DNA extract from ancient latrines has recently discovered a new way to identifying the plants and animals that existed in northern Australia's remote Pilbara region more than 30,000 years ago. The genetic material was collected by Daithi Murray of Murdoch University's Ancient DNA Lab, from what is believed to be the oldest sample yet uncovered in Australia's dry environment. In a paper published recently in the journal
Quaternary Science Reviews, Murray, doctoral student, and colleagues detail their success in extracting ancient DNA from three locations in Western Australia and one in South Africa.The West Australian samples come from "middens".
Middens is a hard, impermeable amalgam that is formed over centuries from the accumulation of faecal matter and organic material such as plant and animal tissue built up. The fossil middens consist of material from the local environment used for construction of the nest, or for food by the midden's host. Thus, they contain detailed information about the plants and animals present in the localized area at the time. The middens that were used in this study were previously analyzed for pollen and macro-fossil remains allowing the researchers to assess the effectiveness of DNA techniques in providing further information.
Many animals both local and extinct were found in one midden in the Cavenagh Range. One of which was the common brushtail possum which was last seen in the region in the 1930s. Importantly the technique also led to the identification of plants and animals that had previously gone undetected in the earlier types of studies, such as a range of previously indistinguishable arid zone grasses. Murray says their study shows
ancient DNA can be successfully extracted from these fossil middens, to date back to up to 30,000 years ago! Since there is not a lot of ecological data dated back this far, this tool could be very helpful to scientists. Middens will also be helpful in determining changes in the environment over time.
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