Researchers found that extinction-proof population sizes are impossible to predict based on species characteristics alone. The study highlights the complexity of extinction risks and challenges traditional assumptions about species survival.
A new report finds that the drug meloxicam is safe for vultures and effective in treating livestock, providing a potential solution to combat diclofenac's devastating effects on vulture populations. The three endangered species of Asian vultures are critically close to extinction due to diclofenac use.
A global study reveals that plants in highly diverse ecosystems, such as South American and Southeast Asian jungles, suffer lower pollination rates and reduced reproductive success. This could push certain plant species towards extinction.
New analysis confirms a logarithmic relationship between population size and time-to-extinction, providing insights into extinction dynamics. The study also reveals that ten populations exhibiting 'extinction vortices' show deteriorating dynamics as extinction approaches.
Scientists uncover evidence of massive soil erosion as primary cause of end-Permian extinction, which wiped out over two-thirds of reptile and amphibian families. The research reveals a unique set of molecules found in rocks from Italy provided crucial insights into the event.
A new study found that brain structure associated with fear inhibition is also linked to personality traits like extraversion and neuroticism. The researchers used a standard personality test in combination with brain imaging to analyze the link between the brain region and extinction memory.
A new study reveals that tree diversity in tropical forests plays a crucial role in determining their ability to store carbon and provide other essential ecosystem services. The researchers simulated different extinction scenarios and found that the types of trees remaining had a significant impact on carbon storage capacity.
Researchers used the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) to study the Permian extinction event, which saw 90-95% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species die. The model found that warming ocean waters at higher latitudes due to rising CO2 levels led to a stratified ocean with little oxygen, making it deadly for marine life.
The study uses a new global database to show that different measures of biodiversity, such as species richness and extinction risk, do not map consistently across the globe. This finding highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to conservation strategy.
Scientists used radiocarbon dating to determine that human arrival in the Americas led to the extinction of prehistoric ground sloths. This suggests that big-game hunters had a significant impact on animal populations, contributing to widespread extinctions.
The North Atlantic right whale population is critically low, with estimates suggesting only 350 individuals remain. Human activities such as shipping and fishing are major contributors to the decline, resulting in numerous deaths and entanglements that threaten the species' survival.
The North Atlantic right whale is facing extinction due to the failure of government protections, with at least 50% of deaths attributed to ship collisions and fishing gear entanglements. The species has seen a significant increase in mortality rates over the past 16 months, including six adult females with near-term fetuses.
The study identified key factors contributing to large mammal extinction, including biological disadvantages and human impact. Smaller mammals are more vulnerable due to limited distribution sizes and exposure to humans, while larger animals face additional challenges such as long gestation periods and late weaning ages.
A new study reveals that traditional models of extinction underestimate species extinction risk by ignoring a critical parameter. The researchers used water fleas as a model organism and found that incorporating density-dependent demographic stochasticity into the models accurately predicted extinction rates.
A K-State professor developed a landscape-based model to assess extinction risk for migratory songbirds affected by habitat loss and fragmentation. The study found that the rate of habitat destruction, rather than its extent, may be crucial in determining extinction risk.
A study by Matthew Powell found that brachiopods living near the equator suffered high extinction rates during the late Paleozoic ice age, while those living at higher latitudes were more resilient. The research suggests that human-induced environmental changes may be causing modern marine species to become extinct.
Researchers suggest low atmospheric oxygen levels led to population fragmentation, increasing extinction rates and slowing recovery. Oxygen levels dropped by 20 million years, making breathing at sea level equivalent to summiting a high mountain.
A study by Lee Hannah predicts that climate change and land-use changes will increase the risk of extinction for most protea species, with up to 15% expected to lose their range entirely. The Cape region's protected areas may offer lessons for global conservation efforts.
The end-Permian extinction was caused by a combination of factors, including volcanic carbon dioxide emissions, which warmed surface ocean water. This reduced the amount of oxygen available in the deep oceans, leading to an increase in hydrogen sulfide production and ultimately, mass extinctions.
Researchers found no evidence of an asteroid impact during the Great Dying, a mass extinction event that occurred 250 million years ago. Instead, they suggest that atmospheric warming due to greenhouse gases from volcanic eruptions led to the extinction of 90% of marine life and nearly three-quarters of land-based plant and animal life.
