What is it about?
The knowledge on the historical use of animal species in captivity and human-induced changes in their distribution remains unclear in comparison to contemporary case studies. By gathering different records and iconographic evidence from a wide period, ranging from ancient Egypt to recent times, the team confirmed that the purple swamphen was a very popular waterbird species, which has been transported and commercialized during several historical periods, especially within the Mediterranean region.
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Why is it important?
This review provides a new perspective on the importance of taking into account past human activity when interpreting the contemporary distribution of species, opening new avenues to structure research studies under this innovative basis.
Perspectives
It is very interesting to know that past human activity might have influenced the genetic diversity of this species, through the introduction of its populations in different locations.
Ricardo J Lopes
CIBIO/UP
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Purple Swamphen or Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio) and Humans, Society and Animals, December 2016, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/15685306-12341432.
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