Articles tagged with Extinction
A global study reveals that plants in highly diverse ecosystems, such as South American and Southeast Asian jungles, suffer lower pollination rates and reduced reproductive success. This could push certain plant species towards extinction.
A study published in Nature finds that climate change created favorable conditions for a pathogenic fungus, leading to widespread extinctions of harlequin frogs. The research highlights the complex relationship between global warming and disease transmission, underscoring the urgent need to understand the impacts on biodiversity.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that climate-driven fungal disease is a major contributor to the decline of amphibian populations worldwide. The research found that warmer temperatures favor the growth and reproduction of a deadly skin fungus, which kills frogs mostly in cool highlands or during winter.
Climate change and human activities are pushing tiny pikas to higher elevations, leaving them with limited habitat options. The animals' distribution has diminished significantly over the past 40,000 years, with many populations now isolated on separated mountain ranges.
New analysis confirms a logarithmic relationship between population size and time-to-extinction, providing insights into extinction dynamics. The study also reveals that ten populations exhibiting 'extinction vortices' show deteriorating dynamics as extinction approaches.
A new study has pinpointed epicenters of Earth's imminent extinctions, identifying 794 species in need of urgent conservation action at specific sites worldwide. The research highlights the critical need for global cooperation to protect these imperiled species and ecosystems.
Recent surveys estimate survival rates of over 54% for released fingerlings, a significant improvement from previous years. The recovery effort uses a captive broodstock program to restore coho populations in the Russian River watershed.
A new study found that brain structure associated with fear inhibition is also linked to personality traits like extraversion and neuroticism. The researchers used a standard personality test in combination with brain imaging to analyze the link between the brain region and extinction memory.
A recent study published in Conservation Biology found that global warming is a major threat to the extinction of the Sinai baton blue butterfly. The research showed that the butterfly's population is vulnerable to habitat destruction caused by livestock grazing, regardless of the level of future habitat loss.
Scientists used radiocarbon dating to determine that human arrival in the Americas led to the extinction of prehistoric ground sloths. This suggests that big-game hunters had a significant impact on animal populations, contributing to widespread extinctions.
The study identified key factors contributing to large mammal extinction, including biological disadvantages and human impact. Smaller mammals are more vulnerable due to limited distribution sizes and exposure to humans, while larger animals face additional challenges such as long gestation periods and late weaning ages.
Researchers found a sudden shift in plant type after humans arrived in Australia, leading to extinctions of large birds like Genyornis. The study used ancient wombat teeth and bird eggshells to analyze carbon isotopes, showing that human-induced vegetation change was the best explanation for the ecological transition.
A new study by University of Colorado at Boulder-led researchers found that ancient birds in Australia's interior changed their diet drastically after human arrival, pointing to large-scale ecosystem changes. The shift was linked to the extinction of large terrestrial mammals and other species.
A new study reveals that traditional models of extinction underestimate species extinction risk by ignoring a critical parameter. The researchers used water fleas as a model organism and found that incorporating density-dependent demographic stochasticity into the models accurately predicted extinction rates.
A study by Matthew Powell found that brachiopods living near the equator suffered high extinction rates during the late Paleozoic ice age, while those living at higher latitudes were more resilient. The research suggests that human-induced environmental changes may be causing modern marine species to become extinct.
Researchers suggest low atmospheric oxygen levels led to population fragmentation, increasing extinction rates and slowing recovery. Oxygen levels dropped by 20 million years, making breathing at sea level equivalent to summiting a high mountain.
A study by Lee Hannah predicts that climate change and land-use changes will increase the risk of extinction for most protea species, with up to 15% expected to lose their range entirely. The Cape region's protected areas may offer lessons for global conservation efforts.
Dr. Brooks' research highlights the link between biodiversity decline and emerging human and wildlife diseases, such as West Nile Virus and avian flu. He argues that understanding parasite life cycles is crucial to preventing these diseases.
The end-Permian extinction was caused by a combination of factors, including volcanic carbon dioxide emissions, which warmed surface ocean water. This reduced the amount of oxygen available in the deep oceans, leading to an increase in hydrogen sulfide production and ultimately, mass extinctions.