Researchers at Washington University have discovered that organic carbon and amorphous silicates in interstellar grains embedded within interplanetary dust particles are the carriers of the astronomical 2175 Å extinction line. This finding solves a 40-year-old mystery, providing evidence for the origins of this feature.
Research shows how individual species interact with each other after extinction, affecting recovery and evolution. Marine snails' feeding behavior changed from drilling holes to reach soft bodies inside clam shells.
Researchers found that modern snails began edge-drilling their prey when competing for food with others, but returned to slow wall drilling when separated. This suggests that the severe extinction event ended high competition levels in the ocean, which have not fully recovered since.
Research finds American pikas' local extinction at 36% of US sites studied due to climate change. Pikas' inability to thermoregulate in extreme temperatures makes them susceptible to habitat loss and extinction.
Scientists report that marine benthic diversity in Laurentia recovered to pre-extinction levels within 5 million years, nearly 15 million years sooner than suggested by global compilations. This rapid recovery suggests that the region operated differently from the globe as a whole.
A new study suggests that ocean extinction can predict key ecological changes by analyzing the impact of species loss on sediment mixing and oxygen levels in marine ecosystems. The research found that the extinction of certain species can lead to reduced sediment mixing, diminishing oxygen concentrations that sustain bottom-dwelling life.
A study of 28 individuals with acrophobia found that combining D-cycloserine (DCS) with virtual reality exposure therapy significantly reduced fear of heights, with effects lasting at least three months. The treatment works by facilitating 'fear extinction' in the brain, a process previously used to treat phobias and post-traumatic str...
The discovery of a prosauropod dinosaur, ancestral crocodilians and a mammal-like cynodont reveals diverse terrestrial faunas at the end of the Triassic period. The findings contradict previous assumptions about the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event.
A team of researchers from Bristol University and Saratov University in Russia analyzed 675 specimens of amphibians and reptiles from 289 areas spanning 13 geological time zones. The study found a profound loss of animal groups and ecosystems, with many species still absent after 15 million years of recovery.
A new Red List Index measures changes in extinction risk for birds worldwide, showing a steady deterioration between 1988 and 2004. The index provides a reliable baseline to track progress toward the 2010 biodiversity target, with particularly steep declines observed for Asian birds and seabirds affected by commercial long-line fisheries.
A global assessment of amphibian populations reveals that nearly one-third of species are threatened with extinction, with many more considered vulnerable. Key drivers of decline include habitat destruction, air and water pollution, and climate change.
A study of megafauna extinctions during the late Pleistocene reveals that both climate change and human activities played significant roles in driving species to extinction. The research, published in Science, suggests that humans and climate change were a one-two punch that led to the loss of many large mammal species.
Researchers found that the amygdala is involved in both fear acquisition and unlearning, while the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a critical role in retaining extinction learning. The study provides evidence that the mechanisms of extinction learning may be preserved across species.
A recent study has found that the extinction of a host species can lead to the loss of up to 200 associated species, highlighting the need for urgent conservation efforts. The researchers calculated the expected levels of co-extinction across diverse systems and identified 6300 species at risk of being classified as co-endangered.
A global study found that carnivore extinction risk is more closely tied to biological traits such as small geographic distribution and high trophic level. Human population density plays a lesser role in determining extinction risk, but can exacerbate it when combined with these factors.
A new model predicts that many carnivores are at high risk of extinction due to their biology and proximity to densely populated areas. The researchers suggest focusing conservation efforts on species with long gestation periods living in areas with rapid human population growth.
Researchers analyzed fossil records and found dinoflagellates in ancient sea, indicating a sudden cooling event. The team's discovery confirms climate models and suggests prolonged feedback effects kept ocean depths cold for centuries.
New radiocarbon dates show that mammoths became stranded on St. Paul Island about 13,000 years ago due to rising sea levels. The island's small size limited the ability of mammoths to sustain a permanent population, contributing to their eventual extinction.
Researchers confirm Bedout impact crater as potential 'smoking gun' of a massive meteor collision, linked to the Permian-Triassic extinction and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary mass extinctions. The team found evidence of shock-melted rock formations, feldspar glass, and similar correlative lava flows in India and Siberia.
A pair of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison developed mathematical models examining changes in a community's tolerance to environmental conditions like global warming or acid rain. They found that as individual species disappear, two forces act upon the community, making it more or less tolerant to the condition.
