A new Yale study contradicts the long-held theory that an asteroid strike drove the rapid evolution of tunas and other large predators after the K-Pg extinction. Instead, the research reveals that these animals' body plans evolved over tens of millions of years, with increases in size occurring sporadically throughout their lineage.
Researchers found that climate-related extinction risk is underestimated by current prediction models, particularly for range-shifting species. The models assume a linear relationship between population size and habitat loss, which is not supported by empirical evidence.
A new Stanford-led study confirms the primary cause of the Permian–Triassic extinction event, which wiped out 96% of marine species and 70% of land animals. The research reveals that organisms with slower metabolisms and more vulnerable conditions were disproportionately affected by warming oceans and decreased oxygen availability.
Researchers discovered natural sulfur and carbon emissions from metamorphic rocks contribute to cooling spikes, while carbon remains in the atmosphere for centuries, influencing ancient ecosystem reorganizations. These findings shed new light on mass-extinction events, such as the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, and Triassic Periods.
A unique plant fossil cache in New Mexico reveals angiosperms flourished 10 million years before dinosaurs' demise, contradicting the view that they only took over after their extinction. The discovery showcases a thriving forest dominated by flowering plants with large fruits, challenging the traditional narrative.
A new global study reveals a strong link between decreasing local prevalence of species and higher global extinction risk, using the comprehensive BioTIME database. The analysis found that complex links exist between local temporal trends and extinction risk categories, highlighting the importance of assemblage-level monitoring in cons...
Scientists discovered that oxygen levels in shallow oceans declined about 8 million years before the end-Triassic mass extinction, stressing marine ecosystems. The research provides a rough guide for the future as our oceans undergo acidification and deoxygenation.
The study found that small plankton in polar oceans survived the K-Pg boundary extinction event because they needed less energy and were more tolerant to darkness. This breakthrough provides new insights into the mechanisms linking environmental changes to selective extinction patterns.
A new study sheds light on the extinction of ancient ocean creatures, revealing that nautiloids survived due to their larger eggs and slower metabolic rates. The findings contradict previous hypotheses, suggesting that egg size was a key factor in their survival.
Researchers discovered how lycophytes, ancient spore-bearing vascular plants, adapted to survive the Permian-Triassic mass extinction by using carbon acid to store CO2 for daytime photosynthesis. This CAM photosynthesis method helped them thrive in extreme heat and dry environments.
A new study reveals that turtles surviving the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event largely relied on a diet of hard-shelled organisms. This ecological adaptation allowed them to thrive in environments where other species struggled to survive, with dietary specialization being a key factor in their survival.
Researchers have uncovered a new, exceptionally preserved fossil site in Newfoundland, Canada, dating back to 551 Ma. This find dramatically alters our understanding of the 'Kotlin Crisis,' the first extinction event in animal history, which is now estimated to have resulted in an astonishing 80% loss of biodiversity.
A new study provides a refined framework for understanding biotic evolution immediately preceding the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction in South China. The study reveals diverse shallow marine biotas in the region and reconstructs the regional ecosystem with high resolution.
The Huayuan biota provides a rare snapshot of ancient ecosystems following the Sinsk Event mass extinction, featuring diverse animal species, complex food webs, and fully functional biological carbon pump mechanisms. The discovery sheds light on transoceanic dispersal events and refugia for faunal migration during this critical post-ex...
A global study reveals signs of complete extinction in the Canary Islands, where a previously undetected mass mortality event was identified in mid-2022. The affected species is no longer capable of reproducing, potentially leading to local extinction with severe ecological consequences.
A recent study published in Geology found that new single-celled marine species evolved rapidly, occurring in some places in under two thousand years. This rapid evolution helps scientists understand how ocean ecosystems respond to environmental changes and could provide insights into future mass extinctions.
Researchers found that animals living on convoluted coastlines were more likely to go extinct than those living on north-south orientated coastlines. This study provides new insight into patterns of biodiversity distribution throughout Earth history and highlights the importance of coastline geometry for survival during climate change.
A team of scientists uncovered fossil evidence of a tiny ecosystem that helped revive marine life after the end-Ordovician ice age and mass extinction event. The discovery provides insights into ancient biological processes and highlights the importance of seafloor ecosystems in regulating carbon and nutrient cycles.
