Articles tagged with Extinction
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.
Researchers suggest using non-lethal techniques such as high-resolution photography and DNA sampling to identify species, avoiding harm to small populations. The goal is to balance scientific understanding with conservation concerns and minimize the impact of field collections.
A team of scientists ranked nearly 10,000 bird species by their evolutionary distinctness, identifying over 100 areas requiring additional protection to safeguard avian biodiversity. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals that Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand are leading countries in preserving irreplaceable species.
Researchers found that woolly mammoths had a high incidence of abnormal neck vertebrae, including cervical ribs, which are often associated with inbreeding and environmental stress. This suggests that reproductive issues may have contributed to the mammoths' decline and eventual extinction.
A study analyzing ancient DNA from over 250 radiocarbon-dated moa samples reveals that the iconic New Zealand bird was thriving when humans arrived, contradicting previous theories of population collapse before human arrival. The research suggests human activities contributed to the moa's extinction.
A study of 36 species found that climate change increases extinction risk by 28% by 2100, but existing conservation methods can identify vulnerable species. The research identifies key factors such as small range and population size that predispose species to high extinction risk.
A team of researchers, including a Western University primatologist, has developed an action plan to conserve Madagascar's 101 lemur species. The plan outlines strategies for 30 priority sites and aims to raise funds for individual projects.
Researchers at MIT determine the end-Permian extinction occurred over 60,000 years, killing 96% of marine species and 70% of life on land. The new timescale suggests massive volcanic eruptions from the Siberian Traps triggered a rapid collapse of global ecosystems.
A new study finds that cone snail species are under increasing threat of extinction, with 67 species currently threatened or near-threatened worldwide. The loss of these creatures could rob future generations of an undiscovered reservoir of powerful neurotoxins used in life-saving drugs.
Researchers found that sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide releases from Siberian volcanoes could have created acidic rain, damaging plants and organisms. The study suggests that ozone depletion and temperature increases contributed to the end-Permian mass extinction on land.
Scientists confirm the extinction of Darwin's frogs caused by chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease affecting amphibians. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect the remaining species, emphasizing the importance of preserving biodiversity.
A comprehensive database of generation lengths for all extant mammal species has been developed, providing a crucial time reference for population ecology and conservation biology. The dataset contains data on adult body mass, maximum longevity, reproductive life span, and age at first reproduction for 5427 mammal species.
A 250 million-year-old study suggests that Pangea integration led to environmental deterioration, causing the biggest mass extinction. The integration resulted in global-scale volcanic eruptions, greenhouse gas emissions, and changes in ocean chemistry, ultimately devastating land and marine ecosystems.
Scientists have documented a widespread extinction of bees that occurred 65 million years ago, concurrent with the mass extinction that wiped out land dinosaurs and many flowering plants. The findings shed light on the current decline in bee species and could provide insight into their current struggle.
A new study finds that climate change has shifted the centers of North American turtles' ranges by an average of 45 miles per degree, with temperate forest and grassland species being more affected. This trend indicates that many endangered turtle species face uncertain futures due to their inability to adapt to changing climates.
A study spanning two decades reveals that species in forest fragments are more likely to disappear than previously thought. Habitat fragmentation and invasive species like the Malayan field rat contribute to the rapid decline of native wildlife populations.
A new study from MIT reveals a gene essential for memory extinction, which could benefit people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Enhancing the activity of this gene, Tet1, might make it easier to replace fearful memories with more positive associations.
A University of Adelaide study finds that Aboriginal populations and climate change were more likely responsible for the extinction of Tasmanian tigers and devils on the mainland. The research used complex models to recreate the dynamic interaction between dingoes, climate, and human populations.
A team of researchers studied anomodonts, ancient relatives of mammals, to understand their response to the largest mass extinction in Earth history. Despite ecological opportunities arising from species loss, anomodonts remained anatomically conservative and did not evolve new features.
Ray-finned fish, including species like Fouldenia and Styracopterus, rapidly diversified in the aftermath of the Hangenberg extinction. They exploited ecological opportunities to fill vacant niches, using their crushing jaws to prey on hard-shelled animals.
The Iberian lynx, the world's most endangered cat species, is threatened by climate change and may go extinct in 50 years. Climate change must be incorporated into strategies to reintroduce the species to new habitats for survival.
A new study has identified countries with the worst and best funding for biodiversity conservation, revealing a need for improved global distribution of conservation funds. The research found that underfunded countries often harbor high levels of threatened mammal biodiversity, highlighting opportunities for targeted conservation efforts.
UC Berkeley researchers found that a decrease in new species origins is crucial to extinction, alongside increased extinction rates. This study applies to slow changes over millions of years and provides insights into the pressures on modern flora and fauna.
Scientists have discovered 16 new species of Lepidium flora in New Zealand, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts. The plants' decline is attributed to habitat loss, ecosystem disruption, and over-collection by botanists.
A common standard for Design, Application and Communication of Population Viability Analyses (PVA) is proposed to enhance communication and repeatability of PVAs. The protocol, accompanied by an interactive website, aims to strengthen the credibility and relevance of PVAs for policy and management.
Researchers applied a novel method to assess extinction risk for bird species in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, revealing two distinct groups: those with severe and mild fragmentation impacts. Out of 58 severely fragmented species, 28 are not currently considered threatened.
Researchers have discovered two new fossil crocodile species in the Urumaco region, revealing that up to 14 different species coexisted around 5 million years ago. The discovery sheds light on the diverse array of crocodilian species that once inhabited South America and Southeast Asia.
