Chronology of Holocene vertebrate extinction in the Galápagos Islands

David W. Steadman; Thomas W. Stafford; Douglas J. Donahue; A. J.T. Jull

doi:10.1016/0033-5894(91)90021-V

Chronology of Holocene vertebrate extinction in the Galápagos Islands

David W. Steadman, Thomas W. Stafford, Douglas J. Donahue, A. J.T. Jull

Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Eleven conventional and 15 AMS (accelerator mass spectrometer) radiocarbon dates establish chronologies for nine Holocene vertebrate fossil sites in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. A Holocene fossil record approaching 500,000 bones, more than 90% of which predate the arrival of people, shows that most or all cases of extinction or extirpation in the Galápagos occurred after first human contact in AD 1535. This is especially significant for two species of large rodents (Megaoryzomys spp.) that are known only from bones found in lava tubes. The highest rate of background (prehuman) extinction interpreted from the Galápagos fossil record is probably hundreds of times less than the modern rate of human-related extinction.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	126-133
Number of pages	8
Journal	Quaternary Research
Volume	36
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0033-5894(91)90021-V
State	Published - Jul 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Earth-Surface Processes
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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title = "Chronology of Holocene vertebrate extinction in the Gal{\'a}pagos Islands",

abstract = "Eleven conventional and 15 AMS (accelerator mass spectrometer) radiocarbon dates establish chronologies for nine Holocene vertebrate fossil sites in the Gal{\'a}pagos Islands, Ecuador. A Holocene fossil record approaching 500,000 bones, more than 90% of which predate the arrival of people, shows that most or all cases of extinction or extirpation in the Gal{\'a}pagos occurred after first human contact in AD 1535. This is especially significant for two species of large rodents (Megaoryzomys spp.) that are known only from bones found in lava tubes. The highest rate of background (prehuman) extinction interpreted from the Gal{\'a}pagos fossil record is probably hundreds of times less than the modern rate of human-related extinction.",

author = "Steadman, {David W.} and Stafford, {Thomas W.} and Donahue, {Douglas J.} and Jull, {A. J.T.}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (Grant BSR-8607535), National Research Council, National Geographic Society (Grant 2088), and Smithsonian Institution. The Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park supplied permits and logistical support for Iield work, in which many people generously participated. D. S. Pahlavan assisted in curation. For comments on the manuscript, we thank J. T. Hayes, H. F. James, P. S. Martin, N. G. Miller, S. L. Olson, D. S. Pahlavan, and C. E. Ray.",

year = "1991",

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AU - Stafford, Thomas W.

AU - Donahue, Douglas J.

AU - Jull, A. J.T.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (Grant BSR-8607535), National Research Council, National Geographic Society (Grant 2088), and Smithsonian Institution. The Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park supplied permits and logistical support for Iield work, in which many people generously participated. D. S. Pahlavan assisted in curation. For comments on the manuscript, we thank J. T. Hayes, H. F. James, P. S. Martin, N. G. Miller, S. L. Olson, D. S. Pahlavan, and C. E. Ray.

PY - 1991/7

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AB - Eleven conventional and 15 AMS (accelerator mass spectrometer) radiocarbon dates establish chronologies for nine Holocene vertebrate fossil sites in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. A Holocene fossil record approaching 500,000 bones, more than 90% of which predate the arrival of people, shows that most or all cases of extinction or extirpation in the Galápagos occurred after first human contact in AD 1535. This is especially significant for two species of large rodents (Megaoryzomys spp.) that are known only from bones found in lava tubes. The highest rate of background (prehuman) extinction interpreted from the Galápagos fossil record is probably hundreds of times less than the modern rate of human-related extinction.

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Chronology of Holocene vertebrate extinction in the Galápagos Islands

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