Articles tagged with Extinction
Climate change was a major factor in the extinction of 38 genera of large mammals in North America at the end-Pleistocene glacial-interglacial transition. The species' histories and adaptive tolerances were critical in their survival during earlier transitions, but not at the last transition when humans arrived.
Researchers found that plankton species shifted from relying on sunlight to capturing food and eating it after the asteroid impact, allowing them to survive. This adaptation suggests that the lack of light played a crucial role in killing off some species, but others adapted to thrive.
Researchers used fossil records to estimate extinction risk in marine bivalves, finding that many harvested species are widespread and tolerant of environmental changes. However, the study highlights the need for more complete data on human impact to inform conservation efforts.
A new study found that climate change is driving plant extinctions in the German Black Forest, with two species already extinct and many more declining. The researchers predict that 10 more specialist species will disappear by 2045 if conditions progress as expected.
A new gene expression study by McLean Hospital researchers identifies CREB as a molecular switch regulating fear and extinction. Targeting this gene in neurons may provide new insights and treatments for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
A three-year $591,000 NSF grant will help geoscientist Ben Gill solve the riddle of the Triassic mass-extinction event. The study aims to determine the longer-term timeline of changes in life and environment before and after the extinction, as well as assess the role of oxygen content changes in the oceans.
A new study reconstructs the Permian-Triassic boundary event, revealing that massive volcanic activities in Siberia triggered the extinction of 95% of ocean life. The team used fossil brachiopod shells to analyze isotopes and simulate Earth's processes, concluding that warming and acidification led to catastrophic consequences.
A recent study suggests that heightened human activities and a severe region-wide aridity spell contributed to the megafauna collapse in Madagascar. The researchers analyzed paleoclimate records from the Mascarene islands, revealing a 'double whammy' of stressors that may have doomed the extinct species.
A recent study combining climate modeling and fossil records reveals that climate change played a major role in the extinction of past Homo species. Despite technological advancements, these ancient humans were unable to adapt to changing temperatures, leading to their demise.
Research by Arizona State University professor Andrew Smith finds that American pikas are adapting well to warm temperatures, with healthy populations across their range. The species is able to tolerate a broader set of habitat conditions than previously understood, coping with heat by retreating to underground habitats.
Scientists have developed a world-first method to detect 'novel' communities of species, which are associated with increased extinction rates. Novel ecological communities are characterized by unique combinations of species that differ from past observations at the same site.
Researchers found that the loss of grasslands was instrumental in the extinction of many megafauna, including ancient humans like Homo erectus. Tropical forests dominated the region from present-day Myanmar to Indonesia, but began to give way to savannah environments around a million years ago.
Researchers found that the formation of the Isthmus of Panama led to a significant reduction in native South American mammal diversity, allowing North American immigrants to thrive. The resulting asymmetry has lasting effects on modern species distribution.
A study on fossils reveals that native South American mammals were disproportionately extinct, leading to a higher number of North American ancestors in the region. This biotic exchange event resulted from the formation of the Isthmus of Panama.
An automated assessment approach using machine learning algorithms identifies over 4,300 potentially threatened orchid species, highlighting conservation priority areas such as Madagascar, East Africa, and South-east Asia.
A new study warns that climate change could drive Komodo dragons to extinction due to habitat loss and sea-level rise. The research suggests that conservation strategies are not enough to protect the species in the face of global warming.
A recent study published in Conservation Letters reveals that conservation efforts have prevented the global extinction of at least 28 bird and mammal species since 1993. The species include the Puerto Rican Amazon, Przewalski's Horse, and Iberian Lynx, among others.
A new study finds that human impact is responsible for 96% of all mammal extinctions over the last 126,000 years. The research suggests that mammals were resilient to extreme fluctuations in climate and that current climate change poses a significant threat to species
The extinction of mites, crucial to ecosystems worldwide, is occurring at an alarming rate, threatening environmental health and species survival. Human activities such as habitat destruction and climate change exacerbate the issue.
American mastodons moved north from southern ranges in response to warming climate conditions and melting ice sheets. Genetic analysis suggests that these massive increases in territory made northern populations more vulnerable to extinction.
A recent study found that only 80 primate studies investigated the effectiveness of conservation interventions, highlighting a severe lack of evidence for effective conservation. The authors propose several actions to improve the evidence base, including increasing resources for intervention-effectiveness testing and publication.
