Articles tagged with Extinction
A new report by the Zoological Society of London identifies 100 of the most threatened animals, plants, and fungi on the planet, highlighting their unique value to nature. The report emphasizes that all species have a right to exist and should be protected, regardless of their perceived utility for humans.
Scientists discovered two closely timed extinctions, one triggered by massive volcanic eruptions and another by an asteroid impact. The eruptions, which occurred 300,000 to 200,000 years before the asteroid hit, warmed the planet and killed marine life.
A new study suggests that a warmer Earth generally increases biodiversity, but only after millions of years. However, current trends of increasing temperature are expected to cause diversity loss in the short term due to the speed of change.
A team of marine scientists warns that life in the world's oceans is facing a major shock due to human activities. The researchers have compared past extinctions with current trends, finding that global warming, acidification, and pollution are driving mass extinctions today, similar to those that occurred 500 million years ago.
A recent study published in Functional Ecology forecasts that tropical cold-blooded organisms are less likely to go extinct due to climate change. The researchers found that the 'hotter is better' theory suggests species adapted to warmer environments may evolve faster and be more resilient.
New research reveals that tropical forest fragments are nearly emptied of wildlife, with many species like jaguars and lowland tapirs virtually extinct. The study emphasizes the importance of strictly protected areas to conserve biodiversity in these ecosystems.
A study by University of Exeter researchers found that the demise of one carnivore species can indirectly cause another to become extinct due to ripple effects on a food web. This supports growing evidence against 'single species' conservation approaches, favoring instead ecosystem-centric strategies.
According to a study by Noel M. Burkhead, North American freshwater fish extinctions have increased noticeably after 1950, with at least 57 species and subspecies going extinct since 1898. The rate of extinction is estimated to be at least 877 times the background extinction rate over geological time.
The last remaining Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam has been confirmed extinct, with only one individual found alive in 2009. Researchers are now focused on saving the remaining population of 29 individuals living in Indonesia's Ujon Kolong area, using genetic tools to determine their age, sex, and pedigree.
Climate change, pollution, and invasive species are driving mortality in amphibians due to infectious disease, leading to extinctions rates 200 times higher than background extinction rates. Understanding these complex forces is crucial for addressing amphibian declines and emerging infections in humans.
A study led by biologists at UCSC found that gregarious bat species are more likely to decline and potentially go extinct due to white-nose syndrome. In contrast, solitary species like the tri-colored bat have stabilized at low levels. The little brown bat's social behavior has changed, but it may persist at smaller populations.
A new study suggests that mass extinctions permanently alter the pace of evolution, with species diversification rates shifting after catastrophes. Researchers analyzed bivalve mollusks and found that origination rates increased or decreased suddenly at mass extinction events, reflecting a permanent change in evolutionary speed.
Research suggests that top predators play a crucial role in extinction risk, as they can amplify the effects of climate change on other species. Studying these biotic multipliers and their interactions with other species is essential to improve predictions of climate change impacts.
Scientists have found that woolly mammoths' extinction was caused by a combination of climate warming and habitat change, with human-induced climate change mirroring the same pressures. The researchers used radiocarbon dating to create detailed maps of changes in plant species, forest development, and human settlements over time.
Research on lemur extinctions over 2,000 years reveals that remaining species go into 'ecological retreat,' increasing extinction risk. Surviving lemurs rely on denser habitats due to vacant environmental niches, which may be a result of human disturbance.
A University of Georgia study analyzed over 46,000 fossils from 52 sites, revealing that abundant species did not necessarily persist longer than less abundant ones outside of the Ordovician extinction event. Instead, rarer genera were more likely to be present longer in the fossil record.
A study found that large-bodied herbivores declined in biodiversity over the last 12 million years of the Cretaceous period. In contrast, carnivorous dinosaurs and smaller plant-eaters remained relatively stable or increased in diversity. The researchers used morphological disparity to analyze dinosaur groups and found that certain spe...
A recent study has identified 24 new species of skinks, a type of lizard, on Caribbean islands. The newly discovered species are threatened with extinction due to the introduction of invasive mongooses that have been responsible for their decline.
A recent study found that mammalian families in North America maintained similar niches throughout the past 56 million years, despite significant climate changes. The research suggests that family diversity played a crucial role in their ability to adapt and maintain larger ranges.
