Demographic reconstruction from ancient DNA supports rapid extinction of the great auk
Abstrak
The great auk was once abundant and distributed across the North Atlantic. It is now extinct, having been heavily exploited for its eggs, meat, and feathers. We investigated the impact of human hunting on its demise by integrating genetic data, GPS-based ocean current data, and analyses of population viability. We sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes of 41 individuals from across the species’ geographic range and reconstructed population structure and population dynamics throughout the Holocene. Taken together, our data do not provide any evidence that great auks were at risk of extinction prior to the onset of intensive human hunting in the early 16th century. In addition, our population viability analyses reveal that even if the great auk had not been under threat by environmental change, human hunting alone could have been sufficient to cause its extinction. Our results emphasise the vulnerability of even abundant and widespread species to intense and localised exploitation.
Topik & Kata Kunci
Penulis (37)
Jessica E Thomas
Gary R Carvalho
James Haile
Nicolas J Rawlence
Michael D Martin
Simon YW Ho
Arnór Þ Sigfússon
Vigfús A Jósefsson
Morten Frederiksen
Jannie F Linnebjerg
Jose A Samaniego Castruita
Jonas Niemann
Mikkel-Holger S Sinding
Marcela Sandoval-Velasco
André ER Soares
Robert Lacy
Christina Barilaro
Juila Best
Dirk Brandis
Chiara Cavallo
Mikelo Elorza
Kimball L Garrett
Maaike Groot
Friederike Johansson
Jan T Lifjeld
Göran Nilson
Dale Serjeanston
Paul Sweet
Errol Fuller
Anne Karin Hufthammer
Morten Meldgaard
Jon Fjeldså
Beth Shapiro
Michael Hofreiter
John R Stewart
M Thomas P Gilbert
Michael Knapp
Akses Cepat
- Tahun Terbit
- 2019
- Sumber Database
- DOAJ
- DOI
- 10.7554/eLife.47509
- Akses
- Open Access ✓