Articles tagged with Extinction
A new study finds that climate change could lead to local extinction of up to 25% of plant and animal species in the world's most biodiverse areas. If carbon emissions continue to rise unchecked, these places could lose half of their species by the turn of the century.
A study in São Paulo found that mosquitoes that transmit diseases are adapting to urban environments, thriving in smaller green spaces where other species disappear. The research highlights the need for further study on how habitat loss affects vector insects and disease transmission.
Warmer, drier conditions led to a 25-year decline in Northern rock jasmine populations, ultimately causing local extinction. The study highlights the challenge of developing management policies for threatened populations.
Scientists analyzed 94 hominin fossils, finding average brain size increased gradually over three million years due to evolution of larger brains within populations. The research also shows the impact of introducing new, larger-brained species and extinction of smaller-brained ones on brain size evolution.
New research shows that biodiversity loss can lead to a domino effect of further extinctions, where the removal of one species creates a gap for other species to fill. This can result in simpler ecological communities at greater risk of extinction cascades with potential losses of many species.
Scientists propose a nuanced model for extinction that incorporates body size and metabolic scaling, revealing why animal species tend to evolve toward larger body sizes. The model predicts an energetically ideal mammal size 2.5 times that of an African elephant, making it more stable against extinction by starvation.
Introduced 'alien' honeybees are competing with native bees for resources, posing a threat to the survival of plants that rely on specific pollinators. This is particularly concerning in arid environments where super-generalist honeybees visit up to 55% of available plant species.
A recent study by National Centre for Biological Sciences reveals that high traffic roads and densely populated urban areas hinder tiger movement in Central India. Simulations show that protected corridors delimited by the NTCA can mitigate this impact, highlighting the need for informed development plans that consider biodiversity and...
Researchers found that tigers are clinging to survival in low-density populations due to habitat loss and fragmentation. The study revealed that primary forests are 47% more abundant than degraded forests, and extensive clearing has disproportionately reduced tiger numbers.
Research expedition tracked endangered tigers through Sumatran jungles, finding low density populations clinging to survival. Well-protected forests are disappearing and fragmenting, erasing tiger habitat gains, mainly due to oil palm plantations.
Researchers from UC Davis predict certain traits, such as internal fertilization and long-distance mating signals, can help rare species persist during crises. These traits may provide advantages for chronically rare species when compared to more common species that are likely to face extinction during great extinction events.
Researchers propose new theory reconciling taxon senescence with the Red Queen's Hypothesis, suggesting expansion is crucial for species success and extinction. The Hat Pattern, a phenomenon where species expand before contracting, is reinterpreted as evidence of this expansion-driven approach to survival.
Recent studies on passenger pigeon genomics reveal surprisingly low genetic diversity despite large populations. The study suggests that high adaptability allows faster evolution, but also drives a loss in genetic diversity, making the birds more vulnerable to extinction.
A new database identifies 1,189 threatened island species and the invasive species driving their decline. Effective management could prevent extinctions for 95% of these species.
A study identified 1,189 highly threatened vertebrate species on 1,288 islands with invasive species, which may endanger their survival. Conservation efforts, including biosecurity and funding strategies, are crucial to protect native animals on islands with invasive species.
A recent study has found that tropical high-altitude beetles are at risk of extinction due to climate change. The research, conducted in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, revealed that two plant-eating beetle groups - weevils and leaf beetles - are highly specialised to high altitudes and may disappear in a warmer world.
A team of scientists discovered a global spike in nickel at the time of the Great Permian Extinction, suggesting massive Siberian volcanic eruptions caused significant environmental changes. The eruptions led to intense global warming and depleted oxygen in oceans, contributing to the extinction of over 90% of species.
Botanic gardens conserve nearly two-thirds of plant genera and over 90% of plant families, yet face a significant imbalance between temperate and tropical regions. The majority of plant species are tropical, yet only 25% of these are represented in botanic gardens.
A global analysis of 27,000 vertebrate animal species found that those in the Goldilocks zone face a lower risk of extinction than larger or smaller species. The largest and smallest species are disproportionately threatened by human activities such as harvesting and habitat loss.
Chronic cocaine users exhibit impaired learning and memory in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, making it hard for them to form new associations and quit using the drug. This finding highlights potential limitations of extinction-based therapy in treating addiction.
Researchers at The University of Queensland found that strategic delays can improve conservation gains by leveraging investments, capacity building, and monitoring. This approach allows limited resources to protect more species and achieve better outcomes in less time.
A new study reveals that western monarch butterfly populations have declined by more than 70% over the past 35 years, threatening their survival. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change are likely contributing factors to this decline.
A study documents the local extinction of the American pika from a 64-square-mile area in California's northern Sierra Nevada mountains due to climate change. The species is expected to decline drastically by 2050, with pikas disappearing from an area that stretches from near Tahoe City to Truckee.
Researchers found a high incidence of cervical ribs in woolly rhino fossils, suggesting a vulnerable condition that may have contributed to their decline. The study suggests monitoring modern rhinos' vertebrae could indicate the level of extinction risk, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.
A new study found that Solenodon, a venomous shrew-like mammal, has survived human arrival in the Caribbean by adapting to a flexible diet. The research suggests that this flexibility allowed Solenodon to thrive despite human-induced climate change and invasive species on the islands.
