The late Quaternary decline and extinction of palms on oceanic Pacific islands

Prebble, Matthew; Dowe, John Leslie

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.09.015

Cited by 68 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 120 publications

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“…Early Polynesians similarly carried a range of domesticated crops, animals and commensals that have contributed to the alteration of tropical forests across the region [76][77] . On Tonga, for example, tropical forest tree species declined in abundance following Polynesian colonisation 78 .…”

Section: Farming In the Forestmentioning

confidence: 99%

The deep human prehistory of global tropical forests and its relevance for modern conservation

et al. 2017

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Abstract/first paragraphSignificant human impacts on tropical forests have been considered the preserve of recent societies, linked to large-scale deforestation, extensive and intensive agriculture, resource mining, livestock grazing, and urban settlement. Cumulative archaeological evidence now demonstrates, however, that Homo sapiens has actively manipulated tropical forest ecologies for at least 45,000 years. It is clear that these millennia of impacts need to be taken into account when studying and conserving tropical forest ecosystems today. Nevertheless, archaeology has so far provided only limited practical insight into contemporary human-tropical forest interactions. Here, we review significant archaeological evidence for the impacts of past hunter-gatherers, agriculturalists, and urban settlements on global tropical forests. We compare the challenges faced, as well as the solutions adopted, by these groups with those confronting present-day societies, which also rely on tropical forests for a variety of ecosystem services. We emphasise archaeology's importance not only in promoting natural and cultural heritage in tropical forests, but also in taking an active role to inform modern conservation and policy-making.

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Section: Farming In the Forestmentioning

confidence: 99%

The deep human prehistory of global tropical forests and its relevance for modern conservation

et al. 2017

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“…The subsequent introduction of such predators, including humans, has led to a number of serious declines or extinctions of species, including birds (Hindwood 1940;Holdaway 1989;Blackburn et al 2004;Cheke 2006), invertebrates (Priddel et al 2003;Coote and Loeve 2003;Towns et al 2006) and plants (Duncan and Young 2000;Campbell and Atkinson 2002). For long-lived plants, extinctions caused by introduced species have rarely been recorded (Prebble and Dowe 2008), and in some cases the life span of individual plants may be longer than the period since the introduction of particular weeds, predators or pathogens. For such plants, continuing impacts may result in population declines, even if these declines are hard to detect.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disruption of recruitment in two endemic palms on Lord Howe Island by invasive rats

Auld¹,

Hutton²,

Ooi

et al. 2010

Biol Invasions

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Invasive species may have negative impacts on many narrow range endemics and species restricted to oceanic islands. Predicting recent impacts of invasive species on long-lived trees is difficult because the presence of adult plants may mask population changes. We examined the impact of introduced black rats (Rattus rattus) on two palm species restricted to cloud forests and endemic to Lord Howe Island, a small oceanic island in the southern Pacific. We combined estimates of the standing size distribution of these palms with the proximal impacts of rats on fruit survival in areas baited to control rats and in unbaited areas. The size distribution of palms with trunks was comparable across baited and unbaited sites. Small juvenile palms lacking a trunk (\50 cm tall) were abundant in baited areas, but rare in unbaited sites for Lepidorrhachis mooreana, and rare or absent in 3 out of 4 unbaited Hedyscepe canterburyana sites. All ripe fruits were lost to rats in the small fruited L. mooreana. Fruitremoval was widespread but less (20-54%) in H. canterburyana. Both palms showed evidence of a reduced capacity to maintain a juvenile bank of palms through regular recruitment as a consequence of over 90 years of rat impact. This will limit the ability of these species to take advantage of episodic canopy gaps. Baiting for rat control reduced fruit losses and resulted in the re-establishment of a juvenile palm bank. Conservation of both endemic palms necessitates control (or eradication) of rat populations on the unique cloud forest summits of the island. Abstract Invasive species may have negative impacts on many narrow range endemics and species restricted to oceanic islands. Predicting recent impacts of invasive species on long-lived trees is difficult because the presence of adult plants may mask population changes. We examined the impact of introduced black rats (Rattus rattus) on two palm species restricted to cloud forests and endemic to Lord Howe Island, a small oceanic island in the southern Pacific. We combined estimates of the standing size distribution of these palms with the proximal impacts of rats on fruit survival in areas baited to control rats and in unbaited areas. The size distribution of palms with trunks was comparable across baited and unbaited sites. Small juvenile palms lacking a trunk (\50 cm tall) were abundant in baited areas, but rare in unbaited sites for Lepidorrhachis mooreana, and rare or absent in 3 out of 4 unbaited Hedyscepe canterburyana sites. All ripe fruits were lost to rats in the small fruited L. mooreana. Fruit removal was widespread but less (20-54%) in H. canterburyana. Both palms showed evidence of a reduced capacity to maintain a juvenile bank of palms through regular recruitment as a consequence of over 90 years of rat impact. This will limit the ability of these species to take advantage of episodic canopy gaps. Baiting for rat control reduced fruit losses and resulted in the re-establishment of a juvenile palm bank. Conservation of both endemic palms necessitates con...

