Evidence for breeding of Megadyptes penguins in the North Island at the time of human arrival

The arrival of humans in New Zealand around 750 years ago resulted in widespread faunal extinctions including the endemic Waitaha penguin (Megadyptes waitaha). Previously thought to have only bred on coastal South Island and Stewart Island, recent genetic reanalysis of prehistoric large penguin bone...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:New Zealand journal of zoology 2019-04, Vol.46 (2), p.165-173
Main Authors: Rawlence, Nicolas J., Tennyson, Alan J. D., Cole, Theresa L., Verry, Alexander J. F., Scofield, R. Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeology
Biodiversity
Biodiversity loss
Bones
Breeding
Extinction
Megadyptes
Megadyptes antipodes
Megadyptes waitaha
North Island
Prehistoric era
Waitaha penguin
Yellow-eyed penguin
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Summary:The arrival of humans in New Zealand around 750 years ago resulted in widespread faunal extinctions including the endemic Waitaha penguin (Megadyptes waitaha). Previously thought to have only bred on coastal South Island and Stewart Island, recent genetic reanalysis of prehistoric large penguin bones from the lower North Island indicates that the Waitaha penguin may have been a common resident. Here we synthesise previous studies and present new palaeontological and archaeological evidence to suggest that the Waitaha penguin was probably breeding in the lower North Island at the time of human arrival, and did not represent vagrant individuals from more southerly breeding colonies. The elimination of breeding Megadyptes from the North Island would add to the already significant avifaunal losses from New Zealand, of which the North Island suffered the greatest biodiversity loss after the arrival of humans.
ISSN:0301-4223
1175-8821
DOI:10.1080/03014223.2018.1523202