Articles tagged with Extinction
A Cornell-University of South Carolina-led report warns that warming oceans are driving North Atlantic right whales towards extinction. The calving rate has declined by 26% since 2010, with the population now estimated at just 356 whales.
The study analyzed fishery data and interviewed 155 artisanal fishers, identifying 37 species as overfished, including bluefish, dusky grouper, and crevalle jack. Smaller species like beltfish and gray triggerfish are increasingly being targeted.
A new study reveals that dams in California do not adequately replicate natural thermal patterns, making them incapable of supporting cold-water species effectively. Key cold-water conservation candidates include streams highly influenced by groundwater and places where water easily infiltrates the soil.
Researchers in Peru have estimated the population density of spectacled bears and identified an unknown hotspot, revealing over 10 bears per 100 square kilometers. The team also observed the first 'golden' bear with nearly golden fur, sparking further investigation into its unusual characteristics.
A new study predicts that the population of San Nicolas Island foxes will remain at a low risk of extinction due to their isolated habitat and relatively dry environmental conditions. The researchers suggest strategies such as biosecurity, restoration of habitats, and minimizing human-wildlife conflict to increase the foxes' resilience...
A recent study by Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute found that humans are responsible for the extinction of about 10%-20% of all avian species over the past 20,000-50,000 years. The majority of extinct species were large, flightless, and lived on islands.
A new study on coral reefs in Kiribati found that more polluted and high-traffic waters can handle extreme heat events better than remote reefs. The research raises questions about the effectiveness of marine protected areas in conserving coral reefs.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that shark diversity remained relatively constant during the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period. However, some groups of apex predators suffered selective extinctions, while others increased in diversity after the K-Pg boundary.
Warming oceans are causing fish to struggle with both survival and adaptation, leading to potential extinction. The research found that warmer waters reduce the size of fish, making it harder for them to relocate to more suitable environments, and also limit their ability to evolve and cope with changing temperatures.
Chapman's Pygmy Chameleon, one of the world's rarest chameleons, has been found in surviving patches of forest in Malawi. The species was feared extinct due to forest loss and habitat fragmentation, leading to reduced genetic diversity and increased extinction risk.
A biologist is studying anole lizard diversity in Caribbean islands to identify rare species at risk of extinction. The research will inform strategies to conserve vulnerable species by examining niche characteristics such as diet, habitat, and temperature interactions.
Removing invasive barred owls from western US coastlines had a significant positive effect on the survival of northern spotted owls, arresting population declines. The treatment also allowed spotted owls to disperse into previously occupied territories.
The study found that streams with high detritivore diversity have higher rates of decomposition, but also discovered that the loss of these organisms can slow down this process. The researchers concluded that if detritivores continue to decline, ecosystems will struggle to sustain life due to reduced nutrient recycling.
A recent study reveals that the rise and fall of elephants was influenced by ecological diversity, global temperatures, and changes in ecosystems. The research team found that proboscideans were once more diverse with over 30 species coexisting in the same ecosystem.
A new study challenges the idea that early humans hunted prehistoric elephants, mammoths, and mastodonts to extinction. Instead, it suggests that climate change played a significant role in their decline over millions of years.
Dinosaurs were in decline 76 million years ago due to extinctions outpacing speciations, with herbivores being particularly affected. The asteroid impact may have been the final blow, triggered by a 7°C drop in global temperature and changes in oceanic circulation patterns.
Researchers have successfully resurrected the extinct Gould's mouse, a significant finding given the high rate of native rodent extinction in Australia. The study revealed that the species' genetic diversity did not guarantee its survival, underscoring the rapid decline of populations in the face of invasive species, habitat destructio...
A study of extinct Australian rodents reveals that European colonization drastically impacted native species diversity. Genetic data shows that reduced genetic diversity did not guarantee protection from extinction in the face of rapid population decline.
A new study suggests that the first COVID-19 case arose in China between early October and mid-November 2019, with November 17 being the most likely date of origin. The analysis reveals a more rapid spread than previously confirmed cases imply, with the disease spreading globally by January 2020.
Researchers found that larger amphibian females lay more eggs, reducing extinction risk, while large mammals bear fewer offspring per birth. This challenges the long-held theory that larger species are more at risk of extinction.
