Variation in the taphonomic effect of scavengers in semi‐arid Australia linked to rainfall and the El Niño Southern Oscillation

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7809686
AutoresOLIVER J F BROWN (The University of Sydney, autor de correspondencia), Judith Field (0000-0003-4451-8947), Judith H Field (0000-0001-6807-1858, The University of Sydney), M Letnic (0000-0003-4191-8427, The University of Sydney)
Año2006
Volumen16
Número2
Páginas165-176
Fecha de publicación2006-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.833
OpenAlexW2037370264
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas41

Scavenging is one of the primary taphonomic processes shaping the final composition of fossil faunal assemblages. The taphonomic effect of scavengers is variable and must be understood in the context of the causes of that variation. In this study, we investigated relationships between the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), variable rainfall and scavenging on 20–40 kg mammal carcasses in semi‐arid New South Wales over four years. Following periods of above‐average rainfall (coincident with the La Niña phase of the ENSO), there was an increased availability of non‐carrion food and scavenging activity was moderate. Following below‐average rainfall (coincident with the El Niño phase of the ENSO), foraging options diminished, leading to a greater importance of carrion in the diet of scavengers and a resultant increase in carcass disturbance, transport and destruction by scavengers. Feral pigs ( Sus scrofa ) and red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) were the most taphonomically significant scavengers in the study. Australian ravens ( Corvus coronoides ) and wedge‐tailed eagles ( Aquila audax ) were active scavengers throughout the period of the study, but had little impact on bone survival. Lace monitors ( Varanus varius ) also fed mostly on soft tissue and were only present seasonally. We found that climate variability in the form of short‐term oscillation can result in significant variation in the impact of scavengers on carcasses and may be an important consideration when evaluating site formation scenarios and biases in fossil faunal assemblages. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Arid · Biology · Carrion · Climatology · Context (archaeology · El Niño Southern Oscillation · Foraging · Mammal · Predation · Scavenging · Taphonomy · Vulpes · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation · Ecology · Geology · Paleontology