Pleistocene human colonization and insular faunal extinction

Researchers examine insular faunal extinction and human colonization during the Quaternary Period. Humans have colonized islands since at least the Early Pleistocene Epoch. However, whether early human arrival to previously unoccupied islands contributed to insular fauna extinction during the Quaternary Period remains unclear. Using archaeological and paleontological records dating to the Pleistocene of 32 island groups with documented anthropogenic presence, Julien Louys and colleagues examined whether early anthropogenic presence on islands coincided with the disappearance of insular fauna. The authors compiled a list of last-appearance dates for every extinct vertebrate taxon recorded in previous literature. Islands were categorized as either oceanic islands, which have never been connected to a landmass, or continental islands, which were once connected to continents. Tools from Early to Middle Pleistocene deposits represent the earliest records of pre-Homo sapiens humans on oceanic islands, with some dating back to more than 1 million years ago; however, several megafauna on oceanic islands became extinct later. The earliest records of insular H. sapiens date to between 73,000 and 63,000 years ago on continental islands and around 50,000 years ago on oceanic islands. However, several megafauna, including rhinos and tigers, survived into the Holocene Epoch. The findings suggest that Pleistocene humans did not contribute to the extinction of island megafauna, although extinctions accelerated in the Holocene following significantly increased anthropogenic activity, according to the authors.

Article #20-23005: “No evidence for widespread island extinctions after Pleistocene hominin arrival,” by Julien Louys et al.

MEDIA CONTACT: Julien Louys, Griffith University, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA; tel: +61-410-463-710 email:

[email protected]

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