title: High-resolution coproecology: Using coprolites to reconstruct the habits and habitats of New Zealand’s extinct upland Moa (Megalapteryx didinus)

authors: Wood, Jamie R.

subjects: ancient DNA analysis

abstract: Knowledge about the diet and ecology of extinct herbivores has important implications for understanding the evolution of plant defence structures, establishing the influences of herbivory on past plant community structure and composition, and identifying pollination and seed dispersal syndromes. The flightless ratite moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) were New Zealand's largest herbivores prior to their extinction soon after initial human settlement. Here we contribute to the knowledge of moa diet and ecology by reporting the results of a multidisciplinary study of 35 coprolites from a subalpine cave (Euphrates Cave) on the South Island of New Zealand. Ancient DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating revealed the coprolites were deposited by the extinct upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus), and span from at least 6,368±31 until 694±30 ¹⁴C years BP; the approximate time of their extinction. Using pollen, plant macrofossil, and ancient DNA analyses, we identified at least 67 plant taxa from the coprolites, including the first evidence that moa fed on the nectar-rich flowers of New Zealand flax (Phormium) and tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata). The plant assemblage from the coprolites reflects a highly-generalist feeding ecology for upland moa, including browsing and grazing across the full range of locally available habitats (spanning southern beech (Nothofagus) forest to tussock (Chionochloa) grassland). Intact seeds in the coprolites indicate that upland moa may have been important dispersal agents for several plant taxa. Plant taxa with putative anti-browse adaptations were also identified in the coprolites. Clusters of coprolites (based on pollen assemblages, moa haplotypes, and radiocarbon dates), probably reflect specimens deposited at the same time by individual birds, and reveal the necessity of suitably large sample sizes in coprolite studies to overcome potential biases in diet interpretation.

text: High-resolution coproecology: Using coprolites to reconstruct the habits and habitats of New Zealand’s extinct upland Moa (Megalapteryx didinus) Knowledge about the diet and ecology of extinct herbivores has important implications for understanding the evolution of plant defence structures, establishing the influences of herbivory on past plant community structure and composition, and identifying pollination and seed dispersal syndromes. The flightless ratite moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) were New Zealand's largest herbivores prior to their extinction soon after initial human settlement. Here we contribute to the knowledge of moa diet and ecology by reporting the results of a multidisciplinary study of 35 coprolites from a subalpine cave (Euphrates Cave) on the South Island of New Zealand. Ancient DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating revealed the coprolites were deposited by the extinct upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus), and span from at least 6,368±31 until 694±30 ¹⁴C years BP; the approximate time of their extinction. Using pollen, plant macrofossil, and ancient DNA analyses, we identified at least 67 plant taxa from the coprolites, including the first evidence that moa fed on the nectar-rich flowers of New Zealand flax (Phormium) and tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata). The plant assemblage from the coprolites reflects a highly-generalist feeding ecology for upland moa, including browsing and grazing across the full range of locally available habitats (spanning southern beech (Nothofagus) forest to tussock (Chionochloa) grassland). Intact seeds in the coprolites indicate that upland moa may have been important dispersal agents for several plant taxa. Plant taxa with putative anti-browse adaptations were also identified in the coprolites. Clusters of coprolites (based on pollen assemblages, moa haplotypes, and radiocarbon dates), probably reflect specimens deposited at the same time by individual birds, and reveal the necessity of suitably large sample sizes in coprolite studies to overcome potential biases in diet interpretation.

year: 2012

title: Last resting place and legacy of Charles Heaphy, VC

authors: Lowe, David J.

subjects: Charles Heaphy

abstract: Charles Heaphy is now recognised as a significant figure in the early European settlement of New Zealand and he also has an interesting geological connection that deserves wider recognition. Heaphy arrived in New Zealand on the Tory together with Ern(e)st Dieffenbach on 18th August, 1839, aged around 19. Employed then by Wakefield's New Zealand Company as a draughtsman, Heaphy was described by Sharp (2008. p. 25) as being a "general roustabout, explorer, surveyor, assistant naturalist, courier and verbal as well as visual propagandist". He went on to become best known as an excellent watercolour landscape artist (his early work showing "sensitivity to the clarity of the New Zealand light") (Sharp, 2008, p. 205), an explorer and surveyor, a parliamentarian, and for winning the Victoria Cross for his actions in the New Zealand (Maori land) wars.

