Anthropogenically driven decline and extinction of Sapotaceae on Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands, East Polynesia)

A groundbreaking study reveals the significant anthropogenic decline and potential extinction of Sapotaceae, a plant family, on Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands. This research marks the first large-scale investigation into prehistoric forest changes in the region, uncovering that two Sapotaceae species—Planchonella and cf. Sideroxylon—were once common elements of indigenous lowland forests but have since disappeared due to overexploitation, forest clearance, and seed predation by introduced rats. Archaeological charcoal assemblages indicate these species were prevalent in early cultural contexts across three Marquesan valleys but nearly undetectable in late prehistoric periods. The findings also suggest a correlation with the reduction of native frugivorous bird populations, offering new insights into the region's palaeoecological history and underscoring the importance of archaeobotanical data in understanding Holocene environmental changes.

Huebert, J. M. (2015). Anthropogenically driven decline and extinction of Sapotaceae on Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands, East Polynesia). The Holocene, 25(6), 1039–1046. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683615574868