U. Clark, Stephen B. DeVogel, Mike Smith, Alexander Baynes, Scott J. Lehman, Richard Holst, John W. Magee, Gifford H. Miller, Marilyn L. Fogel, Nigel A. Spooner, Harvey Johnston |
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| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
010506 paleontology
Science General Physics and Astronomy 010502 geochemistry & geophysics Extinction Biological 01 natural sciences General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology Article Fires Predation Birds Egg Shell Megafauna Animals Humans 14. Life underwater Cooking Eggshell Dromaius 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Multidisciplinary Extinction biology Reproductive success Ecology Australia General Chemistry biology.organism_classification Biological Genyornis Biological dispersal |
| Zdroj: | Nature communications, vol 7, iss 1 Nature Communications Nature Communications, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2016) |
| Popis: | Although the temporal overlap between human dispersal across Australia and the disappearance of its largest animals is well established, the lack of unambiguous evidence for human–megafauna interactions has led some to question a human role in megafaunal extinction. Here we show that diagnostic burn patterns on eggshell fragments of the megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni, found at >200 sites across Australia, were created by humans discarding eggshell in and around transient fires, presumably made to cook the eggs. Dating by three methods restricts their occurrence to between 53.9 and 43.4 ka, and likely before 47 ka. Dromaius (emu) eggshell occur frequently in deposits from >100 ka to present; burnt Dromaius eggshell first appear in deposits the same age as those with burnt Genyornis eggshell, and then continually to modern time. Harvesting of their eggs by humans would have decreased Genyornis reproductive success, contributing to the bird's extinction by ∼47 ka. The impact of humans on megafaunal extinction is Australia is unclear. Here, the authors show burn patterns on eggshells of the extinct megafaunal bird, Genyornis newtoni, created by humans across Australia, suggesting that human predation contributed to the extinction of this bird around 47 thousand years ago. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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