High-Resolution Coproecology: Using Coprolites to Reconstruct the Habits and Habitats of New Zealand’s Extinct Upland Moa (Megalapteryx didinus)

Contributes 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. Identifies at least 67 plant taxa from the coprolites, including the first evidence that moa fed on t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	PloS one Vol. 7; no. 6; p. e40025
Main Authors:	Wood, Jamie R., Wilmshurst, Janet M., Wagstaff, Steven J., Worthy, Trevor H., Rawlence, Nicolas J., Cooper, Alan
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Public Library of Science 29.06.2012 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:	Adaptation Analysis Animal behavior Animals Archaeological dating Artiodactyla Beech Behavior Biological evolution Biology Birds Browsing Caves Community structure Coprolites Defense industry Deoxyribonucleic acid Diet Dispersal Dispersion DNA DNA, Plant - genetics Ecological effects Ecological monitoring Ecology Ecosystem Ecosystems Endangered & extinct species Environmental science Evolution Evolutionary biology Extinct birds Extinction Extinction, Biological Feeding and feeds Flax Flightless birds Flowers Forests Fossils Grasslands Habitat Habitat availability Habits Haplotypes Herbivores Herbivory Human settlements Humans Megalapteryx didinus Moa Multidisciplinary research National parks Nectar New Zealand Nothofagus Palaeognathae - classification Palaeognathae - genetics Plant communities Plant evolution Plant fossils Plants - classification Plants - genetics Pollen Pollen - genetics Pollination Porphyrio hochstetteri Radiocarbon dating Radiometric Dating Seed dispersal Seeds Species extinction Species Specificity Taxa Trichosurus vulpecula Upland game birds New Zealand South Island New Zealand Australia South Australia Australia
ISSN:	1932-6203, 1932-6203
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Summary:	Contributes 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. Identifies 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). Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.
Bibliography:	Includes graphs, illustrations, maps, references, tables Includes links to related electronic resources ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 14 content type line 23 b Current address: Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand Conceived and designed the experiments: JRW JMW THW AC. Performed the experiments: JRW JMW THW NJR. Analyzed the data: JRW JMW SJW. Wrote the paper: JRW JMW SJW THW NJR AC. a Current address: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0040025