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Dr Matiu Prebble

Contact

Department: School of Earth and Environment

Email: matiu.prebble@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3690287

Office:

Language: English

About
Research / Creative works
Projects

Researcher Summary

Along with Te Ao Māori and Pasifika cullture, and growing my own fruit and vegetables, I'm interested in the long term connections between people and the environment. Aotearoa and many of the Pacific Islands are uniquely placed to begin to understand these connections given the relatively recent human occupation. The kinds of questions I'm interested in addressing include: What was the environment like prior to human occupation? How hostile were these environments to human settlement? How did the indigenous first peoples arrive on these islands, adapt to and transform these islands - leading to the thriving societies seen at first European contact? How did the later arrivals of people transform the islands, and the lifeways of indigenous societies? How can these bodies of information on the past be used to understand present and future environments, and vice versa?
The kinds of places where I obtain data to inform on these questions include wetlands, peat bogs, lakes, or anywhere organic sediments and fossil remains can be found. This includes archaeological sites.
My research tools include: microscopy, mass spectrometry, sediment coring devices, archaeological excavation methods, and a wide range of numerical methods. I mainly work in sedimentology, microscopy, geochemistry laboratories and herbaria.
I have a strong terrestrial ecology and biogeography focus and specialise in botanical applications to archaeology, palaeoecology, soil science and aerobiology.
I have worked on most of the Pacific Island Archipelagoes from Papua New Guinea to Rapa Nui.

Subject Area: Disciplines

  • Earth Sciences: Geoarchaeology; Geochemistry; Geological Sciences; Geomorphology; Palaeontology; Sedimentology
  • Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour: Biogeography; Ecology; Entomology; Evolution; Freshwater Ecology; Mycology; Palaeobiology; Soil Science; Terrestrial Ecology
  • Māori Knowledge and Development: Māori Knowledge/Culture
  • Pasifika: Pasifika

