Biological Sciences: Genetics Extinct New Zealand megafauna were not in decline before human colonization Morten E. Allentoft1,2,3*, Rasmus Heller4,5, Charlotte L. Oskam2, Eline D. Lorenzen6,1, Marie L. Hale3, M. Thomas P. Gilbert1, Chris Jacomb7, Richard N. Holdaway3,8, Michael Bunce2,9* 1) Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark. 2) Ancient DNA Laboratory, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia. 3) School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. 4) Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK- 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. 5) Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6 P-2780-156 Oeiras Portugal. 6) Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. 7) Southern Pacific Archaeological Research, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. 8) Palaecol Research Ltd, 167 Springs Road, Hornby, Christchurch 8042, New Zealand. 9) Trace and Environmental DNA laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia * Correspondence: Morten E. Allentoft Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
[email protected] +45 29824634 Michael Bunce Trace and Environmental DNA laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia
[email protected] +61 406998025 Abstract The extinction of New Zealand's moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) followed the arrival of humans in the late 13th century and was the final event of the prehistoric late Quaternary megafauna extinctions.