Researchers found no evidence of an asteroid impact during the Great Dying, a mass extinction event that occurred 250 million years ago. Instead, they suggest that atmospheric warming due to greenhouse gases from volcanic eruptions led to the extinction of 90% of marine life and nearly three-quarters of land-based plant and animal life.
Researchers at Washington University have discovered that organic carbon and amorphous silicates in interstellar grains embedded within interplanetary dust particles are the carriers of the astronomical 2175 Å extinction line. This finding solves a 40-year-old mystery, providing evidence for the origins of this feature.
Species diversity varies greatly across tropical and temperate regions due to differing ecological pressures. Higher rates of evolutionary diversification may contribute to observed gradients in richness.
Research shows how individual species interact with each other after extinction, affecting recovery and evolution. Marine snails' feeding behavior changed from drilling holes to reach soft bodies inside clam shells.
Researchers found that modern snails began edge-drilling their prey when competing for food with others, but returned to slow wall drilling when separated. This suggests that the severe extinction event ended high competition levels in the ocean, which have not fully recovered since.
Research finds American pikas' local extinction at 36% of US sites studied due to climate change. Pikas' inability to thermoregulate in extreme temperatures makes them susceptible to habitat loss and extinction.
A new study predicts that up to 14% of all bird species will be extinct by 2100, leading to a decline in forest ecosystems and agriculture worldwide. This dramatic loss may also encourage the spread of human diseases and negatively impact ecosystem processes such as decomposition, pollination, and seed dispersal.
Scientists report that marine benthic diversity in Laurentia recovered to pre-extinction levels within 5 million years, nearly 15 million years sooner than suggested by global compilations. This rapid recovery suggests that the region operated differently from the globe as a whole.
A study of 28 individuals with acrophobia found that combining D-cycloserine (DCS) with virtual reality exposure therapy significantly reduced fear of heights, with effects lasting at least three months. The treatment works by facilitating 'fear extinction' in the brain, a process previously used to treat phobias and post-traumatic str...
The discovery of a prosauropod dinosaur, ancestral crocodilians and a mammal-like cynodont reveals diverse terrestrial faunas at the end of the Triassic period. The findings contradict previous assumptions about the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event.
A new Red List Index measures changes in extinction risk for birds worldwide, showing a steady deterioration between 1988 and 2004. The index provides a reliable baseline to track progress toward the 2010 biodiversity target, with particularly steep declines observed for Asian birds and seabirds affected by commercial long-line fisheries.
A global assessment of amphibian populations reveals that nearly one-third of species are threatened with extinction, with many more considered vulnerable. Key drivers of decline include habitat destruction, air and water pollution, and climate change.
Eurasian giant deer were found to have survived until 7,000 years ago, according to a recent study published in Nature. The discovery pushes back the previously believed extinction date for the species by 3,000 years, leaving scientists to question what ultimately led to their demise.
A study of megafauna extinctions during the late Pleistocene reveals that both climate change and human activities played significant roles in driving species to extinction. The research, published in Science, suggests that humans and climate change were a one-two punch that led to the loss of many large mammal species.
Researchers found that the amygdala is involved in both fear acquisition and unlearning, while the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a critical role in retaining extinction learning. The study provides evidence that the mechanisms of extinction learning may be preserved across species.
A recent study has found that the extinction of a host species can lead to the loss of up to 200 associated species, highlighting the need for urgent conservation efforts. The researchers calculated the expected levels of co-extinction across diverse systems and identified 6300 species at risk of being classified as co-endangered.
The Delacour's langur is one of the most Critically Endangered primates in the world, with only 300 individuals remaining. Conservation efforts are underway to protect the species, but time is running out, and it may soon become extinct.
A global study found that carnivore extinction risk is more closely tied to biological traits such as small geographic distribution and high trophic level. Human population density plays a lesser role in determining extinction risk, but can exacerbate it when combined with these factors.
A new model predicts that many carnivores are at high risk of extinction due to their biology and proximity to densely populated areas. The researchers suggest focusing conservation efforts on species with long gestation periods living in areas with rapid human population growth.
New radiocarbon dates show that mammoths became stranded on St. Paul Island about 13,000 years ago due to rising sea levels. The island's small size limited the ability of mammoths to sustain a permanent population, contributing to their eventual extinction.