Researchers from OIST found that the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction drove an unprecedented richness of vertebrate life, with gnathostomes dominating all others. The study linked the mass extinction pulses to increased speciation after millions of years, highlighting their role in shaping the evolution of vertebrates.
Researchers at the University of Zurich examined fossil records worldwide and found a consistent pattern: young shark species are more likely to go extinct. This challenges the long-held assumption that older species are less vulnerable to extinction.
A study reveals a 100-million-year decline in shark and ray biodiversity, contrary to previous assumptions. The research emphasizes the importance of preserving and restoring diverse coastal habitats to address this crisis.
The discovery sheds light on marine ecosystems' rapid recovery and complexification after the end-Permian mass extinction. The Spitsbergen fossil deposit reveals diverse marine reptiles, including archosauromorphs and ichthyosaurs, with some species reaching 5m in length.
Research found that sharks with specialized physiologies and ecological roles are most threatened with extinction. Losing these species would diminish trait diversity, leading to a more boring world with less diversity of forms. The study suggests that overfishing is the single biggest driver of shark population decline.
A new study has precisely dated New Mexico fossils to around 66.4-66 million years ago, showing diverse dinosaur species thriving in the region until the end of the Cretaceous Period. This finding challenges the long-held idea that non-avian dinosaurs were in a gradual decline before extinction.
The 2023 marine heatwave caused widespread coral mortality in Florida's Coral Reef, leading to the functional extinction of critically endangered Acropora species. Researchers found that between 97.8 and 100% of coral colonies had died by March 2024, highlighting the urgent need for interventions to maintain these populations.
A new study documents the functional extinction of Acropora corals from Florida's Coral Reef following a record-setting marine heatwave in 2023. The heatwave caused catastrophic mortality rates, leading to a collapse of ecological function and marking what scientists call a functional extinction.
A recent study found that extinction rates in plants and animals peaked around 100 years ago and have declined since then. The researchers argue that past extinctions are not reliable predictors of current and future threats due to changing drivers such as habitat loss and climate change.
A newly-formed group of scientists will examine ecological disruption and potential extinction of essential microbes for planetary and human health. The commission aims to map conservation priorities and develop tools to protect critical microbes from extinction.
A new CU Denver study finds that climate change and wildfires are disrupting dragonfly mating traits, threatening some species with local extinction. The research highlights the importance of considering reproductive success in conservation biology.
A study published in PNAS reveals that hybridization between the two species has been crucial to the survival of the Balearic shearwater, a critically endangered seabird. Hybridization introduces genetic diversity and adaptive potential, benefiting small and threatened populations.
Researchers Jeremy McCormack and Andrei Kuzhelev at Goethe University are investigating the reasons behind prehistoric shark extinctions using new isotopic analysis methods. They also develop a novel nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique to study large biomolecules.
Recent species-level extinctions are high, but genus-level losses are rare and localized, occurring mostly on isolated islands. The study found that modern extinction rates have not been increasing over the past century, contrary to previous studies.
A new study reveals a hidden extinction crisis in China's native flora, showing that habitat decline over the past four decades has sharply increased extinction risks nationwide. The findings suggest that current conservation efforts are failing to keep pace with biodiversity threats.
The study used Representational Similarity Analysis (RSA) to investigate the neural representations involved in forming and extinguishing associative memories. Researchers found an increase in theta activity in the amygdala when unpleasant stimuli were presented during extinction learning, suggesting a safety signal.
Researchers found traditional methods poorly suited for invertebrates due to limited data and rare species challenges. New statistical methods suggest combining data across species, assessing similar species, or targeting extinction risk assessment to communities and habitats.
The study chronicles 220 extinctions in Macaronesia, with half linked to human arrival and a post-human extinction rate exceeding 12 times higher than pre-human periods. Conservation efforts are crucial to mitigate the extinction crisis in these unique island ecosystems.
A study has found that over 80% of parasites in kākāpō poo prior to the 1990s are no longer present in contemporary populations. This suggests a significant impact on parasite communities due to biodiversity loss.
