Analysis of coprolites from the extinct mountain goat Myotragus balearicus |
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| Authors: | Frido Welker Elza Duijm Kristiaan J van der Gaag Bas van Geel Peter de Knijff Jacqueline van Leeuwen Dick Mol Johannes van der Plicht Niels Raes Jelle Reumer Barbara Gravendeel |
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| Institution: | 1. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands;2. Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Reuvensplaats 3, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands;3. Forensic Laboratory for DNA Research, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands;4. Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands;5. University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Altenbergrain 21, CH 3013, Bern, Switzerland;6. Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam, Westzeedijk 345, 3015 AA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;g Energy and Sustainability Research Institute, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands;h Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences, Palma-Port de Sóller road, km 30, apartment 55, 07100 Sóller, Mallorca, Spain;i Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD, Utrecht, The Netherlands;j University of Applied Sciences Leiden, J.H. Oortweg 21, 2333 CH Leiden, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Humans colonized the Balearic Islands 5–4 ka ago. They arrived in a uniquely adapted ecosystem with the Balearic mountain goat Myotragus balearicus (Bovidae, Antilopinae, Caprini) as the only large mammal. This mammal went extinct rapidly after human arrival. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the extinction of M. balearicus. For the present study ancient DNA analysis (Sanger sequencing, Roche-454, Ion Torrent), and pollen and macrofossil analyses were performed on preserved coprolites from M. balearicus, providing information on its diet and paleo-environment. The information retrieved shows that M. balearicus was heavily dependent on the Balearic box species Buxus balearica during at least part of the year, and that it was most probably a browser. Hindcast ecological niche modelling of B. balearica shows that local distribution of this plant species was affected by climate changes. This suggests that the extinction of M. balearicus can be related to the decline and regional extinction of a plant species that formed a major component of its diet. The vegetation change is thought to be caused by increased aridity occurring throughout the Mediterranean. Previous hypotheses relating the extinction of M. balearicus directly to the arrival of humans on the islands must therefore be adjusted. |
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| Keywords: | Ancient DNA Balearic Islands Diet DNA barcoding Ecological niche modelling |
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