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Cited by 128Pacific and Southeast Asian StudiesGeology and Paleoclimatology ResearchArchaeology and ancient environmental studies

Drought, vegetation change, and human history on Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua, Easter Island)

Mann, Daniel, Edwards, James, Chase, Julie, Beck, Warren, Reanier, Richard, Mass, Michele, Finney, Bruce, Loret, John·2008·Quaternary Research
DOI 10.1016/j.yqres.2007.10.009
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Abstract

Stratigraphic records from lake sediment cores and slope deposits on Rapa Nui document prehistoric human impacts and natural environmental changes. A hiatus in sedimentation in Rano Raraku suggests that this lake basin dried out sometime after 4090–4410 cal yr BP and refilled only decades to centuries before AD 1180–1290. Widespread ecosystem changes caused by forest clearance by Polynesian farmers began shortly after the end of this drought. Terrestrial sections show a chronology of burning and soil erosion similar to the lake cores. Although changing sediment types and shifts in the pollen rain suggest that droughts occurred earlier in the Holocene, as yet there is no evidence for droughts occurring after AD 1180–1290. The timing of the agricultural colonization of Rapa Nui now seems well established at ca. AD 1200 and it was accompanied by rapid deforestation that was probably exacerbated by the island's small size, its droughty climate, and the rarity of primeval fires. Detailed records of a large interval of Rapa Nui's ecological history remain elusive due to the drought hiatus in the Rano Raraku sediment record. We find no evidence for a "rat outbreak impact" on Rapa Nui's vegetation preceding anthropogenic forest clearance.

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  • Soil erosion was limited to specific areas-the older Poike peninsula, a small northwest coastal section, and slopes of some smaller volcanic cones-and there is no evidence of widespread erosion that would have disrupted agriculture.

    “Soil erosion occurred in limited areas (i.e., on the older Poike peninsula (35)(36)(37), along a small section of the northwest coast, and on the slopes of some of the smaller volcanic cones); however, there is no evidence of widespread soil erosion that could have interfered with agricultural production (38).”

    From Variation in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) land use indicates production and population peaks prior to European contact (2015) · cites this paper as [37]

  • Rapa Nui hydroclimate is sensitive only to cold ENSO phases, probably due to ENSO influence on the position of the South Pacific Anticyclone, the South Pacific Convergence Zone and the Subtropical Jetstream.

    “This implies that Rapa Nui hydroclimate is sensitive only to cold ENSO phases, probably due to its influence on the position of the SPA, the SPCZ and STJ, as previously suggested in [ 32 , 37 , 38 ].”

    From Ecology of the collapse of Rapa Nui society (2020) · cites this paper as [37]

  • The basic dynamic model predicts that after initial colonization around 1100-1280 CE, population grew exponentially until equilibrium population size, which is determined by land area and food productivity.

    “The basic dynamic model (equation (3.1)) predicts that after the initial colonization around 1100–1280 CE [ 15 , 28 ] population grew exponentially until equilibrium population size, which is determined by land area and food productivity [ 37 , 40 , 41 ].”

    From Ecology of the collapse of Rapa Nui society (2020) · cites this paper as [37]

  • The combination of positive population growth rates and a gradual increasing long-term trend in La Niña conditions (which causes droughts on the island) could explain the extensive deforestation as agriculture production increased the demand for farming lands, linked also to soil erosion and exhaustion.

    “Thus, the combination of positive population growth rates and a gradual increasing long-term trend in La Niña conditions (which causes droughts on the island) [ 37 , 54 ] could explain the extensive deforestation as agriculture production increased the demand for farming lands, linked also to soil erosion and exhaustion.”

    From Ecology of the collapse of Rapa Nui society (2020) · cites this paper as [37]

  • Existing evidence suggests that forest clearance created widespread soil erosion between 1200 CE and 1650 CE.

    “Existing evidence suggests that forest clearance created widespread soil erosion between 1200 CE and 1650 CE [ 37 , 41 ].”

    From Ecology of the collapse of Rapa Nui society (2020) · cites this paper as [37]

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Authors
Mann, D., Edwards, J., Chase, J., Beck, W., Reanier, R., Mass, M., Finney, B., & Loret, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks (US)
  • Oregon Health & Science University (US)
  • New York University (US)
  • University of Arizona (US)
Corresponding author
Mann, Daniel
ORCID
Venue
Quaternary Research
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2008-01
Volume
69
Issue
1
Pages
16-28
ISSN
  • 0033-5894 (ISSN-L)
  • 1096-0287
DOI
10.1016/j.yqres.2007.10.009
OpenAlex
W2065245596
Cited by
128
References
90
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 10
FWCI
40.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 3307 d)
Locations
Quaternary Research (publishedVersion)
Funders
Explorers Club
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Geography, Planning and Development › Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
Keywords
Easter Island, drought, Holocene, lake sediment core, sediment hiatus, deforestation, human impact on vegetation, forest clearing, burning, soil erosion, pollen rain, ecological history, prehistoric colonization

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