Researchers at UNICAMP found that a reduction in prey availability was a decisive factor in the extinction of saber-toothed tigers. The study also shows that an increase in predator diversity led to a decline in herbivore species diversity among antilocaprids, which are now represented by a single species: the American bison.
New research reveals that the collapse of tropical forests during Earth's most catastrophic extinction event led to a prolonged period of high CO2 levels and extreme warming. The study supports the theory that thresholds exist in Earth's climate-carbon system, which can amplify warming when reached.
A study by researchers from the University of Reading predicts that over 500 bird species will face extinction within the next century. The study highlights the importance of targeted conservation measures, including breeding programs and habitat restoration, to preserve global bird diversity.
Nearly half of Mesoamerica's 4,000+ tree species are at risk of extinction, primarily driven by agriculture and logging. Conservation efforts are urgently needed to protect these species.
Researchers argue that deliberate full extinction might be acceptable in rare cases, but only with careful consideration of ecological and moral implications. The study calls for robust ethical safeguards and inclusive decision-making frameworks to guide the use of genetic modification technologies.
A team of scientists analyzed fossilized clams and mussels to understand how ecosystems recover from mass extinctions. They found that despite 75% species loss, ecological niches remained occupied, contradicting prevailing theories.
The Late Ordovician Mass Extinction was caused by the rapid onset of global warming after the Hirnantian glaciation. The extinction lasted approximately 400 kyr with an average species extinction rate of 71.6% per 100 kyr during this period.
A new study on mountain ecosystems under climate change found little empirical support for the widely recognized 'escalator to extinction.' Instead, biotic homogenization is identified as a more immediate concern, with species communities across different elevations becoming increasingly similar.
Researchers found that a fertility rate of at least 2.7 children per woman is needed to reliably avoid eventual extinction in small populations. A female-biased birth ratio can reduce extinction risk, helping more lineages survive over time.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute discovered a critical mechanism for mental health, where dopamine signals enable fear extinction. Dopamine activates specific amygdala neurons tied to reward, driving fear extinction and opening up new avenues for treating fear-related disorders like PTSD.
Researchers developed a model that predicts how creatures like clams and snails flourished in warmer, less-oxygenated waters after the end-Permian extinction. The findings suggest that climate change provided an environmental explanation for the global presence of surviving species.
A study analyzed conservation actions for endangered species and found that targeted efforts have driven improvements in over 100 species. However, only half of assessed species have conservation actions in place, and roughly six times as many species have deteriorated in recent decades than have improved.
A new study suggests that violent supernovae caused at least two mass extinction events in Earth's history, including the late Devonian and Ordovician extinctions. Researchers believe a nearby supernova could have stripped the planet's atmosphere of ozone, sparking acid rain and exposing life to harmful ultraviolet radiation.
A new study reveals a region in China's Turpan-Hami Basin served as a refugium for terrestrial plants during the end-Permian mass extinction. The discovery suggests that some land areas were shielded from the worst effects of the extinction, allowing for continuous evolution and rapid ecological recovery afterward. The region's stable,...
Scientists studied plant fossils and climate models to understand the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. The study found a 10°C rise in global temperatures and dramatic changes in ecosystems.
Researchers found that ancient frog relatives thrived after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction due to their generalist feeding ecology and ability to feed on a wide variety of prey. They were able to survive and even flourish in freshwater habitats, which provided them with stable food resources amidst the turbulent Triassic ecosystem.
Researchers discovered that tropical riparian ecosystems recovered rapidly within two million years of the end-Permian mass extinction, indicating a faster-than-thought adaptation. This finding contradicts previous theories on ecosystem recovery and suggests that life on land may have been more resilient than previously believed.
Scientists have released new high-quality genome sequences for two critically endangered pangolin species, revealing genetic vulnerabilities and extinction risks. The research provides essential information for rescue operations and focusing on the best ways to conserve these unique animals.
A new study estimates it would cost $15.6 billion per year for 30 years to prevent extinction for 99 of Australia's priority species, due to habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change. The Australian Government has committed to reversing the decline of 110 priority species, but experts warn that urgent action is needed t...
Botanic gardens have reached peak capacity, hindering efforts to gather plant diversity for study and protection. Despite accelerated rates of extinction risk, institutions struggle to conserve threatened plants within collections globally.