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Fire, Erosion and the End of the Megafauna
The distribution of dated erosion events in Tasmania over the past 105,000 years in relation to human arrival and the extinction of the megafauna. Note the increase in the number of erosion events after 40,000 years ago and the absence of a peak in erosion events in the cold period around 65,000 years ago. The image of the giant marsupial Zygomaturus trilobus is by Nobu Tamura.
By Peter McIntosh
Tasmania’s erosion history links ancient Aboriginal burning practices with the demise of Tasmania’s megafauna.
Peter McIntosh is Senior Scientist (Earth Sciences) with the Forest Practices Authority in Tasmania.
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