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

  • Ladd SN., Maloney AE., Nelson DB., Prebble M., Camperio G., Sear DA., Hassall JD., Langdon PG., Sachs JP. and Dubois N. (2021) Leaf Wax Hydrogen Isotopes as a Hydroclimate Proxy in the Tropical Pacific. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 126(3) http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2020JG005891. (Journal Articles)
  • Nogué S., Santos AMC., John H., Björck S., Castilla-Beltrán A., Connor S., de Boer EJ., de Nascimento L., Felde VA. and Fernández-Palacios JM. (2021) The human dimension of biodiversity changes on islands. Science 372(6541): 488-491. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abd6706. (Journal Articles)
  • Roman M., McWethy DB., Kehrwald NM., Erhenhi EO., Myrbo AE., Ramirez-Aliaga JM., Pauchard A., Turetta C., Barbante C. and Prebble M. (2021) A multi-decadal geochemical record from Rano Aroi (Easter Island/Rapa Nui): Implications for the environment, climate and humans during the last two millennia. Quaternary Science Reviews 268 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107115. (Journal Articles)
  • Sachs JP., Mügler I., Sachse D., Prebble M. and Wolhowe M. (2021) Last millennium hydroclimate in the central equatorial North Pacific (5°N, 160°W). Quaternary Science Reviews 259 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.106906. (Journal Articles)
  • Ladd SN., Maloney AE., Nelson D., Prebble M., Camperio G., Sear DA., Hassall J., Langdon P., Sachs JP. and Dubois N. (2020) Leaf Wax Hydrogen Isotopes as a Hydroclimate Proxy in the Tropical Pacific. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/essoar.10503377.1. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M., Anderson AJ., Augustinus P., Emmitt J., Fallon SJ., Furey LL., Holdaway SJ., Jorgensen A., Ladefoged TN. and Matthews PJ. (2020) Reply to barber: Marginal evidence for taro production in northern New Zealand between 1200 and 1500 CE. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 117(3): 1259-1260. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1919037117. (Journal Articles)
  • Bayliss-Smith T., Prebble M. and Manebosa S. (2019) Saltwater and bush in New Georgia, Solomon Islands: Exchange relations, agricultural intensification and limits to social complexity. Archaeologies of Island Melanesia: Current approaches to landscapes, exchange and practice: 35-52.ANU Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.22459/ta51.2019.03. (Chapters)
  • Holdaway SJ., Emmitt J., Furey L., Jorgensen A., O'regan G., Phillipps R., Prebble M., Wallace R. and Ladefoged TN. (2019) Māori settlement of New Zealand: The Anthropocene as a process. Archaeology in Oceania 54(1): 17-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/arco.5173. (Journal Articles)
  • Krentscher C., Dubois N., Camperio G., Prebble M. and Ladd SN. (2019) Palmitone as a potential species-specific biomarker for the crop plant taro (Colocasia esculenta Schott) on remote Pacific islands. Organic Geochemistry 132: 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2019.03.006. (Journal Articles)
  • Maloney AE., Nelson DB., Richey JN., Prebble M., Sear DA., Hassall JD., Langdon PG., Croudace IW., Zawadzki A. and Sachs JP. (2019) Reconstructing precipitation in the tropical South Pacific from dinosterol 2H/1H ratios in lake sediment. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 245: 190-206. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2018.10.028. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M., Anderson AJ., Augustinus P., Emmitt J., Fallon SJ., Furey LL., Holdaway SJ., Jorgensen A., Ladefoged TN. and Matthews PJ. (2019) Early tropical crop production in marginal subtropical and temperate Polynesia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116(18): 8824-8833. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1821732116. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M. (2017) Unearthing the Polynesian Past: Explorations and Adventures of an Island Archaeologist by Patrick Vinton Kirch. The Contemporary Pacific 29(1): 209-212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cp.2017.0022. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M., Whitau R., Meyer JY., Sibley-Punnett L., Fallon S. and Porch N. (2016) Abrupt late Pleistocene ecological and climate change on Tahiti (French Polynesia). Journal of Biogeography 43(12): 2438-2453. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12807. (Journal Articles)
  • Cañellas-Boltà N., Rull V., Sáez A., Prebble M. and Margalef O. (2014) First records and potential palaeoecological significance of Dianella (Xanthorrhoeaceae), an extinct representative of the native flora of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 23(3): 331-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00334-014-0432-8. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M., Anderson A. and Kennett DJ. (2013) Forest clearance and agricultural expansion on Rapa, Austral Archipelago, French Polynesia. Holocene 23(2): 179-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0959683612455551. (Journal Articles)
  • Medek DE., Kljakovic M., Fox I., Pretty DG. and Prebble M. (2012) Hay fever in a changing climate: Linking an internet-based diary with environmental data. EcoHealth 9(4): 440-447. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10393-012-0787-1. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M. and Anderson A. (2012) Palaeobotany and the early development of agriculture on Rapa Island. Taking the High Ground (Terra Australis 37): The archaeology of Rapa, a fortified island in remote East PolynesiaANU Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.22459/ta37.11.2012.10. (Chapters)
  • Prebble M. and Anderson A. (2012) The archaeobotany of Rapan rockshelter deposits. Taking the High Ground (Terra Australis 37): The archaeology of Rapa, a fortified island in remote East PolynesiaANU Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.22459/ta37.11.2012.04. (Chapters)
  • (2010) Altered Ecologies (Terra Australis 32): Fire, climate and human influence on terrestrial landscapes. ANU Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.22459/ta32.11.2010. (Authored Books)
  • Prebble M., Kennedy J. and Southern W. (2010) Holocene lowland vegetation change and human ecology in Manus Province, Papua New Guinea. Altered Ecologies (Terra Australis 32): Fire, climate and human influence on terrestrial landscapesANU Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.22459/ta32.11.2010.12. (Chapters)
  • Prebble M., Stevenson J. and Haberle S. (2010) Introduction: A D-section and a tin whistle: A tribute to Prof. Geoff Hope. Altered Ecologies (Terra Australis 32): Fire, climate and human influence on terrestrial landscapesANU Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.22459/ta32.11.2010.01. (Chapters)
  • Denham T., Atchison J., Austin J., Bestel S., Bowdery D., Crowther A., Dolby N., Fairbairn A., Field J. and Kennedy A. (2009) Archaeobotany in Australia and New Guinea: Practice, potential and prospects. Australian Archaeology 68: 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03122417.2009.11681884. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M. and Wilmshurst JM. (2009) Detecting the initial impact of humans and introduced species on Island environments in Remote Oceania using palaeoecology. Biological Invasions 11(7): 1529-1556. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9405-0. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M. (2008) No fruit on that beautiful shore: What plants were introduced to the subtropical Polynesian islands prior to European contact? Islands of Inquiry: Colonisation, seafaring and the archaeology of maritime landscapesANU Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.22459/ta29.06.2008.15. (Chapters)
  • Prebble M. and Dowe JL. (2008) The late Quaternary decline and extinction of palms on oceanic Pacific islands. Quaternary Science Reviews 27(27-28): 2546-2567. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.09.015. (Journal Articles)
  • Kenneth D., Anderson A., Prebble M., Conte E. and Southon J. (2006) Prehistoric human impacts on Rapa, French Polynesia. Antiquity 80(308): 340-354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0003598x00093662. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M., Sim R., Finn J. and Fink D. (2005) A Holocene pollen and diatom record from Vanderlin Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, lowland tropical Australia. Quaternary Research 64(3): 357-371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2005.08.005. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M. and Shulmeister J. (2002) An analysis of phytolith assemblages for the quantitative reconstruction of late Quaternary environments of the Lower Taieri Plain, Otago, South Island, New Zealand II. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Journal of Paleolimnology 27(4): 415-427. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M. and Shulmeister J. (2002) Journal of Paleolimnology 27(4): 415-427. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/a:1020314719427. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M., Schallenberg M., Carter J. and Shulmeister J. (2002) An analysis of phytolith assemblages for the quantitativereconstruction of late Quaternary environments of the Lower Taieri Plain, Otago, South Island, New Zealand I. Modern assemblages and transferfunctions. Journal of Paleolimnology 27(4): 393-413. (Journal Articles)
  • Prebble M., Schallenberg M., Carter J. and Shulmeister J. (2002) Journal of Paleolimnology 27(4): 393-413. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/a:1020318803497. (Journal Articles)

Future Research

  • Environmental change on Sāmoa
  • Environmental change on the offshore islands of Aotearoa
  • Aerobiology of the Canterbury Plains
  • Environmental change on Futuna and Alofi
  • Peatland assessment of Canterbury
  • Environmental change on Horomaka/Banks Peninsula
  • Buried Forests of Ōtautahi/Christchurch
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