Articles tagged with Extinction
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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.
Research suggests that consuming flying foxes, foraged on cycad seeds with high neurotoxin levels, may be a source of ALS-PDC. Economic changes in Guam led to increased hunting and trade of bats, contributing to the disease's rapid spread and decline.
A computer model reveals that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can lead to the extinction of natural populations in as few as 20 generations. The research also identifies an 'invasion risk' where introduced genes spread through the population without reducing overall size.
Wild meat harvesting is a major threat to threatened species, with big mammals and conspicuous birds being most at risk. Conservation biologists and organizations must work together to address poverty and unmanaged wildlife use to mitigate overhunting.
Researchers at Stanford University found that extreme climate variability in the past 70 years hastened the extinction of Bay Area checkerspot butterfly populations. The study tied climate variability to a mechanism and showed that population extinctions are a prelude to species extinctions, threatening ecosystem services.
The study found that only the Permian and Cretaceous extinction events led to significant changes in ocean ecosystem structure. The analysis suggests that life's evolution played a crucial role in shaping these ecosystems after the massive extinctions.
A study suggests that the global extinction crisis is more severe than previously thought, with over 50% of declining mammal species losing historic ranges. Population extinctions are concentrated in densely populated areas, such as Southeast Asia and Eastern states.
Lawrence H. Tanner found evidence of a Manicouagan impact causing an earthquake in the Fundy Rift Basin, a sedimentary basin 700 km away from the impact site. The association between the impact and paleoseismicity was made using shocked quartz grains, providing a stratigraphic context for the event.
The use of biased conservation lists is exacerbating the rate of species extinctions, according to Associate Professor Mark Burgman. The lists focus on large, spectacular species, neglecting lesser-studied groups that are more vulnerable to extinction.
The study, led by UC Berkeley professor James Kirchner, found that the diversification of life obeys 'speed limits' set by evolutionary processes. Biodiversity takes time to recover after an extinction due to complex ecological niche building and evolution.
Researchers are studying ancient plant fossils in the Arctic to understand how plants adapted to harsh climates and survived continental-drift events. By analyzing fossilized leaves, stems, and roots, scientists can infer climate conditions and predict where tropical forests once existed.
The total number of living species is uncertain due to uneven taxonomic coverage and statistical barriers. Alroy estimates that one in five currently used species names may be invalid, posing a critical issue for species at risk of extinction.
A new climate model proposes that geographic range changes and body size played a primary role in the extinction of large mammals during the Pleistocene era. The study suggests that as animals' geographic ranges decreased over time, their probability of extinction increased, especially in harsh environments.
A University of Cincinnati geologist has found that genera appearing after mass extinctions survived for longer periods than those that emerged at other times. The trend is attributed to their generalist characteristics, which allowed them to adapt to new geographic and environmental distributions.
A new study by Cardillo and Bromham found that medium-sized mammals were not at greater risk of extinction, contrary to the widely accepted theory. Instead, small mammal species are the least vulnerable to extinction due to high population densities and reproductive rates.
A study by Jonathan B. Losos and Dolph Schluter found that the diversity of lizard species on larger Caribbean islands is primarily due to evolutionary processes, rather than colonization and extinction. The researchers used the Caribbean lizard phylogeny to estimate the number of immigration and speciation events on the islands.
The extinction of the Miss Waldron's red colobus monkey is a warning sign of an impending ecological disaster in West Africa. The loss of large-bodied monkeys, including primates and forest antelope, threatens the region's biodiversity, highlighting the need for improved law enforcement, protected areas, and conservation education.
Researchers analyze three whale species to assess their recovery status and develop novel approaches to understanding decline. The study highlights the difficulties in determining when a population has recovered, emphasizing the need for data-driven conservation policy.
A Penn State biologist has identified 13 sunfish and sucker species as being at high risk of extinction, primarily due to their isolated distributions and limited geographical range sizes. The study found that larger body size is associated with a higher risk of extinction in sunfish, but not in suckers.
New research in Conservation Biology found that fragmented rainforests can lose biodiversity for a century. The study, led by Thomas Brooks, suggests that conserving the most-recently isolated fragments will save the greatest number of species from extinction.
Experts argue that conservation biologists should move away from simplistic predictive models based on population size to conserve species effectively. John Wehausen analyzed California bighorn populations and found that many small populations persisted for 50 years, contradicting predictions made by a 1990 model.
A recent study suggests that early human activity in Australia may have contributed to the extinction of most large animal species. The research team used dating techniques to determine that an ostrich-sized bird called Genyornis newtoni went extinct around 50,000 years ago.
Researchers used eggshells from an enormous flightless bird to determine the timing and cause of Australia's megafaunal extinction event. The study suggests human activities, such as burning, disrupted ecological balance, leading to the demise of over 85% of large animals.
The research proposes that cosmic ray jets can cause lethal amounts of muons, destroying the ozone layer and creating new species through rapid mutations. The theory explains key characteristics of massive extinctions and suggests ways to gather evidence for past catastrophes.
Researchers believe a sudden shift in vegetation, triggered by changing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and the dominance of C-4 grasses, led to a massive extinction event that wiped out many equine species. The long teeth of surviving horses allowed them to adapt to their environment, ensuring their survival.