Articles tagged with Extinction
A new study suggests that a massive reduction in green pastures and the spread of forests may have been the primary cause of the decline of mammals like the woolly mammoth. The research found that climate change and habitat changes made grazing difficult for large mammals, leading to their extinction.
A new infectious disease, white-nose syndrome, is killing millions of bats and predicted to cause regional extinction of the little brown myotis. The disease affects hibernating bats and disrupts their hibernation, causing them to wake early and lose critical fat reserves.
The CSIRO Australia team has found the remains of a massive 6 kg rat, which survived until around 1000-2000 years ago. The discovery highlights the importance of conserving biodiversity among rodents, such as rats, which play key roles in ecosystems.
A recent study reveals that a warming climate may cause African apes to lose up to 50% of their habitats due to increased time spent resting. Researchers found that climate change alone can lead to significant habitat loss, making it crucial to ensure safe havens for conservation efforts.
Research suggests that small and isolated reefs are more susceptible to local species extinctions due to variable fish populations. Larger, connected habitats see fewer fluctuations in population sizes, making them more resilient to changes.
A new study proposes that early hunters contributed to the demise of mammoths around 15,000 years ago, leading to a significant increase in birch trees and global warming. The researchers estimate that this event may have added up to 0.1 degrees Celsius to the planet's temperature over several centuries.
A laboratory study of microscopic organisms subjected to varying degrees of acoustic disturbance shows that competition can be a factor in regulating ecological communities regardless of the intensity or frequency of disturbance. The findings contradict the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, suggesting that there is a strong trade-of...
Scientists found a way to pharmacologically induce a memory of safety in the brain of rats by administering brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into the prefrontal cortex. This procedure prevented rats from expressing fear to a tone that had been previously paired with a shock, suggesting new treatments for anxiety disorders.
A team of researchers has discovered a protein that can mimic the effect of training in rats, inducing a memory of safety. The protein, BDNF, supports the growth and survival of neurons and was found to be effective in extinguishing fear memories in rats.
Researchers found that global warming led to a 30% decline in biodiversity among small mammals, with populations experiencing significant losses while the deer mouse thrived due to its adaptability. This change had ripple effects on ecosystems, affecting soil aeration, seed dispersal, and predator-prey relationships.
A new global approach reveals that climate change played a major role in causing mass extinction of mammals in the late quaternary era. The study shows that continents with larger 'climate footprints' experienced more extinctions, supporting the idea that past climate changes contributed to global extinctions.
A mass extinction of fish 360 million years ago led to the demise of dominant species and created a new world. The Hangenberg event marked a critical shift in vertebrate diversity, with few surviving species giving rise to modern vertebrates, including humans.
A worldwide study attributes local lizard extinctions to rising temperatures, with a predictive model showing 20% of species could go extinct by 2080. Lizards' decline is linked to reduced foraging hours and energy resources during critical reproductive cycles.
A recent study found an alarming pattern of population extinctions among lizard species due to rising temperatures. Climate change is predicted to cause 40% of local populations to go extinct, translating to around 20% of species disappearing by 2080.
A study predicts that rising global temperatures could lead to the extinction of 20% of all lizard species by 2080, with many species already living at thermal limits. The research, led by Barry Sinervo, used field data and modeling to forecast extinction risks for various lizard species worldwide.
An international team of biologists found an alarming pattern of population extinctions due to rising temperatures. The researchers developed a predictive model that accurately predicted specific locations where previously studied lizard populations have already gone locally extinct.
New research reveals that Chytrid fungus kills frog populations when infection intensity reaches a critical threshold. The study found that mass mortalities occur beyond this point, while continuous re-infection causes the disease to reach the threshold.
A team of researchers from the University of Arizona revisited evidence pointing to a cataclysmic event that wiped out North American megafauna, including mammoths and Dire wolves. The study found no conclusive link between an extraterrestrial impact and the extinction of these species.
Researchers tracked salamander movements across all three life stages to understand population stability. The study found that overland movement increased the likelihood of population persistence under low to moderate extinction risk scenarios.
A panel of international experts confirms that an asteroid collision caused the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction, which killed off the dinosaurs and over half of Earth's species. The Chicxulub asteroid impact triggered a global winter, causing widespread destruction and paving the way for mammals to dominate the planet.