A Johns Hopkins paleontologist and her team report that human arrival and activity led to the extinction of native mammal species in the Caribbean. The study found that 60% of endemic mammals went extinct after humans arrived, with current conservation efforts focusing on protecting bats and insectivores.
A University of Utah-led study finds that targeted forest regeneration can increase the survival time of bird communities up to 56-fold in two biodiversity hotspots. The cost of regeneration is estimated between $21 and $49 million dollars, offering a high return on investment for biodiversity conservation.
Restoring links between large adjoining habitat fragments can reduce species extinctions and provide a large potential return on investment in biodiversity. By targeting these areas, researchers found that habitat restoration could decrease the duration between habitat loss and extinction of tropical bird species.
Scientists are searching for Edwards' pheasant, a critically endangered bird species endemic to central Vietnam. Researchers have identified two potential locations where the bird may still exist, using data compiled from known sightings and recordings dating back to the late 1800s.
A new study suggests that human settlement of Jamaica may have led to the extinction of the Xenothrix mcgregori monkey species. The research uses radiocarbon dating to estimate that the monkey died between 505 and 573 A.D., overlapping with non-European human arrival on the island.
The article explores de-extinction efforts, highlighting potential ecological benefits and challenges. Experts debate whether de-extinction initiatives aid or hinder conservation efforts, with concerns about habitat destruction and climate change.
A study by James Muirhead and colleagues suggests that the formation of intrusive igneous rock sills triggered the End-Permian Mass Extinction. The team found that extreme heat from sill emplacement exposed sediments to contact metamorphism, liberating massive greenhouse gas volumes that drove extinction.
A new extinct bird species, Pyrrhula crassa, has been discovered on Graciosa Island in the Azores archipelago. The species went extinct due to human colonization and introduction of invasive species. Its unique beak morphology suggests it was a large bullfinch species.
A recent study found that the scent of a praying mantis can cause fruit flies to spend less time eating, more time being vigilant, and produce fewer offspring, leading to increased extinction risk. The study sheds light on the Allee effect, a long-standing biological conundrum related to population size and extinction.
A new global analysis shows that species most at risk live in areas just beginning to see the impacts of human activities. Intact forest landscapes deserve higher priority for conservation dollars than heavily impacted areas, according to researchers.
Researchers found that environmental disturbances can cause sudden population collapses, making extinction easier even for large populations. This has implications for predicting and controlling viral epidemics.
A new study finds over 30% of vertebrate species are declining in population size and range, with tropical regions hit hardest. The research suggests that the disappearance of species tells only part of the story of human impact on Earth's animals.
A new study from the University of Turku reveals that ferns' survival during mass extinctions is linked to environmental changes, while species origination is driven by factors such as low diversity levels after major events. This finding clarifies the contrasting views on biodiversity regulation.
Despite massive climate change and volcanic eruptions, larger fish were no more likely to go extinct than small fish during the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. The study used a detailed analysis of fossil records to conclude that body size played no role in determining which species survived or went extinct.
A recent study reveals that a third of marine megafauna disappeared around three to two million years ago, leading to a significant reduction in species diversity. The loss of functional entities resulted in an erosion of ecological functions, with 17% of total diversity disappearing and 21% changing.
Research found that population growth in birds is sensitive to male-to-female ratio, affecting mating behavior and survival rates. A male-biased population can lead to increased aggression, while a female-biased population can result in lower parental investment.
A new study reveals vast knowledge gaps in island-restricted bat species, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing conservation efforts for these vulnerable habitats. The research identifies areas with high levels of endemic bat species and underscores the urgent need to protect their islands and populations.
Researchers found clear links between volcanic activity and the end-Triassic mass extinction. The study revealed repeated large emissions of carbon dioxide from volcanoes, which led to a profound impact on the global climate.
A new study found that species from groups with high ongoing diversification are at greater risk of extinction than slowly diversifying lineages. Saving just 20 species could safeguard an estimated 1.4 billion years of evolutionary history for fast-speciating amphibian groups.
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.
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.
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.
Numerical simulations by Everton Santos Medeiros provide a better understanding of the characteristics of tipping points in natural and social systems. The study highlights the persistence of system dynamics after irreversibility, masking the transition itself.
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...
A recent study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution reveals that rising moisture levels may have contributed to the extinction of giant herbivores approximately 10,000 years ago. Researchers analyzed carbon and nitrogen isotopes in ancient animal bones to infer climate conditions and dietary habits of the megafauna.
Research reveals that major increases in environmental moisture caused widespread glacial-age grasslands to be replaced by peatlands and bogs, fragmenting populations of large herbivore grazers. The study found distinctive biochemical signals reflecting massive increases of moisture on the landscape.
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.
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 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.
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.
Scientists found strong evidence for geographic variation in six of nine life-history variables, including body size and litter sizes. The study suggests a one-size-fits-all conservation strategy is not appropriate, and assessments should account for geography to aid Eastern Massasauga recovery efforts.
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 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.
A recent study published in Nature Communications suggests that humans, not climate change, led to the extinction of Australian megafauna around 45,000 years ago. The researchers analyzed ancient poop and sediment cores, finding a significant decline in megafaunal populations during this period.