Articles tagged with Extinction
A dolphin-like species of kentriodontid, which lived in the western North Pacific, may have gone extinct 14 million years ago. Global cooling is thought to be a key factor in their extinction.
Research suggests that rapid ocean warming could force plankton to move away from the tropics, negatively affecting marine food chains. The study used microfossils to track the history of zooplankton and found that tropical plankton populations lived in waters more than 2,000 miles from their current location 8 million years ago.
The study, conducted by the University of Malaga and others, analyzed the skeleton and brain architecture of Miracinonyx trumani, finding that it had retractable claws and was able to grapple with its prey like cougars. Its brain surface also showed differences from cheetahs, suggesting an intermediate form between the two species.
A genetic study reveals that the Eurasian lynx population in France is critically endangered, with a mere 38 healthy breeding individuals. The low genetic diversity poses a significant threat to the species' survival, and urgent action is needed to introduce new genetic material and protect the remaining population.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia found that the Bahama Warbler may only survive on Abaco island after Hurricane Dorian devastated its forest habitat on Grand Bahama. The study, published in Bird Conservation International, reveals that the bird prefers areas with taller, more mature trees and can adapt to burnt vegetation.
A University of Texas at Austin paleobiologist's new examination reveals the serious impact of reptile extinctions on island ecosystems. The study found that smaller islands lack a buffer when losing reptile species, leading to reduced ecosystem stability and increased vulnerability to collapse.
A group of international scientists warn that nuclear radiation would have catastrophic consequences on ecosystems, including widespread hunger, toxic contamination, and habitat destruction. The authors urge policymakers to take action to mitigate these risks.
Researchers found a unique, silent frog species in Tanzania's Ukaguru Mountains, highlighting the importance of conservation and understanding diverse ecosystems. The discovery provides critical information for protecting this critically endangered species and its habitat.
The study found that nearly 17% of bird eggs fail to hatch, with endangered species experiencing even higher failure rates. Conservationists can support the recovery of threatened bird species by understanding how different practices affect hatching rates.
Researchers have identified two new feather mite species associated with the endangered Laysan albatross in Japan. The study provides valuable insights into the ecological dynamics of these parasites and their impact on the bird population. The findings highlight the importance of conservation efforts to protect this species.
A study found white-tailed deer are harboring SARS-CoV-2 variants that were once widely circulated but no longer found in humans. The deer may have become infected through contact with humans, and the virus has adapted to the deer population, potentially making it more transmissible between them.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change has discovered that hybridization between species can help vulnerable populations adapt to climate change. Hybrid populations have been found to contain more genetic diversity, making them less susceptible to extinction due to environmental changes.
A new study by SFU researchers found that shark and ray populations in the northwest Atlantic are recovering after implementation of a U.S. fishery management plan in 1993. The study shows that declines have been halted in three species and six species are clearly rebuilding, thanks to regulation, enforcement, and monitoring.
A study by University of Reading ecologists suggests that social and economic factors drive the decline of large carnivore species, with habitat loss being less significant. The researchers propose a sustainable model of development to protect carnivores, but note that this may come at the cost of locking people into poverty.
Research by University of Queensland finds that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is not effectively protecting threatened habitats. Projects deemed 'significant' or 'not significant' have resulted in similar habitat destruction, highlighting inconsistencies in referral decision-making processes.
Researchers studied ancient sediment and microfossils to understand the Ocean Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2), a significant environmental disruption that choked oxygen from oceans. The team proposes a new hypothesis for the Plenus Cold Event, which briefly interrupted intense greenhouse temperatures due to ocean acidification.
Australian scientists developed virtual models to reveal a crucial link between natural flooding and the extinction risk of endangered southern bell frogs. The study found that modern river regulation dramatically increases extinction risk in smaller wetlands.
Researchers from Curtin University have identified six new plant species using photos shared on Facebook and iNaturalist. The newly described carnivorous sundews were discovered through images taken by nature enthusiasts and photographers, demonstrating the potential of citizen scientists to contribute to advances in taxonomic research.
A recent study reveals that recovering Madagascar's mammal species would take over 20 million years if currently threatened species go extinct, much longer than other islands.
A new study suggests that rodents on Hispaniola went extinct due to human activity, particularly European colonization. The research analyzed carbon-dating results for six hutia species, finding that seven species vanished within the last 2,000 years.
A new study estimates that Madagascar's unique modern mammal species could take 23 million years to evolve if the endangered ones go extinct, highlighting the urgent need for conservation action. The island's biodiversity is threatened by habitat loss and human activities.
