Articles tagged with Extinction
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.
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.
A Yale University study tracked Ice Age mammals to understand how they impact ecosystems. The research found that even small extinctions can have significant effects on functional diversity.
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.
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.
New research prioritizes preventing feral cat extinctions, testing management tools, and improving coexistence with native fauna. Guardian animals and grooming traps are among the proposed tools for effective feral cat management.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers detected high concentrations of mercury and β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in shark fins and muscles, linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Restricting shark consumption may protect human health and shark populations threatened with extinction.
A new study reveals that controlling invasive mammal populations can prevent as much as 75 percent of predicted island-level extinctions for globally threatened vertebrates. The research identifies specific islands where conservation efforts will have the greatest impact, providing valuable guidance for conservation interventions.
Scientists have described a new species of earth snake from the mountains of Puebla and Veracruz in east-central Mexico. Genetic data and anatomical examination reveal that these snakes are remarkably similar to each other, but molecular analyses and rigorous specimen examination have come close to understanding their diversity.
A new study found that many species face significantly longer wait times than initially thought, ranging from 6 months to 38 years. This delay can lead to extinction and reduced global biodiversity, contradicting the policies of the US Endangered Species Act.
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.
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.
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 ancient graptolite fossils reveals that plankton communities began changing in important ways 400,000 years before massive extinctions. The effects of environmental degradation can be subtle until they reach a tipping point, leading to dramatic declines in population.
An international team of researchers is using big-data approach to plan effective conservation by modeling climate-change response of over 100,000 species. The project aims to identify regions and ecosystems that preserve biodiversity and critical ecosystems, reducing extinctions due to climate change.
A new hypothesis proposes that soot ejected by the Chicxulub asteroid impact caused global cooling, drought, and limited photosynthesis in oceans. This rapid climate change is believed to have led to the mass extinction of dinosaurs and ammonites.
A new reconstruction of Antarctic ocean temperatures around the time of dinosaur disappearance supports the idea that volcanic eruptions and an asteroid impact caused the planet's biggest mass extinctions. Two abrupt warming spikes coincide with two previously documented extinction pulses.
Over 90% of mammal species were wiped out by the asteroid that killed dinosaurs, but they recovered rapidly and diversified in different regions. The recovery took just 300,000 years, with small mammals being key survivors.
A new study reveals that large marine and terrestrial species are in 'double jeopardy' of extinction, with economic value driving risk above a certain threshold. The analysis highlights the importance of considering trade and differences between terrestrial and marine animals when designing effective conservation strategies.
A new study reveals that hydropower dams across the world are causing continued species extinctions on island habitats, with some communities losing up to 87% of their species. The research highlights the need for stronger environmental regulations and assessments to mitigate the impact of large-scale dam construction.
Researchers from the University of Bristol found that marine reptiles in the Mesozoic era quickly developed diverse feeding habits and morphological adaptations, expanding their ecological niches. This study, published in Paleobiology, sheds light on the rapid evolution of these ancient predators.
Researchers have discovered stone tools and faunal remains at the Page-Ladson site in Florida that date back around 14,550 years, challenging the long-held timeline for human settlement in the region. The findings provide strong evidence that humans and megafauna coexisted for at least 2,000 years.
Researchers plan to use stored tissue samples, cell lines, and sperm to develop stem cell technologies and create viable northern white rhinoceros populations. The ultimate goal is to establish self-sustaining populations in several decades.
A team of experts aims to use cutting-edge techniques like induced pluripotent stem cells and gene editing to bring back the critically endangered species. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is leading the effort, which also involves collaborations with international partners.
The discovery of three new mouse lemur species in Madagascar highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect these tiny primates. The study, which used advanced statistical methods, provides insight into the evolutionary process and has significant implications for clarifying diversity in other species.
A new study finds that cold-water species are more resilient to climate change than previously thought, with many populations expected to persist this century. Mountain landscapes play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity, giving conservationists time to complete extensive surveys and develop effective conservation strategies.