A team of scientists found that massive volcanic eruptions may have caused the end-Ordovician extinction, which wiped out 85% of marine animal species. The eruptions released sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, interacting in complex ways to affect the climate.
A recent study found that 35 percent of the world's national animal symbols are threatened with extinction, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts. The analysis also revealed that populations of national animal symbols represented by North America and Australia-Oceania fare better than those in Africa.
A team of scientists suggests that massive volcanic eruptions triggered the first mass extinction event, which occurred at the end of the Ordovician period. The researchers analyzed mercury levels in sedimentary rocks from North America and southern China, finding a correlation between Hg enrichments and the mass extinction.
Researchers warn that rising ocean temperatures and human impacts will lead to the decline of Yellow-eyed penguin populations on New Zealand's Otago Peninsula. Urgent coordinated conservation action is needed to build penguins' resilience against climate change.
The discovery of ancient buckthorn fossils in Argentina sheds light on plant recovery after the asteroid extinction event. The fossils date back to the early Paleocene epoch and provide evidence for a Gondwanan origin of the Rhamnaceae family.
A new study reveals that African lions and other big cat species are facing a high risk of extinction due to declining prey populations. The research suggests that the loss of prey species during the last Ice Age is continuing today, with only 25% of preferred prey remaining for African lions.
Researchers warn that African lions and Sunda clouded leopards are at risk of extinction due to a decline in prey species. If primary big cat prey continues to decline, it poses a serious risk to these species, highlighting the need for urgent government protection.
Researchers have developed a new model to predict the extinction of alpine plants, finding that populations are not adapting quickly enough to climate change. The study shows that even favorable climate scenarios can lead to population decline if warming continues without restraint.
The VISTA survey has imaged millions of stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud, revealing surprising results about star formation history and structure. Most SMC stars formed relatively recently, unlike those in larger galaxies.
A new study reveals that species' geographic ranges are systematically overestimated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), leading to an underestimation of extinction risk. The research provides a formula to estimate more accurate species ranges, suggesting that at least 10 out of 18 bird species should have the...
The Wildlife Conservation Society emphasizes the importance of science in wildlife conservation, citing numerous examples including the prevention of American Bison extinction and forest elephant population recovery. Science informs their work through research papers, protected areas establishment, and policy development.
A new type of footprint made by 247-million-year-old reptiles has been discovered in the Pyrenees. The discovery suggests that archosauromorphs played a large role in vertebrate recovery following the Permian mass extinction.
Researchers at Rockefeller University discovered that our primate ancestors evolved a defense mechanism against an ancient virus by manipulating its gene function, leading to its extinction. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic material used by animals to combat viruses, sometimes resulting in viral extinction.
Researchers found signs of fault displacement at well-known rock outcrops in Colorado marking the end-Cretaceous asteroid impact. The study suggests massive seismic waves could have generated earthquakes as far away as Colorado.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that as certain species decline in number, their geographic areas of occupation also shrink. This makes them easier targets for hunters and fishermen, increasing the risk of extinction. The study highlights the importance of well-managed harvests to prevent overharvesting.
A team of European paleontologists challenged the fundamentals of echinoderm evolution by discovering that some ancient groups survived the end-Paleozoic extinction. The findings revealed that these surviving echinoderms coexisted with modern sea urchins and brittle stars, stretching across various paleo-environments by the late Triassic.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that marine recovery after the late Permian mass extinction was likely delayed by subsequent biotic crises. The researchers found that extinction rates of marine invertebrates peaked twice during the early Triassic, and ecological diversity increased only after a relaxation of environmental stresses.
The study found two distinct extinction events linked to climate change, which slowed the world's recovery after the 'Great Dying'. The evidence suggests that modern ocean life evolved during this recovery period, and may respond similarly to current climate change.
Researchers found that a 80,000-year ice age caused by volcanic eruptions led to the loss of 95% of marine species during the Permian-Triassic boundary. The study challenges previous theories attributing mass extinctions to warming temperatures.
Researchers found that when a species vanishes, other species can change their behavior to compensate, leading to positive or negative effects on ecosystems. The study's findings have important implications for conservation and predicting the consequences of human activity.
Researchers compared the genomes of a 45,000-year-old mainland mammoth with one from Wrangel Island, which had only 300 animals. The analysis revealed an excess of genetic defects, including loss of olfactory receptors and urinary proteins. This study provides insights into the effects of small population sizes on genome deterioration.
