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What caused extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna of Sahul?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 23:25 authored by Christopher JohnsonChristopher Johnson, Alroy, J, Nicholas Beeton, Bird, MI, Barry BrookBarry Brook, Cooper, A, Gillespie, R, Herrando-Perez, S, Jacobs, Z, Miller, GH, Prideaux, GJ, Roberts, RG, Rodriguez-Rey, M, Saltre, F, Turney, CSM, Bradshaw, CJADuring the Pleistocene, Australia and New Guinea supported a rich assemblage of large vertebrates. Why these animals disappeared has been debated for more than a century and remains controversial. Previous synthetic reviews of this problem have typically focused heavily on particular types of evidence, such as the dating of extinction and human arrival, and have frequently ignored uncertainties and biases that can lead to misinterpretation of this evidence. Here, we review diverse evidence bearing on this issue and conclude that, although many knowledge gaps remain, multiple independent lines of evidence point to direct human impact as the most likely cause of extinction.
History
Publication title
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological SciencesVolume
283Issue
1824Pagination
1-8ISSN
0962-8452Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Royal Soc LondonPlace of publication
6 Carlton House Terrace, London, England, Sw1Y 5AgRights statement
Copyright 2016 The Author(s)Repository Status
- Restricted