Ancient DNA provides new insights into the evolutionary history of New Zealand's extinct Giant Eagle

M. Bunce; M. Szulkin; H.R.L. Lerner; I. Barnes; B. Shapiro; A. Cooper; R.N. Holdaway

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030009

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Ancient DNA provides new insights into the evolutionary history of New Zealand's extinct Giant Eagle

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Ancient DNA provides new insights into the evolutionary history of New Zealand's extinct Giant Eagle

M. Bunce, M. Szulkin, H.R.L. Lerner, I. Barnes, B. Shapiro, A. Cooper and R.N. Holdaway

PLoS Biology, Vol.3(1), e9

2005

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0030009

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Abstract

Prior to human settlement 700 years ago New Zealand had no terrestrial mammals - apart from three species of bats -instead, approximately 250 avian species dominated the ecosystem. At the top of the food chain was the extinct Haast's eagle, Harpagornis moorei. H. moorei (10-15 kg; 2-3 m wingspan) was 30%-40% heavier than the largest extant eagle (the harpy eagle, Harpia harpyja), and hunted moa up to 15 times its weight. In a dramatic example of morphological plasticity and rapid size increase, we show that the H. moorei was very closely related to one of the world's smallest extant eagles, which is one-tenth its mass. This spectacular evolutionary change illustrates the potential speed of size alteration within lineages of vertebrates, especially in island ecosystems.

Details

Title: Ancient DNA provides new insights into the evolutionary history of New Zealand's extinct Giant Eagle
Authors/Creators: M. Bunce (Author/Creator) - University of Oxford
M. Szulkin (Author/Creator) - University of Oxford
H.R.L. Lerner (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
I. Barnes (Author/Creator) - University College London
B. Shapiro (Author/Creator) - University of Oxford
A. Cooper (Author/Creator) - University of Oxford
R.N. Holdaway (Author/Creator) - Palaecol Research, Christchurch, New Zealand
Publication Details: PLoS Biology, Vol.3(1), e9
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Identifiers: 991005544432507891
Copyright: © 2005 Bunce et al
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.64 Phylogenetics & Genomics; 3.64.34 Phylogenetic Relationships
Web Of Science research areas: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Biology
ESI research areas: Biology & Biochemistry