A team of international scientists has confirmed that the extinct Tasmanian Tiger had limited genetic diversity prior to its extinction. The study reveals that the thylacine's genetic health may have been affected by geographic isolation from mainland Australia approximately 10-13 thousand years ago.
A Caltech-led team used a framework to analyze fossil occurrences and sedimentary rock records to determine that habitat loss due to falling sea levels and cooling of tropical oceans were the primary causes of the Late Ordovician mass extinction. The study largely ruled out a hypothesis suggesting a record bias as an explanation for th...
Researchers from the University of Adelaide have discovered that pollen diversity is limited in mahogany forests due to extensive exploitation, affecting seedling growth and forest re-growth rates. The study suggests that collecting high-quality seeds from healthy trees could improve restoration efforts.
Mathematical modelling and simulation reveal that extreme species-rich ecosystems are most vulnerable to cascading extinctions in an increasingly variable world. This finding contradicts previous studies suggesting that species-rich ecosystems are more robust.
A newly discovered fossil species of scops owl found in Madeira reveals that its extinction was linked to human arrival and habitat destruction. The findings suggest that human introduction led to disease transmission, invasive species, and habitat loss, contributing to the bird's demise.
Scientists analyzed data from an Antarctic ice core and arrival of modern humans to determine that a combination of human pressure and climate change led to the extinction of many large animals. The research provides insights into the consequences of pressures on megafauna living today, including tigers and rhinos.
A recent review of 200 scientific studies warns that climate change and habitat loss will drive tropical bird extinctions, with 87% of bird species spending time in the tropics. The study predicts 600-900 land bird species may go extinct by 2100, highlighting birds as 'canaries in the coal mine' for ecosystem changes.
Researchers analyzed Caribbean coral extinctions during Plio-Pleistocene era and found strong relationships between past regional extinction events and modern coral vulnerability. The study suggests that extinction events depend on biological characteristics of the coral species, improving the accuracy of extinction-risk assessment.
A new study reveals that the deadliest mass extinction, 'The Great Dying', was not a sudden event but occurred gradually. The researchers found evidence of gradual decline in marine life, with some species dying up to 100,000 years before the main extinction event.
A recent study published in the Geological Society of America Bulletin suggests that Earth's largest mass extinction, known as 'The Great Dying,' occurred over hundreds of thousands of years, not suddenly. The research, led by Thomas Algeo from the University of Cincinnati, found evidence of a prolonged die-off of marine life due to ma...
A team of scientists has confirmed the existence of Miller's Grizzled Langur, a rare and endangered monkey thought to be extinct. The species was found in a new geographic area of Wehea Forest in East Kalimantan, Borneo.
A new study suggests that climate models may grossly underestimate future extinctions by neglecting species competition and movement. Animals with small geographic ranges and specific habitat needs are likely to go extinct, while those with wider tolerances will thrive.
A new projection suggests global food demand could double by 2050, putting a significant strain on the environment. If poor nations adopt high-yielding technologies and efficient nitrogen fertilizers, however, this burden can be reduced to half a billion acres.
A team of researchers determined the mass extinction event that wiped out 95% of marine life and 70% of terrestrial life occurred approximately 252.28 million years ago, lasting less than 200,000 years.
Researchers from Princeton University reject the prevailing theory that a single large meteorite caused the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period. Instead, they link the extinction to massive volcanic eruptions in western India known as the Deccan Traps, which were 3 times larger than France.
Researchers developed a new model that considers colonization and extinction rates at both breeding and non-breeding sites for migratory species. This approach can help conservators better understand the population dynamics of species like piping plovers.
A new study published in Nature reveals that neither climate change nor humans alone can account for the Ice Age mass extinctions. The research team found that different species responded differently to climate change and human impact, with some being extinct due to a combination of factors.
A recent study reveals that neither human activity nor climate change alone caused the Ice Age megafauna extinctions. However, the research suggests that a combination of factors, including humans and climate change, contributed to the loss of large mammal species in Eurasia and North America.
A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that land-based vertebrates suffered massive extinctions, with approximately 78% of genera perishing. The survivors formed 'disaster taxa' that dominated their ecological niches, leading to boom-and-bust cycles and instability in ecosystems.
Researchers found that terrestrial biodiversity recovered in about 5 million years, compared to the 15- to 30-million year recovery period estimated earlier. This suggests a more rapid recovery than initially thought and rules out theories stating a severe spill-over effect into the terrestrial realm.
