Articles tagged with Extinction
Researchers found a decrease in weaning age among fossil mammoths, suggesting human overhunting was the primary cause of their extinction. The study used nitrogen isotopes preserved in tusks to estimate weaning ages and found a significant decrease from 7 to 4 years.
New data suggests that ancient humans played a role in the extinction of large mammals, birds and lizards in Australia. The study's findings place human predation as the most likely cause, with a 10,000-year lag between human arrival and impact on megafauna.
New research supports the idea that human hunting contributed to the decline and extinction of large mammals in the Americas. The study found that the animals' demise began between 13,300-15,000 years ago in Alaska and spread southward across North America and into South America.
The extinction of large herbivores during the Late Pleistocene led to significant changes in vegetation composition and landscape openness. This study reveals that large herbivores play a crucial role in shaping their environments, which has major consequences for other species and ecosystem processes.
The study analyzed past large-mammal extinctions in North and South America to understand their long-lasting ecosystem impacts. Researchers found that the disappearance of mammoths and mastodons led to changes in vegetation, decreased small mammal diversity, and altered landscape dynamics.
A study by University of Liverpool scientists found that amphibians using toxins for defense are at higher risk of extinction, contradicting a long-held evolutionary hypothesis. This discovery challenges our understanding of the relationship between defense mechanisms and species diversification.
Researchers found that weaning age decreased by about three years over 30,000 years leading up to the woolly mammoth's extinction. This shift suggests hunting pressure was a primary cause of extinction, contradicting previous hypotheses pointing to climate change.
New evidence shows that asteroid impact on Earth 66 million years ago accelerated volcanic eruptions in India for hundreds of thousands of years. The eruptions, known as the Deccan Traps, likely suppressed recovery of life for 500,000 years after the KT boundary.
Researchers used fossil data to analyze stability of ecological communities before and during the Permian-Triassic Extinction. The study found that locally stable webs increased while diversity richness declined. Stability was attributed to functional organization within species groups, not biodiversity loss.
A new study explores how ancient South African ecosystems responded to the 'big 5' mass extinction, revealing that species with important roles in food webs were most vulnerable to extinction. The research highlights the critical importance of understanding food webs in predicting community stability during times of great change.
New evidence suggests that a massive asteroid collision with Earth triggered increased volcanic activity in the Deccan region of India. High-resolution argon dating revealed a dramatic increase in eruption rate within 50,000 years of the impact.
A new study found that species extinction can lead to secondary extinctions of parasites, compromising ecosystem stability and biodiversity. Researchers identified key host species that contribute to the overall network structure of fish communities and are essential for maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
A new study by researchers from Linnaeus University demonstrates that a higher degree of individual variation is beneficial to populations and species. The findings suggest that more variable populations are less vulnerable to environmental changes, show decreased fluctuations in population size, have superior establishment success, la...
A new study by UC Santa Barbara researchers predicts that climate change will cause significant reshuffling of marine biodiversity, with warming oceans leading to the relocation of nearly 13,000 species. This redistribution is expected to increase biodiversity in many areas but also lead to extinctions and homogenization of communities.
Scientists confirm human activity, not climate change, as main driver of megafauna extinction over the last 80,000 years. The study's findings shed light on a long-standing debate and suggest that early humans were responsible for the demise of iconic species such as the woolly mammoth and sabretooth tiger.
A new study by UK scientists found that geographically widespread animals are not immune to extinction during global mass extinction events. In contrast, they discovered that widely distributed animals are just as likely to suffer extinction as those with smaller geographic ranges.
A recent study found that Hawaii has lost a significant portion of its unique and diverse invertebrate species, with only 15 out of 325 recognized Amastridae species still alive. Globally, the team estimated that up to 14% of Earth's animal species may have been lost due to human activities.
Researchers find that presenting a new outcome instead of omitting an expected threat can lead to more effective fear extinction in both rats and humans. The study's findings have implications for the treatment of anxiety disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and phobias.
The study reveals that Darwin's finches have reached an equilibrium due to increased diversity, with no room for new species unless one existing species becomes extinct. Other species like mockingbirds are still diversifying and evolving more slowly.
A new study confirms that humans are causing a rapid pace of species loss, with extinction rates up to 100 times faster than normal, threatening ecosystem services and human survival. The researchers warn that inaction will lead to irreversible damage, but call for urgent conservation efforts to avoid a sixth mass extinction event.
