Ancestral dinners give new insight into New Zealand's biodiversity



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Scientists examined the dietary habits of our ancestors to study the impact that early humans have had on New Zealand's biodiversity

  Awamoa excavation site [19659003] Awamoa excavation site </span><br />
<span class= Photo: Shar Briden, Absolute Archeology Limited, Dunedin

They studied fossil fragments dating back 20,000 years and compared them with the remains of food of our ancestors dating back about 750 years

. the help of New Zealand researchers and institutions such as the University of Otago, the Canterbury Museum and the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum.

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They say that they discovered 100 different species, of which 14 are now extinct.

Among their discoveries, nine kākāpō lineages lost the DNA of dolphins and the north and south island was found near what appeared to be harpoon hooks.

Dr. Nic Rawlence, of the University of Otago, said the research had given them new insights into Polynesian life. Unidentifiable Bone Fragments of the Wairau Bar “/>

Unidentifiable Bone Fragments of the Wairau Bar
Photo: Professor Michael Bunce, Curtin University

"What we discover, it is that seals and elephant seals New Zealand, upon the arrival of the Polynesians, was as important in Maori food as sea lions, which we did not know before. "[19659006] Dr. Rawlence says that we now know that the early Māori liked to fish locally and, like the Europeans, "When the Polynesians arrived in New Zealand, there were 10 lineages of kākāpō and we now have one, through the whole population, so you have a lot of things to do like the "The English Royal Family, where there is very little genetic variation," he said.

The knowledge gained through research will help current efforts to con Serving, he said, doing what we call this bone-taking technique on the fragments, we were able to create a more nuanced picture of New Zealand and we were able to use that information to do things intelligent. restoring what we have left, "he said. [ad_2]
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