A Dartmouth College study suggests that many species of tropical lizards may not be on the brink of extinction due to climate change. The research found that high-resolution temperature measurements revealed varying effects on different lizard populations, contradicting previous predictions of widespread extinction.
A new species of ichthyosaur from Iraq, named Malawania anachronus, has been discovered, contradicting previous theories on the evolution and extinction of these ancient marine reptiles. The discovery reveals that ichthyosaurs remained diverse during the early part of the Cretaceous period.
Scientists have discovered new fossils showing that dinosaur predecessors were more widespread than thought after the mass extinction event. The findings suggest that archosaurs, a group including crocodiles and dinosaurs, diversified in Tanzania and Zambia before becoming more widely distributed.
Fossil records from Tanzania and Zambia reveal a lineage of animals thought to have led to dinosaurs, contradicting previous assumptions about their predecessors' fate. The discovery provides new insights into the recovery of animal communities after the mass extinction.
A new study reveals that proportions of threatened species are more closely related to socio-economic pressures from the early 20th century. This 'extinction debt' implies that current conservation efforts may underestimate true extinction risks, as many species may already be destined for extinction due to temporal delays.
Research by Alison Boyer found that nearly 983 land bird species became extinct between the first human arrival and European colonization due to overhunting, forest clearance, and introduced species. The study also reveals that flightless species were more likely to go extinct than those with flying abilities.
Research by the Zoological Society of London found that over 4,000 years ago, tropical Pacific Islands experienced a catastrophic mass extinction of birds, with around 1,300 species disappearing. The loss was largely due to overhunting and deforestation caused by human arrival.
The end-Triassic extinction was caused by widespread volcanic eruptions in the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, which spewed forth huge amounts of lava and gas. The eruptions occurred precisely when the extinction began, providing strong evidence that they triggered the event.
A massive extinction event occurred 200 million years ago, wiping out 76% of species on Earth. Volcanic eruptions from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province likely triggered the event through global warming and ocean acidification.
A new study ties gigantic volcanic eruptions to the abrupt disappearance of half of Earth's species 200 million years ago, potentially on a pace similar to human-influenced climate warming today. The eruptions caused sudden climate changes that may have prevented many creatures from adapting.
A new study suggests that climate change may lead to the extinction of dozens of lizard species within the next 50 years due to rising temperatures. Lizards with viviparous reproduction are particularly vulnerable as changing weather patterns affect their ability to adapt and survive in cold environments.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified a specific group of cells in the brainstem critical for emotional memory processing during REM sleep. The activation of phasic pontine waves is linked to the development of long-term retention of fear extinction memory, making it a potential target for new treatments.
A new report by Panthera suggests that fencing and conflict mitigation initiatives are necessary to conserve lion populations in Africa. The study found that unfenced habitats lead to higher costs and lower lion population densities, highlighting the severity of the lion conservation crisis.
Researchers found that reducing the population size of one carnivore can cause another similar species to become extinct due to changes in food webs. This highlights the need for an ecosystem-based approach to conservation.
A new study suggests that scopolamine can help boost the effectiveness of exposure therapy for anxiety disorders by disrupting contextual processing. Researchers found that administering scopolamine to rats during anxiety-extinction led to fear-recovery being thwarted, suggesting a potential breakthrough in preventing relapse.
Biologists at the University of Washington have found that mutant bacteria can escape extinction when environmental conditions worsen gradually or moderately. The study shows that 'relay team' of mutations emerging under these conditions provides protection against extreme stress, increasing chances of survival.
A new study reveals that nearly 1 in 5 reptiles are struggling to survive, with many species highly specialized and sensitive to environmental changes. The findings highlight the urgent need for conservation action to address habitat loss, hunting, and other threats, particularly in tropical regions.
Researchers found that most tough-leaved shrubs and trees in South East Australia went extinct during the ice ages, contradicting the long-held theory that evolution drives biodiversity. The study suggests that extinction is equally important to diversity as evolution.
A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry reveals that scopolamine can rapidly improve mood in depressed patients. Additionally, the drug shows promise as a treatment for anxiety disorders by disrupting contextual processing during extinction learning.
Scientists have determined the most precise dates yet for the dinosaur extinction and a comet or asteroid impact, which occurred around the same time. The revised dates clear up lingering confusion over whether the impact occurred before or after the extinction.
A new population modelling approach contradicts the widespread belief that disease must have been a factor in the thylacine's extinction. The study found that European settlement, including hunting and habitat loss, was powerful enough to drive the species to extinction without invoking a mystery disease.
Researchers find only 1.5 million named species out of an estimated 5 million, making conservation efforts more hopeful than previously thought. Increased global involvement in taxonomy and exploration can help discover and protect species from extinction.
Climate change is projected to place the endemic Haleakalā silversword species at risk of extinction due to increasing water stress and lethal conditions. The plant's recovery from early threats has stalled, with annual population growth rates linked to precipitation patterns and warmer-drier climate trends.
A study found that invasive plant invasions can create 'extinction debts' in native plant species, leading to slow extinctions but delayed actual extinction events. Native plants are often relegated to marginal habitats unsuitable to their non-native competitors.
A new study attributes California's high plant species richness to low extinction rates, rather than high speciation rates. The researchers found that features of California's climate and topography have preserved species, allowing them to thrive in the region.
Researchers found that invasive plants will likely extinguish native plants in the wild over time, contrary to recent reports. The 'extinction debt' occurs hundreds of years after initial invasion, where native species slowly go extinct but not immediately.
A new analysis suggests that saber-toothed cats and American lions didn't drastically change their diet near extinction due to scarcity. Instead, they likely consumed carcass bones regularly, contradicting the idea that food shortage was a main reason for their extinction.