The research highlights the alarming rate of extinction among birds, with many species experiencing significant declines in population numbers. The study's findings suggest that birds are excellent indicators of global extinction rates, and their decline serves as a warning sign for the planet's overall health.
Researchers discovered a possible reason for biodiversity in the Andes by comparing North and South American warming over millennia. The region's gradual warming may explain less extinction and increased susceptibility to global warming.
A study predicts that climate change will put 15-37% of species in biodiversity-rich regions at risk of extinction by 2050. The study used computer models to simulate the impact of changing temperatures on species distributions, and found that well over a million species could be threatened with extinction.
A new study published in Ecology Letters improves extinction risk assessments by integrating machine learning algorithms and large datasets. The research reveals more accurate predictions for species vulnerability to extinction.
A research team led by Luann Becker found evidence of a large impact at the end-Permian boundary in Antarctica, suggesting it triggered the Great Dying, a time of mass extinctions. The team discovered shocked quartz, metallic grains, and breccia layers with similar characteristics to other mass extinction sites.
A team of scientists has found evidence that a massive ancient meteorite struck the Earth 251 million years ago, triggering climate change and volcanic activity. This led to the extinction of nearly nine-tenths of all life on Earth.
Research on fear extinction suggests that cognitive enhancers like D-cycloserine can accelerate the learning process of fear extinction, leading to more rapid and lasting reductions in phobias. Virtual reality therapy combined with DCS resulted in significant improvements in patients' anxiety levels.
A geologist has found that evolutionary groups have significantly better longevity if they first appear right after a mass extinction event. These groups are more likely to be widespread and thrive afterwards.
Researchers suggest that hydrogen sulfide gas, produced in the oceans through sulfate decomposition by sulfur bacteria, could have caused the largest mass extinction. The high levels of hydrogen sulfide would be toxic to most oceanic and terrestrial organisms, leading to a significant loss of life.
Researchers suggest a similar eruption under the Indian Ocean before the dinosaurs' extinction had a devastating impact on the environment. The eruptions were caused by mantle plumes, which can last between one and two million years and eject over 1 million cubic kilometers of lava.
A recent study found that monogamous mammals are more likely to die out due to factors such as population isolation and smaller harems, which can lead to lower male populations and reduced ability to detect approaching hunters. Conservation efforts may need to be targeted towards these species to save them from extinction.
A study published in Nature found that behavioral treatment can reverse brain changes caused by cocaine use and prevent relapse. Rats given extinction training during withdrawal showed a significant increase in glutamate receptors, which may help ease cravings and prevent relapse.
A study found that selective hunting of male saiga antelopes for their horns is driving the species closer to extinction. The sex ratio has become severely imbalanced, with females outnumbering males by a ratio of 100:1, leading to reproductive collapse and population decline.
Scientists warn that leatherback sea turtles are on the brink of extinction due to declining populations in Pacific Ocean rookeries. Conservation efforts are needed to reverse this trend, with potential solutions including gear fixes, spatial closures, and changes in consumer demand for swordfish.
A University of Alberta scientist warns that polar bears are in danger of extinction due to the rapid melting of Arctic ice. The world's largest terrestrial carnivores rely on sea ice for survival, and climate change is accelerating its disappearance.
According to a recent report from Conservation International, 25 primates are now threatened with extinction, with Asia accounting for almost 45% of the world's most endangered primates. Habitat loss and hunting are major factors in the decline of these species, and urgent conservation action is required to prevent extinctions.
Bushmeat consumption has been linked to chemical poisoning, with 30% of samples containing organochlorines, carbamates, and organophosphorus. The Ghana government aims to reverse the extinction of wildlife through sustainable alternatives like wildlife farming and education campaigns.
A new study reveals that plant extinction rates are significantly higher than previously thought, with California playing a significant role. The researchers used data on native plant species in California to find that contiguous human development can lead to the loss of entire species.
A new test for cyanobacteria toxins in freshwater systems could simplify testing, but results show the survival probability of female northern right whales is declining. The model suggests that preventing two female deaths per year could prevent extinction by 2202, with only about 300 northern right whales remaining.
A computer model reveals that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can lead to the extinction of natural populations in as few as 20 generations. The research also identifies an 'invasion risk' where introduced genes spread through the population without reducing overall size.