Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/B/S/2003/00768
The evolutionary history of New Zealand's extinct giant raptors.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor A Cooper, University of Oxford, Zoology
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M Bunce, University of Oxford, Biology
- Grant held at:
- University of Oxford, Zoology
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Palaeobiology
- Quaternary Science
- Population Genetics/Evolution
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- Ancient DNA will be used to reconstruct the evolutionary and paleoecological relationships of the extinct giant raptors of New Zealand; Haasts eagle, NZ harrier and Chatham island eagle. Advanced phylogenetic analyses will be used to examine the origins of both taxa, using outgoups obtained from museum and modern samples. Preliminary data already demonstrates that Haasts eagle, the largest known raptor (15kg), is closely related to small bird hunting eagles, a finding in direct contrast to morphological analyses. Evolutionary phenomena such as gigantism, and parallel morphological evolution in response to climate change (Holocene dwarfing), will be analysed by contrasting the genetics of populations on both islands of New Zealand, and carbon-dating specimens. Dietary isotopic signals will be used to examine ecological partitioning, and possible causes of morphological changes. The distribution of phylogeographic and (sub) species barriers will be examined, and their ages determined using a raptor-specific molecular evolutionary rate generated from the AMS carbon-dated specimens, and related to known paleoecological events, dietary data, and the paleoenvironment. This molecular rate will be applicable to studies of birds of prey elsewhere in the world. The research will establish the first detailed view of the extinct top predators of New Zealand, and will be important in understanding and combating current ecological alterations caused by introduced mammals.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/B/S/2003/00768
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Small Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Small Grants
This grant award has a total value of £25,451
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs |
|---|---|
| £1,824 | £23,626 |
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