01189nas a2200133 4500008004100000245008700041210006900128300001400197490000800211520072500219653003800944100002100982856005201003 1995 eng d00aPrehistoric Extinctions of Pacific Island Birds: Biodiversity Meets Archaeozoology0 aPrehistoric Extinctions of Pacific Island Birds Biodiversity Mee a1123-11310 v2673 a

On tropical Pacific islands, a human-caused "biodiversity crisis" began thousands of years ago and has nearly run its course. Bones identified from archaeological sites show that most species of land birds and populations of seabirds on those islands were exterminated by prehistoric human activities. The loss of birdlife in the tropical Pacific may exceed 2000 species (a majority of which were species of flightless rails) and thus represents a 20 percent worldwide reduction in the number of species of birds. The current global extinction crisis therefore has historic precedent.

10aanthropology biology paleontology1 aSteadman, D., W. uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.267.5201.1123