Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ~47 ka
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Macmillan Publishers Limited
2016
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42264 |
| _version_ | 1848756372102971392 |
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| author | Miller, Gifford Magee, J. Smith, M. Spooner, N. Baynes, A. Lehman, S. Fogel, M. Johnston, H. Williams, D. Clark, P. Florian, C. Holst, R. DeVogel, S. |
| author_facet | Miller, Gifford Magee, J. Smith, M. Spooner, N. Baynes, A. Lehman, S. Fogel, M. Johnston, H. Williams, D. Clark, P. Florian, C. Holst, R. DeVogel, S. |
| author_sort | Miller, Gifford |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:11:09Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-42264 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:11:09Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Macmillan Publishers Limited |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-422642017-09-13T14:22:14Z Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ~47 ka Miller, Gifford Magee, J. Smith, M. Spooner, N. Baynes, A. Lehman, S. Fogel, M. Johnston, H. Williams, D. Clark, P. Florian, C. Holst, R. DeVogel, S. 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. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42264 10.1038/ncomms10496 Macmillan Publishers Limited unknown |
| spellingShingle | Miller, Gifford Magee, J. Smith, M. Spooner, N. Baynes, A. Lehman, S. Fogel, M. Johnston, H. Williams, D. Clark, P. Florian, C. Holst, R. DeVogel, S. Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ~47 ka |
| title | Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ~47 ka |
| title_full | Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ~47 ka |
| title_fullStr | Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ~47 ka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ~47 ka |
| title_short | Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ~47 ka |
| title_sort | human predation contributed to the extinction of the australian megafaunal bird genyornis newtoni ~47 ka |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42264 |