Nannoplankton extinction correlates with latitude, with higher rates in the Northern Hemisphere. Toxic metals from the asteroid impact likely delayed recovery due to impaired photosynthesis and reduced nannoplankton reproduction.
A new study finds that a pathogen, not climate change, killed the Monteverde golden toad. Researchers reconstructed moisture levels in the cloud forest over the last century and discovered that dry spells closely tracked El Niño events.
Researchers found that air flows in one direction through alligators' lungs, a trait shared with birds. This unidirectional airflow may have helped archosaurs dominate Earth after the Permian-Triassic extinction, which wiped out 70% of land life.
Researchers analyzed mammal diversity data from 30 million years ago and 500 years ago, finding a significant loss of species following human arrival in North America. The study suggests humans are causing another mass extinction event, with potential conservation efforts able to stem the tide.
Researchers discovered ancient DNA samples in permafrost soil, dating back to between 10,500 and 7,500 years ago, indicating that mammoths and prehistoric horses roamed the area for 2,600-5,600 years longer than previously assumed. This finding sheds new light on the extinction of these species.
Researchers at NYU have developed a non-invasive technique to block the return of fear memories by updating them with non-fearful information during the reconsolidation process. This technique, shown to be effective in reducing fear responses, may lead to new ways to treat anxiety disorders.
Researchers successfully blocked a conditioned fear memory in humans for at least a year using a noninvasive technique that exploits the reconsolidation window of emotional memories. The method, inspired by animal studies, shows promise for treating anxiety disorders like PTSD by altering emotional memories during their recall.
A study led by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers reveals that the decline of iconic ice age animals like mammoths and mastodons preceded a dramatic shift in North America's plant communities, fueled by wildfires. The research sheds light on the dynamics of extinction and its impact on landscapes.
Researchers Arnie Miller and Michael Foote analyzed fossil data from epicontinental seas and open-ocean-facing coastlines during three 'Big Five' mass extinction events. They found higher extinction rates in open-ocean settings, indicating these environments were more susceptible to mass-extinction-causing agents.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry examined the role of GABA receptors in anxiety disorders, revealing that inserting GABA receptors into neurons in the amygdala increases inhibition and prevents fear extinction. This discovery provides evidence for molecular mechanisms behind cognitive and behavioral therapies.
Researchers at Clemson University found evidence that toxin-producing algae played a deadly role in mass extinctions. The scientists analyzed ancient algal deposits and found that these algae were present in sufficient quantities to kill off plants and animals.
A recent study has shown that conservation targets are often too small to prevent extinction due to global climate change and habitat loss. Populations of endangered species require at least 5000 mature individuals to persist, highlighting the need for more effective conservation management.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered new evidence on how the brain reacts to fear using computational models, which can analyze neural mechanisms from a systems perspective. The study finds that fear memory is only partially erased by extinction and inhibition is necessary for complete extinction.
A new study reveals that the Komodo dragon most likely evolved in Australia and dispersed westward to Indonesia. The research, published in PLOS ONE, also details fossil evidence of a new species of giant varanid found on the island of Timor.
A recent analysis of Central American frog surveys reveals the devastating impact of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a microscopic fungus, on frog communities. The study shows that the fungus is causing a 'vast homogenization' of species, leading to significant losses in biodiversity and regional extinctions.
A team of researchers uses PageRank, a web ranking algorithm, to identify critical species in food webs and predict ecosystem collapse. By applying the algorithm to ecological networks, they find that certain species play a disproportionate role in maintaining ecosystem function.
The Saola's population has declined sharply since its discovery in 1992, with only a few dozen individuals remaining. The primary threats to the species are hunting and snaring, which can be devastatingly effective due to the Saola's vulnerability to dogs.
The world's largest fruit bat species, Pteropus vampyrus, is threatened with local extinction due to unsustainable hunting rates in Peninsular Malaysia. International protection is recommended to address the issue.
A study of marine clams found that closely related clusters vanish together more often than expected, indicating that vulnerability to extinction is linked to evolutionary family history. Conservation efforts should focus on protecting the most fragile families to preserve evolutionary history.
A landmark study reveals a worsening picture of biodiversity loss in Oceania, with habitat destruction and invasive species posing major threats. The report calls for urgent government action to address the extinction crisis, including increased protected areas and better ecosystem management of fisheries.