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“…Coconut trees are indigenous on many islands in Remote Oceania at least as far east as Tubuai in the Austral Archipelago, but they are not indigenous to the Hawaiian Archipelago or Rapa (Prebble and Dowe 2008). The distribution of coconut trees is partly controlled by rainfall, as fruits remain unviable in areas or in years with less than 1000 mm annual precipitation (Fosberg 1956).…”

Section: Indigenous Carbohydrate Sources On Rapamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Prebble and Dowe (2008) and work as yet unpublished have identified multiple proxies for ecological change from Tukou Swamp, on Rapa, spanning the past 7500 years. Preserved Pandanus tectorius syncarps and high concentrations of Pandanus pollen characterise the pre-human swamp record.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the past 750 years, unprecedented increases in charcoal particle concentration and seral fern spores, plus a rapid decline in Pandanus pollen, indicate early forest clearance. A number of plant species became extinct, including a palm tree (Prebble and Dowe 2008). The interpretation of cultural activity after about AD Palaeobotany and the early development of agriculture on Rapa Island 169 terra australis 37 1200 is strengthened by the near-synchronous appearance of pollen from the introduced plant cultigen Colocasia esculenta, and of weeds indicative of the expansion of agricultural activity.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Taking the High Ground: The archaeology of Rapa, a fortified island in remote East Polynesia (Terra Australis 37)

Anderson¹,

Kennett²

2012

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terra australis 37Terra Australis reports the results of archaeological and related research within the south and east of Asia, though mainly Australia, New Guinea and island Melanesia -lands that remained terra australis incognita to generations of prehistorians. Its subject is the settlement of the diverse environments in this isolated quarter of the globe by peoples who have maintained their discrete and traditional ways of life into the recent recorded or remembered past and at times into the observable present. Copyright of the text remains with the contributors/authors, 2011. This book is copyright in all countries subscribing to the Berne convention. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be made to the publisher. List of volumes in Terra AustralisVolume IntroductionThis volume describes the results of archaeological and related research on Rapa Island, which lies at the southern extremity of French Polynesia. Notable for its numerous fortified sites atop the peaks of a spectacular volcanic landscape, Rapa has remained nonetheless an enigma in Polynesian prehistory. It has been linked, on the one hand, with its more famous and nearnamesake Rapa Nui (Easter Island), in hypotheses of Amerindian migration and the dire impacts of deforestation and societal isolation, and, on the other hand, with settlement and fort construction in the similarly cool and remote nearest neighbour to the southwest, New Zealand. Our project set out to construct a cultural sequence and palaeoenvironmental context so that consideration of such issues might profit from the existence of a more diverse and comprehensive database. Rapa Island is located in a remote position at 27 0 35S, 144 0 20W, in the subtropical South Pacific Ocean (Figure 1.1). In the form of a horseshoe, which reflects its origin as a breached caldera, Rapa has 38 km 2 of land area and, lacking any barrier or fringing reef, its outer coast rises abruptly out of the sea towards jagged peaks, products of erosion around the caldera rim (Figure 1.2), the highest of which is Mont Perau, at 650 m;Where the steep sides of the jagged peaks reach the coast they form great cliffs falling vertically to the sea. The coast is bold with deep caves worn in it by the sea. Except around the bays in the coast, which have sandy beaches at their heads, the island is inaccessible. (Haslam 1982:83) terra australis 37 Archaeological research on Rapa Island, French Polynesia 9 terra australis 37Topographically, the redeeming feature of Rapa for human habitation is its large, protected harbour with relatively extensive low and fertile ground at its head (Figure 1.3). The harbour was called Aurai in the 1820s (Chapter 2) and it has been called Ha'urei or Ahurei since the 1940s at least (Naval Intelligence Division 1943:253). However, Stokes (n.d.) called it 'Tairirau' and on an early map published by Hall (1...

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The late Quaternary decline and extinction of palms on oceanic Pacific islands

Cited by 68 publications

References 120 publications

The deep human prehistory of global tropical forests and its relevance for modern conservation

The deep human prehistory of global tropical forests and its relevance for modern conservation

Disruption of recruitment in two endemic palms on Lord Howe Island by invasive rats

Taking the High Ground: The archaeology of Rapa, a fortified island in remote East Polynesia (Terra Australis 37)

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