Researchers have assembled a comprehensive checklist of Panama's tree species, including their estimated geographic ranges, providing a quantitative basis for assessing extinction risk and guiding conservation efforts. The study found that 16.2% of Panama's tree species had ranges less than 20,000 km2, signaling endangered status.
Researchers sequenced ancient DNA from 14 woolly rhinoceroses and found that the species remained stable and diverse until temperatures rose too high for them, leading to extinction around 18,500 years ago. Genetic mutations helped the animals adapt to colder weather, but climate change ultimately contributed to their demise.
A new study of over 44,000 species reveals herbivores have consistently faced the highest threat of extinction in modern times, past decades, and the late Pleistocene era. The research also shows that ocean predators are facing greater existential pressures than their land-dwelling counterparts.
A global study by Utah State University researchers suggests that plant-eaters, including megaherbivores, are the most at-risk group for extinction. Human activities have led to the disproportionate extinction of herbivores compared to predators since the late Pleistocene.
A new mouse lemur species, Microcebus jonahi, has been identified in northeastern Madagascar with a divergent lineage and smallest primate size. The discovery emphasizes the urgent need to address deforestation and habitat loss threatening Madagascar's unique biodiversity.
A new native Hawaiian land snail species has been discovered after a decade-long survey of the islands. The discovery brings a glimmer of hope for conservation efforts, with scientists describing a small candy-striped snail that shows pronounced variation in coloring and is less than two-tenths of an inch long.
Thanks to a decade-long collaboration, the global population of the critically endangered Chinese crested tern has more than doubled, from fewer than 50 adults to over 100. The project used social attraction techniques to lure adult seabirds to restoration sites with suitable nesting habitat.
Researchers reconstructed paleoclimate conditions from stalagmites in Apulia, Italy, finding minimal significant climate fluctuations. The findings challenge the climate change hypothesis as a cause of Neanderthal extinction.
A US study reveals that only 21 of 159 endangered species are adequately protected by existing areas, highlighting the need to increase conservation efforts. Private landowners can play a vital role in achieving conservation goals through conservation easements.
A recent study by the University of Exeter reveals that Extinction Rebellion activists are more likely to be new to protesting, with 10% of participants being first-time demonstrators. The research also shows that these protesters are predominantly middle-class and highly educated individuals, with a strong presence from southern England.
After the Chicxulub asteroid impact, life on the seafloor recovered with some changes to community structure within 700,000 years. The diversity and abundance of trace fossils responded primarily to variations in organic matter flux.
Andean condors flap their wings for only 1.3% of the total recorded flight time, with most time spent gliding and soaring. Flapping is most frequent during takeoffs and in early morning, when thermal updrafts form.
The article highlights the similarities between COVID-19 and environmental threats, emphasizing the need for early intervention to mitigate catastrophic effects. Delayed action will lead to increased mortality rates, climate risks, and species losses.
A new article validates the paradigm of multigenerational attritional loss of reproductive fitness (MALF) as a complete explanation for extinction. This shift from 'extinction' to 'evanescence' provides a clearer understanding of cause and effect, allowing for intervention in ongoing extinction events.
A team of researchers has found direct evidence that massive coal burning in Siberia led to the Permo-Triassic Extinction, resulting in up to 96% marine species and 70% terrestrial vertebrate extinctions. The study suggests that catastrophic global warming devastated life on Earth.
Experts demand a prominent target of 20 species extinctions per year to lower biodiversity loss rates and protect ecosystem services. The proposed target is comparable to the 2-degree climate target, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
A new study maps the world's terrestrial vertebrates and finds that human activity is impacting areas with large concentrations of evolutionarily distinct species. Regions like the Caribbean, Western Ghats of India, and Southeast Asia face unprecedented levels of devastation.
Research from Curtin University analyzed ancient DNA to understand the causes of animal extinctions during the Ice Age. The study found that while plant diversity recovered as climate warmed, large animal diversity did not recover, suggesting human hunting was a major factor in megafauna extinction.
The extinction rate is likely much higher than previously thought, with nearly 1,000 species at risk of extinction in the next two decades. Human pressures such as population growth, habitat destruction, and climate change are driving this accelerated loss of biodiversity.