Researchers found that 75% of medicinal plant services are linguistically-unique and known to one language, highlighting the critical role of indigenous languages in preserving medicinal knowledge. The study suggests that language loss will be even more critical to medicinal knowledge extinction than biodiversity loss.
A new study suggests that excluding individuals with harmful mutations and selecting those from multiple source populations can improve the success of translocation programs for threatened species. Computer simulations show that this approach can minimize inbreeding depression and ensure population survival.
A new study reveals that human impact on freshwater ecosystems is causing unprecedented rates of species loss, threatening entire ecosystems. The predicted recovery time for biodiversity decline may be longer than 12 million years, as seen in previous mass extinction events.
Researchers have identified a specific brain region that facilitates recovery from long-term traumatic memories, known as the nucleus reuniens. By enhancing its activity, they found that long-lasting traumatic memories can be facilitated towards safety.
A study of 43,000 reptile bone remains found that European colonization led to mass extinctions of 50-70% of snakes and lizards on the Guadeloupe Islands. The Indigenous populations had no impact on local reptile diversity.
Scientists monitor two Ethiopian bird species, White-tailed Swallow and Ethiopian Bush-crow, to understand their response to climate change. The study found that both species are at severe risk of extinction in the next 50 years as their ranges become unsuitable for survival.
Researchers found that medium-sized terrestrial species suffered the greatest losses, implicating introduced mammalian predators as primary drivers. The study highlights the impact of colonial agriculture and habitat destruction on biodiversity.
Early human arrival on islands may not have contributed to insular fauna extinction. However, anthropogenic activity increased during the Holocene Epoch, accelerating extinctions.
A study analyzing 588 fossil land vertebrate specimens from the Karoo Basin, South Africa, found high extinction rates initially co-occurred with low origination rates. The ancient mammal relative Lystrosaurus experienced population peaks both before and after the end-Permian extinction event.
Scientists have found that the Earth's largest mass extinction event took place on land, occurring over a period of millions of years. Researchers analyzed fossil data from four-legged animals in what is now South Africa and discovered that life on land underwent a longer period of extinctions compared to the oceans.
A new study reveals that gray wolves adapted their diet over thousands of years, shifting from a reliance on horses during the Pleistocene to caribou and moose today. The researchers found that horses accounted for half of the ancient wolf diet, while modern diets consist mainly of caribou and moose.
A new metric, STAR, measures the impact of human activities on biodiversity, revealing that conserving 9% of land could reduce global extinction risk by half. By abating threats in key areas, companies and countries can report reductions in species loss and contribute to the global biodiversity target.
The Pyrenean Ibex's decline was driven by a combination of hunting and infectious diseases, which further reduced its already low genetic diversity. The species' eventual extinction highlights the importance of historical biological collections for genetic analyses of extinct species.
A University of Guam review finds conservation projects have lacked publishable results, revealing the need for adaptive management. The study highlights the importance of including published research scientists in funded conservation projects to generate new knowledge and inform decisions.
Researchers found that climate change poses a significant extinction threat to Tidestrom's lupine, a plant with only seven known populations. A 1°C temperature increase is projected to reduce individual plants by 90%, with local extinction likely for one population.
A global summary of species functions revealed that more than half of species perform less than 20% of the group's functions, with only a few species performing unique roles. This study highlights the importance of conserving functionally unique species to maintain ecosystem services and human well-being.
A review of 126 marine mammal species reveals that accidental capture, climate change, and pollution are driving declines. Conservation efforts have saved some species, but many more are at risk, including the vaquita porpoise and North Atlantic right whale.
Researchers propose that plants evolved for long-distance seed dispersal and rapid growth as adaptations for megafaunal mutualisms. These traits allowed them to thrive in human-dominated landscapes, contributing to the global dominance of certain plant families. The study suggests that exaptation traits played a key role in the domesti...
Researchers have found that Oldowan and Acheulean stone tool technologies are likely to be tens of thousands of years older than previously thought. Using statistical modeling techniques, the study estimates the origins of these early stone tools at 2.617-2.644 million years ago for Oldowan and 1.815-1.823 million years ago for Acheulean.
