The genomic evidence suggests that for tens of thousands of years, Aboriginal populations were not that large. Our genomic research has revealed that significant demographic changes did not occur until some 10,000 years ago. It seems that Aboriginal populations may not have been that large until much later in prehistory. The evidence for firing of the landscape, as studied through the genomes of fire sensitive plants, shows no record of plants going through genetic bottlenecks as a result of significant firing events. Firstly the egg shells thought to be from Genyornis are considered by leading palaeontologists to perhaps be from a much smaller megapode. One species in particular, the giant flightless bird Genyornis newtoni was investigated and shown to have succumbed to significant habitat change and direct predation.īut the hypothesis for Genyornis‘ extinction has come under significant criticism due to the emergence of counter evidence. Many researchers have previously argued that the megafauna became extinct soon after the arrival of the First Australians.įor example, it has been argued that perhaps firing of the landscape dramatically altered ancient Australia’s ecology.