A late Pleistocene predator-accumulated avifauna from Kids Cave, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand

Worthy, Trevor H. and Zhao, J. X. (2006). A late Pleistocene predator-accumulated avifauna from Kids Cave, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand. In: , Proceedings of CAVEPS 10. 10th Conference on Australasian Vertebrate Evolution, Palaeontology and Systematics (CAVEPS), Naracoorte, South Australia, (389-408). 29 March-2 April 2005.


Author Worthy, Trevor H.
Zhao, J. X.
Title of paper A late Pleistocene predator-accumulated avifauna from Kids Cave, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand
Conference Paper Type Fully Published Paper
Conference name 10th Conference on Australasian Vertebrate Evolution, Palaeontology and Systematics (CAVEPS)
DOI 10.1080/03115510609506874
Conference location Naracoorte, South Australia
Conference dates 29 March-2 April 2005
Proceedings title Proceedings of CAVEPS 10  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Journal name Alcheringa  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Place published Colchester, United Kingdom
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Publication date 2006
Volume number 30
Issue number 1S
ISSN 0311-5518
1752-0754
Start page 389
End page 408
Total pages 20
Language eng
Abstract/Summary A fossil deposit excavated from the floor of Kids Cave, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand, is interpreted as having been primarily accumulated by New Zealand falcon Falco novaeseelandiae, with some contribution by Haast's eagle Harpagornis moorei. The fauna is rich: 3699 bones represented 41 bird species, two frog species, unspecified geckoes and skinks, and one bat species. Fossil deposition was mainly within the Last Glacial Maximum from about 22,000 cal yr bp to about 15,000 cal yr bp, with a marked change in sediment characteristics at the onset of the LGM's coldest period. Chronological control is given by three Uranium-series dates for a speleothem and radiocarbon AMS dating of four avian eggshell samples and one bone. The fauna is the first extensive predator accumulation of LGM age described from the West Coast of the South Island, and it indicates a palaeoenvironment of a mosaic of shrublands with forest patches. The onset of the coldest part of the LGM (Aurora 3 glacial advance, 19,500 - 19,000 cal yrs bp) saw marked climate cooling/drying affecting the site, but the avifauna indicates that although open-country taxa became more common in this period, some forest persisted nearby throughout the remainder of the LGM.
Subjects C1
780104 Earth sciences
260112 Palaeontology
Keyword Late Pleistocene
Late Glacial Maximum
raptor-accumulated avifauna
palaeoenvironment
Kids Cave
West Coast
South Island
Q-Index Code E1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status UQ

 
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Created: Wed, 15 Aug 2007, 10:16:34 EST