In the Caribbean Sea, environmental changes led to a shift from clonal to sexual reproduction among cupuladriid bryozoans. This shift enabled species to survive by becoming more robust against fragmentation, while those that failed to adapt went extinct.
The woolly mammoth genome contains the largest proportion of interspersed repeats in mammals, with a single class accounting for nearly 12% of its genome. The findings support the hypothesis that these elements were acquired horizontally from another organism.
New research suggests that dinosaur bones from the Ojo Alamo Sandstone may date from after the extinction event, and could indicate that some species survived for up to half a million years. The study uses chemical investigations and evidence of rock age to support the hypothesis.
Researchers analyzed genetic data and found a high frequency of inbreeding among Habsburg rulers, leading to a significant increase in health problems and infant mortality. The study suggests that inbreeding was a major factor in the decline and eventual extinction of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered a method to manipulate memories of fear by timing the extinction process. By targeting the labile state of fear memories after retrieval, they found that rats exhibited reduced fear responses and smaller chances of spontaneous memory resurfacing. This breakthrough could l...
A new study has found that large size and fast bite were the main reasons for the extinction of certain fish 65 million years ago. Today, these same features characterize large predatory fishes that are in decline and at risk of extinction themselves.
A global analysis of marine bivalves reveals the echo of ancient mass extinction, with the recovery rate persisting despite latitudinal differences. The study found that the initial post-extinction boom never really fizzled out, but instead slowed to a crawl without returning to pre-extinction levels.
Climate change and sea ice fluctuations threaten emperor penguin populations, with a median colony size predicted to decline from 3,000 to 400 breeding pairs. The probability of drastic decline is at least 40%, putting the species at risk of extinction.
Researchers at the University of Calgary found that tropical regions have higher risks of plant extinction than previously thought. The study analyzed worldwide databases and discovered that factors like latitude are more important in determining the number of threatened species than human activities.
The researchers sequenced the mammoth's nuclear genome, yielding information about its evolution and extinction. They found that woolly mammoths separated into two groups around two million years ago and eventually became genetically distinct sub-populations.
Researchers found that global warming may not be the primary cause of widespread amphibian declines, contradicting previous widely-held views. The study suggests alternative factors, such as a fungal infection and pesticide use, may be driving these extinctions.
Genetic research reveals black rats carried a pathogenic protozoan that exterminated two endemic species on Christmas Island. The study is the first to demonstrate extinction in a mammal due to disease, contradicting most scientists' view of pathogens' effect on species.
New research suggests rare corals can cross-breed with other species to increase genetic diversity and adapt to changing conditions. This finding has raised hopes for the ability of corals to withstand the impacts of climate change.
A study published in Science warns that climate change may exceed life's ability to respond, threatening 53% of species with extinction. The research provides critical insights into the effects of warming on tropical ecosystems, highlighting the need for conservation measures.
The Caspian seal population has dropped from over 1 million to just 100,000 due to commercial hunting, habitat degradation, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to establish protected areas and ban hunting to prevent further decline.
Recent research suggests that mass extinctions may be more common than previously thought, with 'sick Earth' extinctions being the norm. The study of five mass extinctions reveals that asteroid impacts are unlikely to have triggered most of them.
Researchers solved part of the mystery of where marine organisms recovered after the Permian-Triassic extinction event. The shorelines of ancient Alberta and British Columbia provided a refuge for these organisms, indicating locally well-oxygenated conditions in an ocean otherwise characterized by widespread anoxia.
A study by Imperial College London found that captive breeding of a rare species of toad introduced the deadly chytrid fungus to wild populations in Mallorca, highlighting the risks of reintroduction programs and the need for biosecure facilities. Despite the infection, some infected populations appear to be thriving.
A new study finds that early dinosaurs were not superior to their competitors, the crurotarsan group, which survived two mass extinctions without special traits. The research reveals that dinosaurs lucked out when the crurotarsans were hit hard during a mass extinction event.
Researchers have found that the neural mechanisms underlying the extinction of fear and cognitive emotion regulation are more similar than previously thought. The study used fMRI to compare brain activation patterns during these processes in humans, revealing overlap in regions such as the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and d...