More than 500 terrestrial vertebrate species are on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining. Human activities in tropical and subtropical regions have driven the collapse of regional biodiversity, threatening numerous species.
Researchers discovered that a brief ozone layer collapse led to the extinction of plant and freshwater aquatic life 360 million years ago. This finding has profound implications for our warming world today, as Earth's temperatures may reach comparable levels, potentially triggering a similar event.
A new algorithm developed by researchers at the University of Córdoba improves response capacity to forest fires. The tool predicts fire fighting difficulty and offers an extinction difficulty index, helping authorities prioritize management tasks and optimize resources.
A study suggests that Triassic igneous rocks in Brazil caused the release of light carbon isotopes, which may have contributed to the end-Triassic extinction. The findings imply a significant impact on the Earth's carbon cycle during this period.
Scientists analyzed extinct and living lions' genomes to determine when species diverged, finding modern Indian lions lack genetic diversity due to inbreeding. This reduction threatens the species' survival, making conservation efforts crucial.
The ability to extinguish fearful memories relies on DNA flexibility, which enables rapid changes in gene activity and RNA editing. Researchers found that the enzyme ADAR1, which converts Z-DNA back into B-DNA, plays a critical role in fear extinction.
A field experiment with a leaf galling fly and its parasitic wasps found that eliminating natural enemies constrains the fly's evolution toward only one optimal solution. This loss of genetic diversity may make it harder for the fly to adapt to changing environments.
A study by University of Queensland found that developers face challenges in finding enough land to offset biodiversity impacts, limiting global conservation goals. The research highlights the limitations of existing offset policies and the need for governments to account for land availability constraints.
The extinction of threatened marine megafauna species could result in a loss of 11% of the extent of ecological functions if current trajectories are maintained. Sharks are predicted to be the most affected, with losses of functional richness far beyond those expected under random extinctions.
A new study warns of amphibian conservation shortfalls due to climate change, highlighting the need for intelligent manipulation and management of water resources. Researchers found that extending temporary pool availability, restoring natural drying patterns, and releasing environmental flows can improve breeding outcomes.
A new formula built with mathematical modeling can accurately reconstruct the diversification history of taxa, even when fossils are rare or extinct, say Oregon and British Columbia researchers.
A new study by Stanford researchers links the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction to ocean deoxygenation, revealing severe and prolonged anoxic conditions. The findings suggest that low oxygen levels in modern oceans will put strain on many organism types, potentially leading to extinction.
A global group of scientists warns of the accelerating rate of insect extinction, which could have severe consequences for the environment. The team highlights practical steps individuals can take to help conserve insects, such as reducing lawn mowing frequency, avoiding pesticides, and supporting conservation organizations.
Bird species that exhibit novel foraging behaviors have reduced risk of extinction, according to a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The researchers found that the more innovative a species is, the lower its risk of extinction, with some species able to adapt to habitat destruction by finding new food sources.
Researchers propose that the evolution of large paranasal sinuses in cave bears led to a trade-off between sinus development and skull strength. This compromise may have limited their ability to adapt to changing environments and ultimately contributed to their extinction.
Land animal die-offs began hundreds of thousands of years before marine extinction, with terrestrial vertebrate species declining by up to 70%, while marine extinctions may have occurred over tens of thousands of years. The study suggests a lag between land and sea extinctions, potentially due to different causes.
A new study comparing introduced herbivore species to those of the past reveals that these introductions have restored many important ecological traits that have been lost for thousands of years. Introduced megafauna are now ecologically similar to their extinct relatives, making the world more similar to its pre-extinction state.
Researchers find that introduced herbivores, like Escobar's hippos, restore important ecological traits lost due to human impacts. This is achieved through the introduction of species that share traits with extinct ones, such as giant llamas and semiaquatic habitats.
Scientists found that crocodiles' reproductive biology and parental care may contribute to their resilience to mass extinctions. Unlike turtles, crocodiles select nesting sites carefully and bury nests for insulation, allowing them to cope with temperature fluctuations.
A new study found that climate change is likely to cause the extinction of the Greek Meadow Viper, with up to 90% of its habitat becoming uninhabitable by the end of the 2080s. Rising temperatures and aridification due to climate change are the primary threats to the species' survival.