A survey reveals that UK hospital post mortems are disappearing, with only half of one percent carried out in 2013. This decline has significant implications for quality assurance, public health, and the teaching of medical students.
A new study from the University of East Anglia suggests that critically endangered species should be left to breed in the wild, rather than in captivity. The research challenges the assumption that captive breeding is always a good idea when a species is close to extinction in the wild.
A new study published in Nature reveals that sexual selection improves population health by removing harmful genetic mutations, allowing species to flourish and avoid extinction. This finding provides direct support for the idea that sex persists as a dominant mode of reproduction due to its role in maintaining genetic diversity.
A new study led by University of Southampton researchers suggests that ocean acidification may not have caused the mass extinction of ammonites and other planktonic calcifiers. The research found that the asteroid impact was the primary cause of the extinctions, but not due to ocean acidification levels being too weak.
A study using fossils to predict extinction risk identifies vulnerable ocean ecosystems and species, providing a baseline for conservation efforts. The analysis finds that animals with small geographic ranges and certain groups are more prone to extinction, highlighting the need for targeted conservation and management.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati uncover evidence that bison, deer and other present-day species survived Ice Age climate change, while mammoths and mastodons perished. Fossil analysis reveals radical shifts in environmental temperature and vegetation, forcing animals to adapt or die.
The Capitanian extinction, dated to 262 million years ago, is now recognized as a major extinction event globally, with severe losses in brachiopods at high latitudes and widespread loss of carbonates across the Boreal Realm. This new evidence supports its status as a true mass extinction, updating the 'Big 5' list to the 'Big 6'.
A LiDAR study documents the impact of a 2013 Colorado Front Range flood on the landscape, revealing unprecedented hillslope failures and landslides. The research highlights the role of rare events in shaping landscapes over time scales that greatly exceed historical records.
Researchers found that beetles have among the lowest family-level extinction rates due to their ability to adapt to changing environments. The study suggests that beetle diversity may be due to an historically low extinction rate rather than a high rate of new species emerging.
Researchers found that deadly frog fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been present in Illinois and Korea since the 1880s, with stable dynamics for over 100 years. This discovery helps scientists better understand the disease caused by Bd and its survival conditions.
A new study reveals that plants have been highly resilient to mass extinction events, with negative rates of diversification never sustained for long periods. Plant groups such as flowering plants (angiosperms) experienced a rapid increase in diversity shortly after the Cretaceous-Paleogene asteroid impact.
A new study suggests that understanding species extinction can help drive cancer cells to annihilation. The authors identify two critical factors governing species resistance to extinction: evolveability and robustness to perturbations. These characteristics may have important correlates among some types of cancer cells.
A new study by the University of Sheffield has found that 20-25% of well-known sea species are threatened with extinction. The research highlights the need for more comprehensive assessments of marine species, which currently have been completed for only three percent of cases.
A study by Temple University researchers found that an estimated 28,000 endangered Madagascar lemurs are being illegally kept as pets in urban areas, threatening conservation efforts. The trade may drive some species closer to extinction and cause populations to go extinct altogether.
New research confirms that massive volcanic eruptions 66 million years ago spewed climate-altering gases into the atmosphere before and during the K-Pg extinction event, which claimed non-avian dinosaurs. The Deccan Traps' eruptions are now considered a key factor in the extinction event.
A DNA study from Duke University sheds light on the extinction of giant lemurs, finding that their smaller population sizes made them more susceptible to extinction. The research suggests that lessons learned from ancient DNA can be useful in protecting remaining species.
Scientists develop model to predict which populations will go extinct due to climate change by analyzing how different species adapt. The study finds that small changes in climate can lead to sudden extinction, even for species with strong adaptation strategies.
Leading coral reef scientists argue that a shift away from extinction threat is needed to protect marine ecosystems. Researchers found no relationship between species abundance and geographic range, highlighting the weaknesses in current approaches to assessing extinction risk.
Researchers found that oxytocin facilitates extinction of conditioned fear in humans by reducing activity in the amygdala and increasing stimulation in fear-inhibiting regions. This basic research could lead to new treatments for anxiety disorders.
A new study suggests that the flightless birds, moa, were completely extinct when New Zealand's human population reached around 2500 people. Researchers found that during the peak period of moa hunting, there were fewer than 1500 Polynesian settlers in NZ, with a population density of about 1 person per 100 square kilometers.
