Makauwahi sinkhole
From dKosopedia
Category: Environmental issues in Hawaii
The Makauwahi Sinkhole is the largest limestone cave complex in the Hawaiian Islands, and is located along the south shore of the island of Kauai.
Archeological research of the Makauwahi sediments is yielding an unprecedented look into Hawai'i's biological and human record that dates back 10,000 years. It is a commentary in sediment of man's swift negative effect on the environment, in terms of evolutionary history.
In a Honolulu Advertiser article written by Jay TenGuggencate, entitled, Sinkhole yields trove of bird fossils, the following is revealed:
The sinkhole and cave lie just a few feet from the shore, and yet the bones include birds seen today in only the highest forests and birds that are now extinct.
More than 40 different bird species were identified from fossil bones in the sand and soil.
Fordham University biologist David Burney led the archaeological dig at the site, along with a range of experts from several disciplines. Bird bones were identified by Helen James and Storrs Olson of the Smithsonian Institution.
The initial results of the dig were printed in Ecological Monographs, a publication of the Ecological Society of America, under the title: "Fossil Evidence for a Diverse Biota from Kaua'i and Its Transformation since Human Arrival."
The bones included a range of seabirds, including petrels, shearwaters, boobies and frigatebirds.
Waterbirds include the Hawaiian goose, or nene; the Hawaiian duck, or koloa; the Laysan duck and four species of related birds that were extinct before Western contact, at least two of which were large and flightless. There also was an extinct flightless rail, the black-crowned night heron, and the now-endangered Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian stilt.
The fossil evidence shows that the small, yellowish Big Island high forest bird, the palila, was once a coastal bird on Kaua'i. The Hawaiian hawk, or 'io, was also on Kaua'i.
There were two species of owl, the pueo and an extinct long-legged owl, believed to be a bird-catcher. Avian experts believe the pueo, or short-eared owl, may not have appeared on the island until early Hawaiians introduced the rat.
Perhaps the most fascinating of the bird finds are bones that prove that almost all of what are now called Hawaiian upland forest birds were once common all the way to the shore.
Burney and his associates found 'o'o, 'elepaio, kama'o, puaiohi, 'o'u, nukupu'u, 'akialoa, 'anianiau, 'amakihi and 'apapane bones in the sinkhole, along with five extinct finches and an extinct relative of the 'akialoa.
In another Advertiser article written by TenBruggencate and entitled, Kaua'i cave tells 10,000-year tale, the following:
The complex coastal forest of the region has been intricately described from seed and pollen remains. Two species of plants — kou and hala — that were once believed to be Polynesian introductions have been proven to predate human arrival. There are signs of ancient snails, extinct land crabs and much more.
From the same article:
Pollen and seed found in the pre-human layers prove many plants that are now rare or only known from isolated or upland areas were once part of a complex coastal forest. That led Burney to the theory that today's dominant native forest trees like 'ohi'a, hala and koa were once comparatively small parts of the forest ecosystem. Once the ecosystem was disturbed by human contact, these survivors were able to gain greater density as other plants disappeared.
Also in the same Advertiser article:
The site also has turned out to be the richest fossil site in the Hawaiian Islands. Burney and his fellow diggers have found the bones of at least 45 species of birds. There are strange creatures, such as turkey-sized flightless ducks and a tiny duck with eyes near the back of its head that may have been a night-feeding creature with some characteristics of New Zealand's kiwi. There are the remains of owls, a bat, a gull and several forest birds that are all now extinct.
Among the experts that collaborated in the archaeological dig was the late archaeologist Bill "Pila" Kikuchi.
External Links
- Chang, Lester. Probing the secrets of Kaua‘i's past -- Paleoecologist Dr. David Burney of Fordham University Kauai World, 1-11-2004.
- TenBruggencate, Jan. Sinkhole yields trove of bird fossils Honolulu Advertiser, 2-25-05.
- TenBruggencate, Jan. Kaua'icave tells 10,000-year tale Honolulu Advertiser, 9-28-05.
- TenBruggencate, Jan. Kou tree predates voyagers Honolulu Advertiser, 9-26-05.
- Ernst, Cheryl. Discovering Kaua'i’s Real ‘Lost World’ by Cheryl Ernst Malamalama, 9-26-05.
- TenBruggencate, Jan. Scouts work to revive Kaua'i land Honolulu Advertiser, November 19, 2006.
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