title: Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ∼47 ka.
abstract: Although the temporal overlap between human dispersal across Australia and the disappearance of its largest animals is well established, the lack of unambiguous evidence for human-megafauna interactions has led some to question a human role in megafaunal extinction. Here we show that diagnostic burn patterns on eggshell fragments of the megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni, found at >200 sites across Australia, were created by humans discarding eggshell in and around transient fires, presumably made to cook the eggs. Dating by three methods restricts their occurrence to between 53.9 and 43.4 ka, and likely before 47 ka. Dromaius (emu) eggshell occur frequently in deposits from >100 ka to present; burnt Dromaius eggshell first appear in deposits the same age as those with burnt Genyornis eggshell, and then continually to modern time. Harvesting of their eggs by humans would have decreased Genyornis reproductive success, contributing to the bird's extinction by ∼47 ka.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0450, USA.|Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA.|Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia.
authors.forename: Gifford
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Research School Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.affiliation: National Museum Australia, GPO Box 1901, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide,, South Australia 5005, Australia.|Defence Science and Technology Group, Edinburgh, South Australia 5111, Australia.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spooner
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baynes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0450, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, 95343 California, USA.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fogel
authors.affiliation: Office Environment and Heritage, Box 318, Buronga, New South Wales 2739, Australia.
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Access Archaeology &Heritage, Box 816, Moruya, New South Wales 2537, Australia.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources, Box 363, Buronga, New South Wales 2739, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0450, USA.|Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Florian
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.affiliation: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0450, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DeVogel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001717:Birds; D003296:Cooking; D004528:Egg Shell; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans
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