The review paper highlights extinction risks of cycad species in U.S. controlled lands due to geopolitical boundaries. Coordinating conservation measures across multiple governments and countries is necessary to mitigate these risks.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that even if ecosystem services themselves aren't directly threatened, they can become vulnerable to secondary extinctions when surrounding species go extinct. This highlights the need to protect key species that support these services to mitigate indirect threats.
A new report finds that western US butterfly populations are declining rapidly due to fall warming trends, which induce physiological stress and affect development and hibernation preparation. Conservation efforts in urban areas with constant water flow will be crucial in preventing further declines and extinction.
The study reveals that despite local coral loss, global extinction risk is lower for most species due to broad geographic ranges and huge population sizes. The researchers estimate that only a few dozen of the 80 considered species are threatened with extinction.
Researchers have found asteroid dust inside a Chicxulub impact crater, confirming the link between asteroid impacts and dinosaur extinction. The discovery seals the deal, with elevated levels of iridium and other asteroid elements matching those in geologic layers worldwide.
The study documents the discovery of Purgatorius fossils, which are estimated to be 65.9 million years old, providing insight into primates' evolution and diversification after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. The findings suggest that primates likely emerged by the Late Cretaceous period and lived alongside large dinosaurs.
Researchers have developed a new type of photonic crystal fiber with a hybrid Kagome-tubular lattice structure, achieving ultralow loss and single-mode operation. The fiber's cladding design significantly reduces confinement loss and ensures robust single-mode performance.
New research suggests climate change, not overhunting by humans, led to the extinction of mammoths and other megafauna in North America. The findings, based on a new statistical modelling approach, show that drastic temperature swings around 13,000 years ago initiated the decline and extinction of these massive creatures.
Three of five sawfish species are critically endangered due to easily caught rostra in fishing nets and valuable fins in the shark fin trade. Conservation efforts focus on eight countries where protections can save the species; adequate protections exist in Australia and the US for some remaining populations.
Researchers use innovative 3D imaging technology to analyze joint mobility in living animals and apply patterns to reconstruct extinct dinosaurs' walking and running cycles. The study provides new perspectives on understanding animal biomechanics and its applications in evolutionary transitions.
A recent study reveals Florida's delayed response to a coral disease epidemic resulted in massive coral deaths, with key findings highlighting the importance of early intervention and effective management strategies.
A new study led by Universität Bayreuth researchers found that future climate-related species extinction could be less severe than predictions based only on current global warming trends. The research team used palaeobiological and climate science models to investigate how long-term temperature trends and short-term changes affect spec...
A global team of scientists warns that humans face a catastrophic future due to environmental degradation, population growth, and political inaction. The researchers highlight the urgent need for concrete changes to mitigate these threats, including ending fossil fuel use and empowering women.
A team of researchers studied over 3,500 leaf fossils from Patagonia, Argentina, and found a surprising 92% species-level extinction rate in the region. The study suggests that despite high extinction rates, South American plant families largely survived and grew more diverse during the Paleogene period.
Researchers found that mass extinctions of land-dwelling animals, including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds, coincide with major asteroid impacts and devastating volcanic outpourings of lava. The study suggests that these periodic events may be triggered by comets and are linked to the Earth's orbit in the Galaxy.
Researchers report a shift towards endemism in Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a fatal transmissible cancer threatening the species' extinction. The study suggests DFTD may go extinct or coexist with populations, reducing the threat of extinction.
A new study using AI to examine the fossil record found that mass extinctions rarely create productive periods of species evolution, or 'radiations,' contrary to traditional ideas. Instead, the study suggests that many remarkable times of evolutionary radiation occurred when life entered new environments.
A clear goal is needed to stop human-driven species extinctions, but current drafts risk failure. Scientists propose an ambitious, unambiguous goal with quantifiable elements to measure progress and prevent perverse outcomes.
A team of researchers has rediscovered the Endodonta christenseni land snail, previously presumed extinct, on the remote Hawaiian island of Nihoa. The discovery highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect this species and its habitat from human disturbances and climate change.
A study led by UCL researchers found that flightlessness evolved in birds at least four times as often as expected. With 166 extinct species lacking flying ability, the findings show how human-driven extinctions have biased our understanding of evolution, altering most ecosystems worldwide.
A University of Stirling study found a decrease in self-reported sea turtle egg consumption and poaching of adult sea turtles after a community-based campaign. However, the increase in anti-poaching law enforcement may have impacted results.