A new book argues that the belief in human exceptionalism contributes to environmental degradation. The authors contend that this mindset is analogous to racism and has led to the extinction of many species. They propose a more inclusive approach, valuing all life forms equally and recognizing our place within the natural world.
A rare fossil discovery provides new insights into the diet of Microraptor, a bird-like dinosaur with four wings. The find suggests that Microraptor was an opportunistic predator feeding on various species, including fish, birds, lizards, and small mammals.
A new study by the University of Bath suggests that diving birds like penguins and puffins are more prone to extinction than non-diving birds. The research found that diving evolved independently 14 times and led to a loss of evolutionary diversity in these species.
Researchers analyzed fossil bed in Nevada's Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park to determine cause of mass extinction. They found evidence that ichthyosaurs died due to migration, not mass stranding or environmental toxins.
Researchers at Osaka University have successfully induced precursors of eggs and sperm in white rhinoceros cells, paving the way to possibly rebuilding northern white rhino populations. This breakthrough uses advanced assisted reproductive technologies to address a key challenge in conservation efforts.
The report highlights that European taxonomic expertise is declining, with nearly half of insect orders not covered by sufficient scientists. The lack of expertise correlates with GDP and is more pronounced in biodiverse countries, posing significant problems for species conservation.
A new study provides insights into which pressures cause damage to plant species, revealing that agricultural activities pose a significant threat across diverse ecosystems. The transformation of production practices can mitigate this risk, reducing extinction rates by up to 54% in Norway.
The expansion of forests in Central Europe, circa 11,000 years ago, led to the decline and eventual extinction of large Ice Age mammals such as mammoth and bison. The growth of trees deprived these herbivores of their main food source, grass.
A survey of 5,500 Brazilian and Italian students aged 14-16 found that nationality, social perceptions of science, and household income were more influential than religion in rejecting evolutionary theory. The study published in PLOS ONE reveals a significant gap in understanding geological time between Italian and Brazilian Catholics.
A study on extinct lemurs has found surprising similarities between ancient primate species and fossil humans. The 'monkey lemur' had novel anatomical features, including tooth chipping patterns similar to those of Neanderthals, suggesting a more complex diet than previously thought.
Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center have successfully generated primordial germ cells from stem cells, a world's first for a large mammalian species. This milestone aims to save the northern white rhino subspecies from extinction through lab-grown egg and sperm cells.
Scientists have identified two-million-year-old DNA fragments in northern Greenland's Ice Age sediment, providing insights into the past ecosystem and its potential to predict climate change. The discovery has sparked hopes that it could help academics build a picture of the DNA evolution of species still in existence today.
A new study has identified major barriers to conserving island ecosystems, including poor governance policies and lack of staff training. The research highlights the need for targeted funding and incentives to support frontline conservation workers in their efforts to protect these critical ecosystems.
Conservation efforts in Madagascar require balancing human development with protection of its rich biodiversity, which is threatened by extinction due to local species' uniqueness. Reforestation and community engagement are recommended strategies for addressing these challenges.
Researchers at UC challenge current timeline for mammoth extinction, citing limitations in dating environmental DNA. The team suggests that the slow decomposition of animals in arctic regions could explain how mammoth DNA is showing up thousands of years later than expected.
Researchers identify two southward migration events of Arctic ostracods in the Last Glacial Period, revealing the impact of East Asian winter monsoon on marine ecosystems. The study's findings help understand Asian monsoon dynamics and their effects on polar species distribution, highlighting the risk of extinction under climate change.
A new study by Imperial College London found that the most unique birds on the planet are also the most threatened. The researchers analyzed the extinction risk and physical attributes of 99% of all living bird species, revealing a significant link between uniqueness and threat status.
A new study suggests that human activities such as burning forests for introduced grazing species led to the disappearance of Madagascar's large animals. The researchers found a drastic increase in charcoal and domesticated species like zebu cattle around 1,000 years ago, coinciding with the extinction of megafauna.
A new study suggests that ray-finned fish diversified earlier than previously thought, accumulating small changes before the Carboniferous period. The fossil specimen Palaeoneiros clackorum shows features typical of younger species, indicating a more complex picture of species diversification.
Researchers developed a global indicator to measure marine biodiversity based on extinct fish populations, revealing worsening extinction risk since the 1950s. Implementing management measures can reduce fishing mortality and recover tunas and billfishes, but sharks continue to face threats due to overfishing.
