Extinction of birds in Eastern polynesia: A review of the record, and comparisons with other Pacific Island groups

摘要: The study of bones from archaeological sites in Eastern Polynesia has revealed much late Holocene extinction birds. Because this been found all Polynesian archipelagos where bird are part the record (Marquesas, Society, Pitcairn, and Cook island groups), similar levels likely to be other groups (Line, Tuamotu, Gambier, Austral, Easter), if evidence is sought. Human impact most plausible explanation for these extinctions, which begin immediately after peopling islands about 2000 years ago diminish only avifaunas largely depleted. The yielding extinct birds include limestone caves, volcanic rockshelters, calcareous beach sands, organic estuarine sediments. Most fossil biased toward large species because traditional techniques excavation have recovered very few small such as swifts, kingfishers, passerines. A rich screens 116 in. mesh used. More landbirds become since human arrival than survive region today. Extirpation, refers loss individual populations extant species, another major contributor avian diversity Polynesia; nearly that survived, whether seabirds or landbirds, no longer occur on once made up their natural (= pre-human) range. Fossils extended ranges many by hundreds thousands kilometers. Such traditionally regarded endemic one several islands, were widespread until influences caused disappearance island. Petrels shearwaters undergone greatest losses among seabirds, although storm-petrels, boobies, frigatebirds, gulls, terns, herons, ducks also affected. dominated extinctions rails (mostly flightless confined single islands), extirpations pigeons, parrots, passerines, and, a lesser extent, swifts kingfishers. The Western (Niue, Tonga, Samoa, Wallis Futuna, Tokelau, Tuvalu) limited. From an extirpated petrel shearwater, two megapodes, three pigeons known Lifuka, tern, rail, ground-dove, passerines 'Eua. An pigeon described Wallis. Lakeba, Lau Group Fiji (culturally Melanesian, faunally Polynesian), megapode known. There Vanuatu Solomon Islands except outlier Tikopia Anuta, remains shearwaters, megapode, rail. extensive assemblage New Caledonia includes snipe, rails, kagu, hawks, magapodes, owls, owlet-nightjar. Wallis, Fiji, suggests Polynesian-Melanesian record, when more fully, may disclose ormore Polynesia. Micronesia. The comparable severity recorded (archaeological non-archaeological) outlying groups, Hawaii Zealand. As Polynesia, highly Zealand postdates people during past millennia. Humans seem responsible extinctions. The Galapagos differs those Hawaii, relative abundance reptiles (tortoises, lizards, snakes) mammals (bats, rodents). deposits consist bony prey-remains barn owl (Tyto punctatissima). (Although ecologically common owl, T. alba, occurs through Melanesia, 'Eua alba-derived collected.) Other derived trap activity; unlike none anthropogenic. As there clear-out cases vertebrate predate people. involve local rather entire species. less Zealand, following reasons: 1. (1) period occupation shorter (200 versus 3000 years); 2. (2) lower hospitable terrain, including never inhabited; 3. (3) source food humans; 4. (4) avifauna given legal protection decades; 5. (5) introduced absent islands; 6. (6) plants scarce islands. Most occurred particular level (habitat alterations, mammals) approached islands.