A new study suggests that short-hard interstellar radiation events could have a significant impact on life on Earth, depleting the ozone layer and allowing deadly ultraviolet radiation to penetrate. The rate of these events is estimated to be about once per 100 million years, with potential effects on extinctions in the fossil record.
A team of researchers found that metazoan-dominated reefs existed again in the US southwest just 1.5 million years after the devastating Permian mass extinction, challenging the previous assumption of a five-million-year recovery time frame.
A new decision-support model developed by scientists can guide allocation of conservation funding to save more species from extinction. The model incorporates both ecological and economic information, prioritizing conservation activities based on a yearly budget.
Researchers use satire to challenge conservative approaches to sustainability, highlighting hypocrisy in Western economies' actions.
A new survey of the deadly fungus chytridiomycosis in Asia has found very low levels of infection among amphibians, with only 2.35% prevalence across 15 countries. However, researchers warn that this could be a sign of emerging disease or other factors preventing invasion.
At least 351 species thought to have disappeared over the past 122 years have been rediscovered, but most remain highly threatened and on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss. Researchers stress the need for rapid conservation efforts to prevent further decline.
A recent study suggests that mitigating chytridiomycosis through different infection control methods could largely prevent local extinctions and outbreaks of the disease. Researchers have identified successful pilot studies in Spain, including a heat therapy treatment using itraconazole, which has increased amphibian survival rates.
An international team of scientists assesses the population status of several fish species, classifying seven as threatened with extinction and four as 'near threatened' for the IUCN Red List. The study highlights the need to protect against overexploitation driven by high prices, which are putting pressure on global fish populations.
The study highlights the urgent need for effective management of tuna and billfish populations. Five species of tuna are in the threatened or Near Threatened categories, while three billfish species are also at risk.
A new study by Katy Prentice shows that pterosaurs evolved in a unique way, specializing over 160 million years. The research found that pterosaurs remained conservative for 70 million years before experimenting with new modes of life, adapting to feed on different food sources and becoming larger.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that most of the world's undiscovered species reside in regions already identified as conservation priorities. This suggests recent conservation efforts have been effective and should reduce uncertainty over global conservation priorities.
Researchers tracked bird populations over 25 years in isolated forest fragments and found that many species returned after being thought extinct. The study suggests that local extinction is accompanied by continual recolonization, dependent on habitat size.
A new study shows that southern right whales from remote sub-Antarctic islands have found their way back to New Zealand's mainland, indicating a potential return of this endangered species. The whales' strong 'maternal fidelity' helped them remember ancestral calving grounds, enabling them to migrate and breed in their former habitat.
A new study has assessed the extinction risk of individual seagrass species worldwide, revealing that 10 out of 72 species are at elevated risk of extinction. The research highlights the critical role seagrasses play in maintaining marine ecosystems and human livelihoods.
A recent study by McGill biologist Jonathan Davies and colleagues suggests that the criteria for assessing risk of extinction in plants should be revised. The researchers found that species with small population sizes, even if not limited to a specific geographical range, can also be at high risk of extinction due to their youth.
A recent study by an international team of researchers found that the processes of extinction and speciation are linked in plants, with young species often appearing at high risk of extinction. This challenges the application of the same threat criteria across living organisms and regions.
A new study claims that species extinction rates have been overreported by as much as 160%, using widely used methods. However, the global extinction crisis is still very real, according to researchers. The study's findings suggest that habitat loss is not as dire as previously thought, but conservation efforts are still necessary.
Researchers describe a new species of land crab that documents the first crab extinction during the human era, likely caused by the arrival of humans to the Hawaiian Islands. The loss of the crab had a significant impact on the ecology of the islands.
A new study disputes the use of a single minimum viable population number as a yardstick for conservation policies. Populations show rapid declines due to human activities, but removing negative effects, even small populations could be viable in the long term.
A team of researchers studied the evolution of parareptiles, finding that they were not hit as hard by the end-Permian extinction as previously thought. The study used evolutionary relationships to infer missing diversity and revealed new patterns in the fossil record.
A study using DNA from museum specimens reveals a clear pattern of amphibian decline linked to the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The researchers found that the fungus first appeared in southern Mexico in the early 1970s, spreading southward to Central America and causing mass extirpation of neotropical amphibians.