text: Last resting place and legacy of Charles Heaphy, VC Charles Heaphy is now recognised as a significant figure in the early European settlement of New Zealand and he also has an interesting geological connection that deserves wider recognition. Heaphy arrived in New Zealand on the Tory together with Ern(e)st Dieffenbach on 18th August, 1839, aged around 19. Employed then by Wakefield's New Zealand Company as a draughtsman, Heaphy was described by Sharp (2008. p. 25) as being a "general roustabout, explorer, surveyor, assistant naturalist, courier and verbal as well as visual propagandist". He went on to become best known as an excellent watercolour landscape artist (his early work showing "sensitivity to the clarity of the New Zealand light") (Sharp, 2008, p. 205), an explorer and surveyor, a parliamentarian, and for winning the Victoria Cross for his actions in the New Zealand (Maori land) wars.

year: 2010

title: Te kaumoana Poronīhia: Ngā terenga onamata

authors: Tuaupiki, Jackie Whetumarama

subjects: Kōrero nehe

abstract: Tā tēnei tuhinga e whai ake nei, he wānanga i ngā pūtake o te whanaketanga mai o ngā iwi, nāna ngā motu o Poronīhia i whakakāinga, ka utaina te karangatanga ki runga ki a rātou, he iwi Poronīhia. Ko te pātai matua, i ahu mai ngā iwi Poronīhia i whea? Tēnei, ka hahaina ngā whakaaro Māori me ngā whakaaro Tauiwi e pā ana ki te pūtakenga mai o te iwi tāngata ki te ao. I konei, ka kitea te rerekē o te titiro ā-ao a ēnei iwi tāngata.

Ka ū te titiro ki Hawaiki, e tau ana ngā kōrero tuku iho a te ao Māori, ki te ao Poronīhia hoki. E mea ana te Māori, he tūrangawaewae taurikura a Hawaiki, he pā whakawairua hoki. Ka riariakina e au ngā whakapae mō tēnei karangatanga kāinga i mau roa ai i ōna iwi kōrero.

Ka huri rā ki te āta whakatewhatewha i ngā rangahau mō te horanga haeretanga o te iwi tāngata mai i whirika, ki  hia ki te tonga mā rāwhiti, ā, tau atu rā ki roto i ngā whaitua moana o Poronīhia. I konei, kua āta wānangahia e au ngā whakapae huhua mō ngā take i horapa haere ai ēnei iwi ki roto o Poronīhia, ka tahi. Ka rua, ka tirohia ngā tohe e pā ana ki tō rātou āheinga ki te whakatere i ō rātou waka. Ko ēnei kōrero, he whakatuwhera i te pūtea mātauranga mō runga i ngā mahi whakatere waka a ngā tūpuna Poronīhia.

text: Te kaumoana Poronīhia: Ngā terenga onamata Tā tēnei tuhinga e whai ake nei, he wānanga i ngā pūtake o te whanaketanga mai o ngā iwi, nāna ngā motu o Poronīhia i whakakāinga, ka utaina te karangatanga ki runga ki a rātou, he iwi Poronīhia. Ko te pātai matua, i ahu mai ngā iwi Poronīhia i whea? Tēnei, ka hahaina ngā whakaaro Māori me ngā whakaaro Tauiwi e pā ana ki te pūtakenga mai o te iwi tāngata ki te ao. I konei, ka kitea te rerekē o te titiro ā-ao a ēnei iwi tāngata.

Ka ū te titiro ki Hawaiki, e tau ana ngā kōrero tuku iho a te ao Māori, ki te ao Poronīhia hoki. E mea ana te Māori, he tūrangawaewae taurikura a Hawaiki, he pā whakawairua hoki. Ka riariakina e au ngā whakapae mō tēnei karangatanga kāinga i mau roa ai i ōna iwi kōrero.

Ka huri rā ki te āta whakatewhatewha i ngā rangahau mō te horanga haeretanga o te iwi tāngata mai i whirika, ki  hia ki te tonga mā rāwhiti, ā, tau atu rā ki roto i ngā whaitua moana o Poronīhia. I konei, kua āta wānangahia e au ngā whakapae huhua mō ngā take i horapa haere ai ēnei iwi ki roto o Poronīhia, ka tahi. Ka rua, ka tirohia ngā tohe e pā ana ki tō rātou āheinga ki te whakatere i ō rātou waka. Ko ēnei kōrero, he whakatuwhera i te pūtea mātauranga mō runga i ngā mahi whakatere waka a ngā tūpuna Poronīhia.

year: 2017