TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thomas, Jessica E.
A1  - Carvalho, Gary R.
A1  - Haile, James
A1  - Rawlence, Nicolas J.
A1  - Martin, Michael D.
A1  - Ho, Simon Y. W.
A1  - Sigfusson, Arnor P.
A1  - Josefsson, Vigfus A.
A1  - Frederiksen, Morten
A1  - Linnebjerg, Jannie F.
A1  - Castruita, Jose A. Samaniego
A1  - Niemann, Jonas
A1  - Sinding, Mikkel-Holger S.
A1  - Sandoval-Velasco, Marcela
A1  - Soares, Andre E. R.
A1  - Lacy, Robert
A1  - Barilaro, Christina
A1  - Best, Juila
A1  - Brandis, Dirk
A1  - Cavallo, Chiara
A1  - Elorza, Mikelo
A1  - Garrett, Kimball L.
A1  - Groot, Maaike
A1  - Johansson, Friederike
A1  - Lifjeld, Jan T.
A1  - Nilson, Goran
A1  - Serjeanston, Dale
A1  - Sweet, Paul
A1  - Fuller, Errol
A1  - Hufthammer, Anne Karin
A1  - Meldgaard, Morten
A1  - Fjeldsa, Jon
A1  - Shapiro, Beth
A1  - Hofreiter, Michael
A1  - Stewart, John R.
A1  - Gilbert, M. Thomas P.
A1  - Knapp, Michael
T1  - Demographic reconstruction from ancient DNA supports rapid extinction of the great auk
JF  - eLife
N2  - The great auk was once abundant and distributed across the North Atlantic. It is now extinct, having been heavily exploited for its eggs, meat, and feathers. We investigated the impact of human hunting on its demise by integrating genetic data, GPS-based ocean current data, and analyses of population viability. We sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes of 41 individuals from across the species' geographic range and reconstructed population structure and population dynamics throughout the Holocene. Taken together, our data do not provide any evidence that great auks were at risk of extinction prior to the onset of intensive human hunting in the early 16th century. In addition, our population viability analyses reveal that even if the great auk had not been under threat by environmental change, human hunting alone could have been sufficient to cause its extinction. Our results emphasise the vulnerability of even abundant and widespread species to intense and localised exploitation.
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.47509
SN  - 2050-084X
VL  - 8
PB  - eLife Sciences Publications
CY  - Cambridge
ER  -