A pair of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison developed mathematical models examining changes in a community's tolerance to environmental conditions like global warming or acid rain. They found that as individual species disappear, two forces act upon the community, making it more or less tolerant to the condition.
A staggering 42% of documented extinctions are mollusks, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for these species. Nonmarine mollusk diversity is valued for its own sake and as an indicator of ecosystem health.
The research highlights the alarming rate of extinction among birds, with many species experiencing significant declines in population numbers. The study's findings suggest that birds are excellent indicators of global extinction rates, and their decline serves as a warning sign for the planet's overall health.
Researchers propose a mechanism that helps uncommon species coexist with identical competitors, aligning with discoveries of cryptic fig wasp species. The evolutionary local mate competition theory is tested, revealing a demographic advantage to uncommon species.
Researchers discovered a possible reason for biodiversity in the Andes by comparing North and South American warming over millennia. The region's gradual warming may explain less extinction and increased susceptibility to global warming.
Recent discoveries, including a photo and skin samples, have reignited hopes of finding the Miss Waldron's red colobus monkey in its remote southeastern corner of Ivory Coast. The discovery has sparked concerns about potential extinctions of other high-canopy forest-dwelling animals.
A study predicts that climate change will put 15-37% of species in biodiversity-rich regions at risk of extinction by 2050. The study used computer models to simulate the impact of changing temperatures on species distributions, and found that well over a million species could be threatened with extinction.
A new study published in Ecology Letters improves extinction risk assessments by integrating machine learning algorithms and large datasets. The research reveals more accurate predictions for species vulnerability to extinction.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences documents harm caused by habitat fragmentation to a tree species native to Tanzania. The research found that birds that disperse seeds for the tree are rare or absent in fragmented areas, leading to poor seed regeneration and threatening the tree's survival.
Research on fear extinction suggests that cognitive enhancers like D-cycloserine can accelerate the learning process of fear extinction, leading to more rapid and lasting reductions in phobias. Virtual reality therapy combined with DCS resulted in significant improvements in patients' anxiety levels.
A geologist has found that evolutionary groups have significantly better longevity if they first appear right after a mass extinction event. These groups are more likely to be widespread and thrive afterwards.
Researchers suggest that ultra-low oxygen and greenhouse warming sparked two mass-extinction events, killing 90% of species on Earth. The development of an unusual breathing system in some dinosaurs, still found in birds today, may have helped them survive harsh conditions.
Research reveals that human activity has reduced natural habitats, making it difficult for species to adapt to climate change. Mobile species like birds and butterflies are more likely to survive, while sessile species like reptiles and amphibians are at high risk of extinction.
A novel method integrates habitat modelling and spatial population dynamics in reserve-network design to consider the impact of habitat loss on species survival. This approach represents a step towards more realistic consideration of species survival when selecting reserve networks.
A recent study found that monogamous mammals are more likely to die out due to factors such as population isolation and smaller harems, which can lead to lower male populations and reduced ability to detect approaching hunters. Conservation efforts may need to be targeted towards these species to save them from extinction.
A study published in Nature found that behavioral treatment can reverse brain changes caused by cocaine use and prevent relapse. Rats given extinction training during withdrawal showed a significant increase in glutamate receptors, which may help ease cravings and prevent relapse.
Researchers at the College of William and Mary report that seep mussel beds exhibit higher diversity than vent mussel beds. This discrepancy may be due to a physiological barrier to invasion at vents, limiting dispersal and leading to lower biodiversity.
Gerald R. Smith pinpointed three North American regions at greatest risk for freshwater fish diversity: southern Appalachian, Klamath River Basin, and Caribbean coastal drainages of eastern Mexico. Habitat destruction due to water diversion, agriculture, and mining threatens these areas' unique species.
Researchers have resolved terrestrial paleoclimate records near the K-T boundary, correlating with marine data. Climate changes occurred globally, with warming events occurring 66 million years ago, and cooling trends preceding the K-T collision.
According to a recent report from Conservation International, 25 primates are now threatened with extinction, with Asia accounting for almost 45% of the world's most endangered primates. Habitat loss and hunting are major factors in the decline of these species, and urgent conservation action is required to prevent extinctions.
A new study reveals that plant extinction rates are significantly higher than previously thought, with California playing a significant role. The researchers used data on native plant species in California to find that contiguous human development can lead to the loss of entire species.