A new study reveals that canine distemper virus (CDV) poses a significant risk to tiger populations, particularly in smaller groups. Modeling shows that CDV infection can increase the 50-year extinction probability of tigers by up to 55.8 percent.
Researchers presented findings on North America's future fire threats and the role of humans in megafauna disappearance. Paleontological data is being used to inform studies of modern ecological processes and communities.
Researchers compiled two new datasets on insect evolution, finding that families of insects with metamorphosis diversify more quickly than others. The findings suggest that these insects are responsible for a higher rate of diversification and a greater turnover of species.
A conservation biologist's study provides crucial guidance for rescuing the critically endangered pupfish by establishing a captive breeding program. The research found that transferring pupfish eggs to a facility in the fall and limiting adult migrations are critical for reducing impact on the wild population.
Scientists analyzed depictions of animals in ancient Egyptian artifacts to reconstruct the large mammal community that lived in the Nile Valley. The study found that species extinctions led to a decline in ecosystem stability, with only eight species remaining today compared to 37 six millennia ago.
A new study estimates the pre-human extinction rate to be 0.1 extinctions per million species per year, 10 times lower than previously thought. This means the current rate is 100 times worse, with extinctions occurring 1,000 times more frequently than in the past.
Scientists have found abundant nanodiamonds distributed across three continents, providing conclusive evidence of a 13,000-year-old cosmic impact. The discovery supports a hypothesis linking the impact to the mass extinction of megafauna in North America.
The National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities have awarded over $4 million to support the documentation of nearly 40 endangered languages. These awards will build research infrastructure and encourage long-term collaboration with host countries, as well as involve significant community engagement.
Leaf-mining insects completely disappeared after the dinosaur extinction event, only to reappear a million years later with diverse damage patterns. The researchers found nine different mine-damage types at Mexican Hat attributable to moths, wasps, and flies, suggesting an influx of novel insect herbivores during the early Paleocene.
Researchers predict ranavirus as a potential new culprit in amphibian extinctions, especially in isolated wood frog populations. The study suggests that frequent exposure to the virus can lead to extinction within five years.
Researchers at Emory University discovered that individuals diagnosed with PTSD treated with ARBs or ACE inhibitors exhibited fewer PTSD-like symptoms. The study found that the medication losartan enhanced fear memory extinction, a process disrupted in individuals with PTSD.
A Curtin University researcher has discovered that volcanic eruptions in Australia 510 million years ago led to the first known mass extinction of complex life. The study found a correlation between large volcanic province eruptions and climate shifts, resulting in mass extinctions over the last 550 million years.
A new study led by Duke University finds that emerging technologies can efficiently identify species at greatest risk and take steps to protect them. Online databases, smartphone apps, and crowd-sourcing are making it easier to collect data on species.
A new study reveals that human activity is driving extinction rates 1,000 times higher than the natural rate, emphasizing the need for better conservation strategies. New technologies are helping scientists collect and share information on species distribution, habitat destruction, and land-use change.
Scientific collections provide wealth of information on species' diet, breeding habits, growth rates, lifespan, and ecology. Collections have played crucial role in understanding climate change impacts and disease tracking, with discoveries like de-extinction of the Vegas Valley leopard frog.
A group of over 100 biologists argue that collecting plant and animal specimens is essential for scientific research and conservation. They claim that alternative methods such as photography and DNA analysis cannot reliably identify or describe species. The authors emphasize the importance of preserved specimens in understanding evolut...
Ape ancestors' diets evolved from hard-shelled fruits and seeds to soft and mixed fruit-eating, with no diet specializing in leaves. The dietary specialization may have ultimately contributed to their extinction when drastic environmental changes occurred.
Despite declining global biodiversity, a recent study found that many ecosystems have remained stable, with no significant decrease in species richness. Instead, researchers discovered substantial changes in species composition, averaging 10% change per decade.
Researchers from Harvard and colleagues found new evidence for a previously unknown African-derived terrane, named the Moretown terrane, which lies beneath North American-derived rocks in modern-day New England. The discovery suggests that the Iapetus Ocean closed approximately 20 million years earlier than documented elsewhere.
Researchers estimate that a small village has only 40 members, making it highly vulnerable to extinction. Remote surveillance using satellite images can track the tribe's demographic health and movements without disrupting their lives.