A team of Berlin scientists has successfully grown stem cells and mini-brains from Sumatran rhino skin cells, paving the way for potential use in assisted reproduction. The next step is to create sperm cells that may help save the critically endangered species from extinction.
A new review highlights the lack of understanding about non-game native transplant (NGNT) fish in the US, which can have significant impacts on ecosystems. Researchers urge anglers and aquarium hobbyists to take steps to prevent NGNT invasions, such as not releasing bait fish into different watersheds.
A recent study predicts that over half of lesser-known species are in danger of disappearing. The researchers used machine learning to calculate the risk of extinction for thousands of data-deficient species, finding that as many as 85% of amphibians and around half of mammals and reptiles face an uphill battle.
Scientists have discovered a new species of scops-owl on Príncipe Island, characterized by its unique 'tuu' call. The population is estimated at around 1000-1500 individuals and is considered Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and the construction of a hydro-electric dam.
Researchers found that 90% of surveyed individuals did not recognize six out of seven endangered species. Increasing public knowledge and recognition can boost conservation support for these vulnerable animals. The study highlights the need for targeted marketing initiatives to change people's perception of lesser-known species.
Researchers created iPSCs from Okinawa rail, Japanese ptarmigan, Blakiston's fish owl, and Japanese golden eagle for conservation. The cells can differentiate into various cell types, providing a valuable resource for evaluating disease risks and pollution.
Researchers found that closely-related rhododendron species in China's Hengduan Mountains coexist by bursting into bloom at different times of the season. This diversification allows them to reduce competition for resources and pollinators, enabling their survival.
Researchers found four species – tigers, elephants, wild boars, and clouded leopards – showing increased populations in areas with human infrastructure. However, deforestation still impacted some species, particularly clouded leopards.
Researchers are using ancient DNA samples to study the relationship between humans and furbearers like beavers, mink, and muskrats. By analyzing genetic diversity lost due to the fur trade, scientists can inform current conservation efforts and guide future management schemes.
A new fossil specimen discovered in California reveals that the first saber-like canines evolved in an early nimravid around 40 million years ago. This finding highlights the quick diversification of carnivorous mammals after the middle Eocene climatic optimum.
Researchers at the University of Zurich have successfully decoded the genome of Aldabrachelys gigantea, one of the world's two remaining giant tortoise species. The reference genome provides crucial information for breeding programs in zoos to represent genetic diversity and conservation efforts across East Africa and Madagascar.
New research proposes that intense Andean volcanism around seven million years ago may have contributed to the Late Miocene Cooling Event, leading to the extinctions of ancient marine mammals. The study suggests that ash from ongoing volcanism could have poisoned the air or led to toxic algae blooms.
A study reveals that domesticated banana varieties contain traces of three unknown wild ancestors, which were likely hybrids between subspecies and may hold useful traits such as parthenocarpy. The researchers believe these 'mystery ancestors' might still be alive in the wild, particularly in regions including the Gulf of Thailand, Bor...
A new study re-examines fossil bones from the Nombe Rock Shelter in PNG Highlands and suggests that several large mammal species may have survived for another 40,000 years. The research challenges general assumptions about megafaunal extinction timelines and provides fresh insights into the natural history of PNG.
A large wingless wood-eating cockroach unique to Australia's Lord Howe Island has been rediscovered at the foot of a single Banyan tree. The species was thought extinct since the 1930s, but its genetic difference from offshore relatives suggests it may have survived due to co-evolution with ground-dwelling insects.
A University of Kansas paleontologist is using a 3-million-year-old fossil record to predict the future of Western Atlantic mollusk species. By analyzing the fossil record, the researcher hopes to identify biological and behavioral traits that gave some species evolutionary success and others extinction.
A study published in Science found that more than one-tenth of the world's terrestrial genetic diversity may already be lost due to climate change and habitat destruction. This could have serious implications for species' ability to adapt to climate change, highlighting the need for urgent conservation efforts.
A study co-authored by Amelia Villaseñor reveals that the extinction of megafauna in North America more than 10,000 years ago resulted in a reorganized, vulnerable ecosystem. The research found that surviving mammal communities were affected, with vacant niches and changes in dietary habits.
Researchers found that unique coloration makes songbirds more sought after as pets, threatening their populations and the aesthetic value of nature. The study identifies nearly 500 bird species at risk due to their colors, emphasizing the need for sustainable trade regulations.