The Quaternary fossil avifauna of Southland, South Island, New Zealand

Worthy, Trevor H.

doi:10.1080/03014223.1998.9517575

Cited by 34 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The exact nature of dietary differences that allowed the apparent sympatry of certain moa species is one such mystery. Multiple moa species [up to six (34)] often occur together within single fossil bone deposits (35)(36)(37). Radiocarbon dating and stratigraphic contexts at many sites suggest that the species coexisted, rather than being temporally segregated (35,(38)(39)(40).…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Resolving lost herbivore community structure using coprolites of four sympatric moa species (Aves: Dinornithiformes)

Wood

Wilmshurst

Richardson

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Knowledge of extinct herbivore community structuring is essential for assessing the wider ecological impacts of Quaternary extinctions and determining appropriate taxon substitutes for rewilding. Here, we demonstrate the potential for coprolite studies to progress beyond single-species diet reconstructions to resolving communitylevel detail. The moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) of New Zealand are an intensively studied group of nine extinct herbivore species, yet many details of their diets and community structuring remain unresolved. We provide unique insights into these aspects of moa biology through analyses of a multispecies coprolite assemblage from a rock overhang in a montane river valley in southern New Zealand. Using ancient DNA (aDNA), we identified 51 coprolites, which included specimens from four sympatric moa species. Pollen, plant macrofossils, and plant aDNA from the coprolites chronicle the diets and habitat preferences of these large avian herbivores during the 400 y before their extinction (∼1450 AD). We use the coprolite data to develop a paleoecological niche model in which moa species were partitioned based on both habitat (forest and valley-floor herbfield) and dietary preferences, the latter reflecting allometric relationships between body size, digestive efficiency, and nutritional requirements. Broad ecological niches occupied by South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus) and upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) may reflect sexual segregation and seasonal variation in habitat use, respectively. Our results show that moa lack extant ecological analogs, and their extinction represents an irreplaceable loss of function from New Zealand's terrestrial ecosystems. L arge herbivores are integral components of terrestrial ecosystems, playing a major role in shaping the structure and composition of vegetation communities and providing vital ecosystem functions such as seed dispersal (1, 2). Over the last 50,000 y, large herbivore populations on most landmasses have either gone extinct or been decimated (3), often with significant consequences for local vegetation communities (1, 4, 5). Paleodietary data for extinct large herbivores, and an understanding of how prehistoric large herbivore communities were structured, are therefore important for assessing the full ecological impact of Late Quaternary extinctions. Such information can provide a baseline for attempts to restore the lost ecological functions once provided by extinct herbivores (6). Coprolites provide the strongest potential resource for directly studying the diets and community structure of extinct species. Coprolites of extinct large herbivores have been found in dry caves across the world (7-12), but for most, the herbivore's identity has only been inferred from associated skeletal remains. Identification of large herbivore coprolites using ancient DNA (aDNA) has thus far been restricted to moa (9) and a limited number of ground sloth (Nothrotheriops shastensis) samples (13). However, this approach offers the possibility of detecting hidde...

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Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Resolving lost herbivore community structure using coprolites of four sympatric moa species (Aves: Dinornithiformes)

Wood

Wilmshurst

Richardson

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Anderson (1989a) stated that the specimen was held in the Southland Museum and Art Gallery (SMAG), from personal communication with R. Beck, the then Director of the museum. However, the specimen was not mentioned by Worthy (1998b) in a review of Quaternary fossil specimens from Southland, despite Worthy reviewing all such material held in the museum. We have made further enquiries and have confirmed that the specimen is now presumed lost, although new information about its discovery and movements were obtained and are outlined here.…”

Section: Waikaiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Soft-tissue specimens from pre-European extinct birds of New Zealand

Rawlence

Wood

Scofield

et al. 2013

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

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“…A miring scenario has also been proposed for Pleistocene and Holocene assemblages of the large, flightless moa (Family Dinornithidae) from New Zealand (Holdaway and Worthy 1997;Worthy 1998;Wood et al 2008). Particularly, the sites of Pyramid Valley (Holdaway and Worthy 1997) and Te Aute (Worthy 2000) are similar to Mare aux Songes in many respects.…”

Section: Dodo Death Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dodo remains from an in situ context from Mare aux Songes, Mauritius

Meijer

Gill

Louw

et al. 2012

Naturwissenschaften

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Since 2005, excavations at Mare aux Songes, Mauritius, have revealed the presence of a very rich, ∼4,200-year-old fossil bone bed including dodo (Raphus cucullatus) bones and bone fragments. The recently excavated dodo assemblage comprises at least 17 individuals and is characterised by the presence of small and fragile skeletal elements, a dominance of leg elements and an absence of juveniles. The hydrology of the area suggests that dodos, like many other species, were probably lured to Mare aux Songes by the presence of freshwater during times of drought. The most likely scenario for the origin of the fossil deposit is that animals became trapped in the sediment in repeated miring events, which would favour the conservation of hindlimbs. Such a scenario is fully in accordance with the taphonomic characteristics of the bone assemblage.

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The Quaternary fossil avifauna of Southland, South Island, New Zealand

Cited by 34 publications

References 23 publications

Resolving lost herbivore community structure using coprolites of four sympatric moa species (Aves: Dinornithiformes)

Resolving lost herbivore community structure using coprolites of four sympatric moa species (Aves: Dinornithiformes)

Soft-tissue specimens from pre-European extinct birds of New Zealand

Dodo remains from an in situ context from Mare aux Songes, Mauritius

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