#extinction

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#biodiversity

What's Happening to Protect Nature? This Month, There's a Major Push.

The largest UN biodiversity conference will address severe global biodiversity decline; urgent action is needed to prevent an impending extinction crisis.

The global effort to genetically map 70,000 animal species

The Vertebrate Genomes Project seeks to sequence genomes of 70,000 species to preserve genetic diversity and answer fundamental biological questions.

The scale of the biodiversity crisis laid bare

Ehrlich's book argues for urgent conservation to counteract significant global wildlife decline and extinctions.

Adorable animal is on brink of extinction thanks to climate change

Sloths face potential extinction due to global warming, unable to adapt to changing temperatures and conserve energy due to their low-calorie diet.

Scientists say 'sixth great extinction' is preventable if we act now

To prevent mass extinction, prioritizing 1.2% of land can save 75% of plant and animal species.

The small team caring for some of the last of Hawaii's native snail species

The rapid extinction of Hawaii's snail species highlights the broader crisis of biodiversity loss due to human actions.

What's Happening to Protect Nature? This Month, There's a Major Push.

The largest UN biodiversity conference will address severe global biodiversity decline; urgent action is needed to prevent an impending extinction crisis.

The global effort to genetically map 70,000 animal species

The Vertebrate Genomes Project seeks to sequence genomes of 70,000 species to preserve genetic diversity and answer fundamental biological questions.

The scale of the biodiversity crisis laid bare

Ehrlich's book argues for urgent conservation to counteract significant global wildlife decline and extinctions.

Adorable animal is on brink of extinction thanks to climate change

Sloths face potential extinction due to global warming, unable to adapt to changing temperatures and conserve energy due to their low-calorie diet.

Scientists say 'sixth great extinction' is preventable if we act now

To prevent mass extinction, prioritizing 1.2% of land can save 75% of plant and animal species.

The small team caring for some of the last of Hawaii's native snail species

The rapid extinction of Hawaii's snail species highlights the broader crisis of biodiversity loss due to human actions.
morebiodiversity
#human-impact

Mystery behind extinction of large animals 50,000 years ago is SOLVED

Humans, not climate change, likely caused the extinction of 'megaherbivores' like woolly mammoths.

Mammoth It's What Was for Dinner

Early Americans hunted mammoths and other large mammals, significantly contributing to their extinction at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch.

The African elephant is heading for EXTINCTION, study warns

African elephants are facing a severe population decline due to human activities, with forest populations down 90% and savanna populations down 70%.
The comprehensive study underscores the widespread nature of this extinction crisis, affecting nearly all surveyed populations across 37 countries.

Humans and climate change drove the woolly rhino to extinction

Human hunting and climatic swings played a significant role in the extinction of the woolly rhinoceros and other late Pleistocene megafauna.

Mystery behind extinction of large animals 50,000 years ago is SOLVED

Humans, not climate change, likely caused the extinction of 'megaherbivores' like woolly mammoths.

Mammoth It's What Was for Dinner

Early Americans hunted mammoths and other large mammals, significantly contributing to their extinction at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch.

The African elephant is heading for EXTINCTION, study warns

African elephants are facing a severe population decline due to human activities, with forest populations down 90% and savanna populations down 70%.
The comprehensive study underscores the widespread nature of this extinction crisis, affecting nearly all surveyed populations across 37 countries.

Humans and climate change drove the woolly rhino to extinction

Human hunting and climatic swings played a significant role in the extinction of the woolly rhinoceros and other late Pleistocene megafauna.
morehuman-impact
#conservation

Palm-sized birds' extinct in the wild since 1988 make monumental' return to island

The Guam kingfisher, once extinct in the wild, has been reintroduced after 35 years through dedicated conservation efforts.

Opinion | Saving Endangered Animals Will Help Save Us, Too

Conservation efforts require passion and love, especially in the face of climate change and extinction crises.

Last population of mammoths survived a severe population bottleneck

The study challenges the belief that Wrangel Island mammoths went extinct due to inbreeding and genetic defects.

The hedgehog is heading for EXTINCTION, scientists warn

Hedgehog populations are declining significantly and face potential extinction due to habitat loss and human activities.

Half of migratory species face extinction due to human activities

Humans are driving migratory animals towards extinction.
Nearly half of the listed migratory species are experiencing population decline.

Celebrities are coughing up millions to bring back the dodo. This could end very badly | Arwa Mahdawi

A gene-editing company aims to resurrect the extinct dodo, highlighting issues of ethical revival and conservation funding.