A new study suggests that reviving extinct species may lead to a loss of biodiversity rather than an increase. The research found that funding conservation efforts for some revived species would come at the expense of others.
A team of researchers found that captive breeding efforts were unnecessary if hunting controls had been implemented to save the species. The study dispels the theory that the Passenger Pigeon underwent functional extinction before its actual extinction in the early 20th century.
Researchers found that manipulating the fkbp5 gene, affected by dexamethasone, can prevent fearful memories and hyperarousal associated with PTSD. The study suggests using dexamethasone as a preventative treatment to reduce PTSD risk in traumatic events.
A team of researchers has discovered a vast array of exceptionally preserved fossils, including delicate skeletons and soft tissues, from the immediate aftermath of the Ordovician mass extinction. The Anji Biota records an astonishing range of diverse sponge species, with many thriving in large and complex ecosystems.
A new study suggests that climate change played a significant role in the extinction of giant Ice Age animals in Australia. The analysis of fossil teeth found that as the climate dried out and became more arid, the diets of these megafaunal herbivores shifted dramatically, reducing their ability to consume certain types of plants.
A new preclinical study suggests that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy could help people overcome drug addiction by teaching them new behaviors. VNS was found to reduce drug cravings in addicted rats, with the animals pressing the lever less frequently over time.
The study highlights the alarming rate of primate species extinction, with over half threatened due to human activities. Immediate action is needed to protect primates and their habitats through sustainable land-use initiatives and education.
Researchers from the University of Bath will investigate mass extinction using genetic and fossil analyses to understand patterns of extinction and species formation. They hope to find evidence of higher extinction rates before the K-Pg boundary, shedding light on recovery rates after the event.
The cheetah is sprinting towards extinction with only 7,100 individuals remaining, highlighting the need for landscape-wide conservation efforts. The species' dramatic decline is driven by habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal trafficking, requiring a paradigm shift in conservation approaches.
Concordia researchers create a Yule tree graph to chart evolution and predict extinction rates based on phenotypes. The model suggests that the length of time a species lives until extinction depends on its phenotype.
Researchers have discovered that transplanting immature interneurons into the brains of mice can help reduce fear response. The study found that these transplanted cells reactivated a juvenile-like plasticity in the mature amygdala, enhancing synaptic plasticity and modulating fear extinction behavior.
New research reveals that climate change has led to the local extinctions of hundreds of plant and animal species worldwide. The study found that these extinctions have occurred in over 450 species, despite global warming being less than 1 degree Celsius so far.
Research by Dr Kevin Arbuckle found that poisonous amphibians are 60% more likely to be threatened than non-toxic species due to the energetic cost of chemical defenses. This study suggests that toxic defense mechanisms may be detrimental to a species' long-term survival, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
Researchers sequenced coral genomes to model population histories and show that corals can recover after environmental disasters. The study confirms fossil evidence and suggests that current reef deterioration can be reversed by reducing environmental stresses.
A well-preserved dinosaur fossil discovered in southern China provides valuable insights into the evolution of a family of feathered dinosaurs before the mass extinction event. The discovery, named Tongtianlong limosus, sheds light on how these creatures diversified and flourished just before their extinction.
A new study using remote sensing data finds that over 200 bird species in six rapidly developing regions are at risk of extinction, despite not being included on the IUCN Red List. The analysis reveals accelerated risks of extinction for 210 species and threatened status for 189 species due to habitat loss.
New study discovers higher latitude ecosystems recovered rapidly after the Permian-Triassic boundary, which marked the World's most cataclysmic extinction event. The finding sheds light on the global extinction process and ecosystem recovery at higher latitudes.
Scientists analyzed insect feeding damage to thousands of leaf fossils from Patagonia, Argentina, and found evidence that ecosystems there recovered twice as fast as in the United States. The findings suggest that Patagonia's distance from the impact crater in Mexico may have contributed to the rapid recovery of insect diversity.
Researchers found that statistics on endangered species, such as population decline and territory size, can elicit varying levels of fear among the public. Those with rational thinking styles perceived all five criteria as similar in terms of risk, while those with low rationality scores viewed differences between them.
