Study of fossil bones discovering unknown animal species and Maori behaviors

A new study using DNA from fossil bone fragments has helped to better understand the history of New Zealand, hitherto hidden.

Study, Subsistence practices, past biodiversity, and anthropogenic impacts revealed by the whole of New Zealand. The early study of DNA was conducted by researchers from Curtin University in Perth, with the help of the University of Otago, the Canterbury Museum and Te Papa.

She characterized DNA conserved in an unidentifiable fragmented bone of New Zealand. The researchers compared the bones dug in caves dating from before the human arrival with those of ancient human food waste (Middens),

Frederik Seersholm, doctoral candidate at Curtin, a was very surprised by the number "

" We have found DNA from more than 100 different species and of these, 14 are now extinct, "he said. 02] "Our results demonstrate that some species tend to be lacking by traditional morphological methods.For example, we identify species of eels and whales in Māori middens that are rarely identified using traditional analysis. midden. "

Professor Richard Walter of the University of Otago believes that the new methods provide much more than a glimpse of the diet." They allow archaeologists to model models of mobility, seasonal behavior and resource management strategies of early Maori, "he says

Professor Michael Bunce, of Curtin University , said researchers have sequenced genetic signatures to identify different species. and to characterize different genetic lineages within a single species.

"For the soil parrot, the kākāpō, surprisingly high amounts of genetic diversity were detected in the bone fra" Of the 10 kākāpō lineages we identified, only one still exists today. hui, indicating the amount of biodiversity lost by one of New Zealand's iconic birds. "

discovered in the study underscores the tremendous impact humans have had on biodiversity New Zealand since its installation about 750 years ago.

Dr. Nic Rawlence The Department of Zoology of the University Otago said that contrary to previous studies, the study showed that Polynesians, including Maori, had a significant negative impact on the genetic diversity of kākāpō

"The genetic signatures of dolphins and small b with alleged bone harpoon harpoons, suggests that the Polynesians / Māori may have hunted these species, while the presence of large whales certainly reflects the cleaning of the stranded carcasses. "

Rawlence stated that technology will become an important tool in future reconstruction studies of early New Zealand.The researchers also aim to extend the study to other parts of the world.

Seersholm says that there is undoubtedly a lot of information to extract fragmented bones.

"It is likely that future important discoveries about extinct species" Past biodiversity is hidden in neglected excavation bags in the basements of museums and universities around the world, "he said

Traditionally, past biodiversity research has focused on well-preserved bone fossils . Species

However, only very few bone from excavations are whole, and many are so damaged that they are of no use to researchers. This means that a very large part of the pieces of the puzzle has been left unused.

The study is to be published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . [ad_2]
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