Ancient DNA and morphometric analysis reveal extinction and replacement of New Zealand's unique black swans

Prehistoric human impacts on megafaunal populations have dramatically reshaped ecosystems worldwide. However, the effects of human exploitation on smaller species, such as anatids (ducks, geese, and swans) are less clear. In this study we apply ancient DNA and osteological approaches to reassess the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 2017-07, Vol.284 (1859), p.20170876-20170876
Main Authors: Rawlence, Nicolas J., Kardamaki, Afroditi, Easton, Luke J., Tennyson, Alan J. D., Scofield, R. Paul, Waters, Jonathan M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anatidae
Ancient Dna
Animals
Anseriformes - classification
Anthropogenic factors
Aquatic birds
Australia
Biocompatibility
Biomedical materials
Black Swan
Colonization
Cygnus atratus
Cygnus sumnerensis
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA, Ancient
Ecosystems
Endangered & extinct species
Environmental impact
Evolution
Exploitation
Extinction
Extinction, Biological
Human influences
Humans
Island Rule
Islands
Morphometry
New Zealand
Population studies
Populations
Prehistoric era
Recolonization
Species extinction
Waterfowl
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Summary:Prehistoric human impacts on megafaunal populations have dramatically reshaped ecosystems worldwide. However, the effects of human exploitation on smaller species, such as anatids (ducks, geese, and swans) are less clear. In this study we apply ancient DNA and osteological approaches to reassess the history of Australasia's iconic black swans (Cygnus atratus) including the palaeo-behaviour of prehistoric populations. Our study shows that at the time of human colonization, New Zealand housed a genetically, morphologically, and potentially ecologically distinct swan lineage (C. sumnerensis, Poūwa), divergent from modern (Australian) C. atratus. Morphological analyses indicate C. sumnerensis exhibited classic signs of the ‘island rule’ effect, being larger, and likely flight-reduced compared to C. atratus. Our research reveals sudden extinction and replacement events within this anatid species complex, coinciding with recent human colonization of New Zealand. This research highlights the role of anthropogenic processes in rapidly reshaping island ecosystems and raises new questions for avian conservation, ecosystem re-wilding, and de-extinction.
ISSN:0962-8452
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rspb.2017.0876