A new study suggests that Mary Shelley's novel 'Frankenstein' is rooted in biology and warns of the consequences of unchecked population growth. Researchers found that a growing population of creatures could drive humans to extinction within 4,000 years.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE suggests that Upper Paleolithic humans might have exploited cave lions for their pelts, leading to their eventual extinction. The researchers analyzed fossilized toe bones from the La Garma site and found evidence of human modification, which they believe could be part of a single lion pelt.
A UBC study suggests that climate change could disrupt predator-prey relationships, leading to the extinction of some species. The study's findings highlight the importance of understanding seasonal animal relationships and their vulnerability to changes in temperature.
In a preclinical model, researchers successfully suppressed cued cocaine seeking by activating brain receptors involved in suppressing addiction relapse. The technology, called DREADDs, allows for targeted treatment of addiction with minimal side effects.
Researchers found that three frog species in the protected Wet Tropics of Queensland UNESCO World Heritage Area might have sufficient time to conserve before extinction due to climate change. The study suggests that conservation managers could intervene successfully with translocation programs.
A new study found that patients with anxiety, phobias, and fears show greater improvement from therapy scheduled in the morning when cortisol levels are high. Morning sessions help psychotherapy patients overcome panic and anxiety better due to increased cortisol, facilitating fear extinction.
Four out of six great apes are listed as Critically Endangered due to illegal hunting and habitat loss. The Eastern Gorilla population has declined by over 70% in 20 years, while the Plains Zebra is threatened by hunting for bushmeat and skins. Invasive species are also destroying native Hawaiian plants, with 87% of endemic species thr...
Researchers found that group extinction significantly increases cooperation within groups, with contributions averaging 92% of the endowment. This effect persists even after removal of the selection mechanism, suggesting that the threat of group extinction is a powerful motivator for cooperation.
A new paper by UC Santa Barbara researchers recommends several ways to make ecological de-extinction more successful. They suggest resurrecting recently extinct species that fit seamlessly into their ecosystems, choosing animals with irreplaceable ecological jobs, and restoring species to functional abundance levels.
The Permian-Triassic extinction event saw 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial life die off due to explosive volcanic eruptions in Siberia. The Arctic region reveals clues about the delayed recovery, with evidence of a significant nutrient gap during this period.
Scientists have discovered a new species of colorful songbird in the Galápagos Islands, but it's extinct. The San Cristóbal Island Vermilion Flycatcher was elevated to full species status due to genetic differences, with research suggesting two invasive threats likely contributed to its extinction.
Scientists propose a new framework to understand plant extinctions, identifying six thresholds that species cross before becoming extinct. The study highlights the slow pace of plant extinction and the need for urgent action to protect declining native species.
A team of 43 wildlife experts warns that preventing the extinction of iconic species like gorillas and tigers demands bold political action and financial commitments. The scientists highlight the urgent need to address threats such as illegal hunting, deforestation, and habitat loss.
Researchers link the extinction of isolated Alaskan mammoths to a lack of access to fresh water and rising sea levels. Analysis of sediment cores reveals declining lake levels and water quality leading up to the extinction event.
Researchers have accurately dated the extinction of woolly mammoths on St. Paul Island to 5,600 years ago using fungal spores and sediment DNA. The study found that freshwater limitation contributed to their demise, highlighting the vulnerability of small island populations to environmental change.
The end-Ediacaran extinction, 540 million years ago, was triggered by ecosystem engineers - newly evolved organisms altering the environment, leading to the demise of older species. Fossil evidence found in Namibia preserves a mixed community of Ediacarans and animals, providing key insights into their interaction.
A global plan is necessary to prevent the extinction of megafauna, including elephants, rhinos, and big cats, which play critical roles in ecosystems. The study highlights the need for coordinated conservation efforts to address threats like illegal hunting, deforestation, and human-wildlife conflict.
A group of international conservation scientists has issued a call for actions to halt further declines of large wild-animal species. The authors emphasize that an extinction crisis is unfolding for megafauna, with 59% of carnivores and 60% of herbivores classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that timely conservation action can slow extinction rates and save species. The research found similar patterns of species loss following habitat disruption across various taxonomic groups, including birds, mammals, plants, reptiles, and invertebrates.
A new study of fossil fishes from Middle Triassic sediments on Lake Lugano finds that biological communities recovered within a few million years after the great mass extinction event. The research identifies two new species of ancient fish with distinct ecological niches, suggesting that ecosystems were already recovering.