Stochastic models support rapid peopling of Late Pleistocene Sahul

The peopling of Sahul (the combined continent of Australia and New Guinea) represents the earliest continental migration and settlement event of solely anatomically modern humans, but its patterns and ecological drivers remain largely conceptual in the current literature. We present an advanced stochastic-ecological model to test the relative support for scenarios describing where and when the first humans entered Sahul, and their most probable routes of early settlement. The model supports a dominant entry via the northwest Sahul Shelf first, potentially followed by a second entry through New Guinea, with initial entry most consistent with 50,000 or 75,000 years ago based on comparison with bias-corrected archaeological map layers. The model’s emergent properties predict that peopling of the entire continent occurred rapidly across all ecological environments within 156–208 human generations (4368–5599 years) and at a plausible rate of 0.71–0.92 km year−1. More broadly, our methods and approaches can readily inform other global migration debates, with results supporting an exit of anatomically modern humans from Africa 63,000–90,000 years ago, and the peopling of Eurasia in as little as 12,000–15,000 years via inland routes.

A major settlement event associated with minor meteorologic and oceanographic fluctuations

Settlement of ophiuroids (Ophiopholis aculeata, Ophiura spp.) was measured using artificial collectors at 3-day intervals during their annual 2-week settlement period in July-August 1993 in St. Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia. Hydrographic (temperature, salinity, current velocity, wave height and period) and meteorologic conditions (atmospheric pressure and wind velocity) were recorded concurrently at the site or at nearby locations. A major settlement pulse occurred over one 3-day period, with declining settlement over the following 6 days. This pulse was associated with a shift in current direction and preceded by rapid temperature and salinity fluctuations. Similar changes in temperature occurred at a second site (4.5 km away), indicating at least bay-scale forcing. This period was characterised by the passage of weak atmospheric pressure gradients and a low-energy sea state. These meteorologic and oceanographic fluctuations were within the normal range for this time of year, indicating that major settlement events can occur at scales of days in association with minor fluctuations in the physical environment.

Mass Settlement and Post-Settlement Mortality of Epinephelus Merra (Pisces: Serranidae) On Réunion Coral Reefs

An unusual mass settlement event of the grouper Epinephelus merra occurred on the fringing coral reefs of Reunion Island (south-western Indian Ocean) in April 1994. This major event coincided with stormy conditions associated with the new moon period. The abundance of new settlers was surveyed for 45 days following settlement on both the reef flat and the back reef area of the coral reefs of St Gilles, La Saline and St Leu. Mean densities of settlers were higher on reef flats (maximum 474 ind/20 m2 at La Saline) than on back reef areas (maximum 156 ind/20 m2 at La Saline). Seven weeks later, densities of settled E. merra had drastically decreased, and did not differ with site and zone (18.5 ind/20 m2). Percentages of post-settlement mortality at that period ranged from 85 to 88% in back reef areas and from 93 to 95% on reef flats. A strong correlation between density of recruits and per capita mortality suggests density-dependent early post-settlement mortality for E. merra. The limitation of food resources and shelters, perhaps combined with an increase of diseases due to high population densities of settlers, was probably the main cause of mortality just after the mass settlement. Predation by reef fish, including cannibalism between settlers, is probably responsible for most subsequent mortality.