Palm-sized birds' extinct in the wild since 1988 make monumental' return to island

The Guam kingfisher, once extinct in the wild, has been reintroduced after 35 years through dedicated conservation efforts.

Opinion | Saving Endangered Animals Will Help Save Us, Too

Conservation efforts require passion and love, especially in the face of climate change and extinction crises.

Last population of mammoths survived a severe population bottleneck

The study challenges the belief that Wrangel Island mammoths went extinct due to inbreeding and genetic defects.

The hedgehog is heading for EXTINCTION, scientists warn

Hedgehog populations are declining significantly and face potential extinction due to habitat loss and human activities.

Half of migratory species face extinction due to human activities

Humans are driving migratory animals towards extinction.
Nearly half of the listed migratory species are experiencing population decline.

Celebrities are coughing up millions to bring back the dodo. This could end very badly | Arwa Mahdawi

A gene-editing company aims to resurrect the extinct dodo, highlighting issues of ethical revival and conservation funding.
moreconservation
#neanderthals

Scientists discovered a unique line of Neanderthals and it's helping solve the mystery of humanity's last great extinction

The discovery of a new Neanderthal lineage helps to explain their extinction circumstances compared to modern humans.

Study reveals why humans outlived Neanderthals

Humans provided prolonged childcare to offspring, potentially contributing to the extinction of Neanderthals.

Scientists discovered a unique line of Neanderthals and it's helping solve the mystery of humanity's last great extinction

The discovery of a new Neanderthal lineage helps to explain their extinction circumstances compared to modern humans.

Study reveals why humans outlived Neanderthals

Humans provided prolonged childcare to offspring, potentially contributing to the extinction of Neanderthals.
moreneanderthals
#ecology

Woolly mammoth went extinct due to HAY FEVER, study claims

Woolly mammoth extinction may be linked to allergies from plant pollen affecting their sense of smell and mating.

Who's the Dodo Now? A Famously Extinct Bird, Reconsidered.

The dodo, often seen as inept, was actually agile and successful for millions of years before its extinction due to human impact.

Woolly mammoth went extinct due to HAY FEVER, study claims

Woolly mammoth extinction may be linked to allergies from plant pollen affecting their sense of smell and mating.

Who's the Dodo Now? A Famously Extinct Bird, Reconsidered.

The dodo, often seen as inept, was actually agile and successful for millions of years before its extinction due to human impact.
moreecology

Two precious' specimens of extinct New Zealand huia bird up for auction in England

Preserved huia bird specimens from the early 20th century will be auctioned in London, highlighting their rarity and historical significance.

Mr Greedy, the penguin progenitor of more than 200 chicks, dies aged 33

Mr Greedy, an African penguin, significantly contributed to his species' survival, leaving behind 230 descendants and living far beyond his expected lifespan.

Today in History: September 1, Titanic wreckage found

The Titanic's wreckage was discovered on September 1, 1985, revealing significant historical and cultural insights into the infamous disaster.
#fossils

Tardigrade Fossils Reveal When Water Bears' Became Indestructible

Tardigrades survived the most significant mass extinction due to their unique ability for cryptobiosis, which allows them to endure extreme environmental conditions.

Fossils Show Giant Predatory Sea Scorpions Were Distance Swimmers

Ancient sea scorpions, known as eurypterids, served as apex predators over 400 million years ago and could travel across oceans.

Elephant-Sized Apes That Once Roamed the Land Mysteriously Vanished. Now, Scientists Have an Answer.

Giant apes the size of elephants called Gigantopithecus blacki went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago due to their inability to adapt to a rapidly-changing climate.
This new study published in Nature used multiple techniques to study fossils and other evidence from cave sites in China to solve the long-standing mystery of the apes' demise.

Tardigrade Fossils Reveal When Water Bears' Became Indestructible

Tardigrades survived the most significant mass extinction due to their unique ability for cryptobiosis, which allows them to endure extreme environmental conditions.

Fossils Show Giant Predatory Sea Scorpions Were Distance Swimmers

Ancient sea scorpions, known as eurypterids, served as apex predators over 400 million years ago and could travel across oceans.

Elephant-Sized Apes That Once Roamed the Land Mysteriously Vanished. Now, Scientists Have an Answer.

Giant apes the size of elephants called Gigantopithecus blacki went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago due to their inability to adapt to a rapidly-changing climate.
This new study published in Nature used multiple techniques to study fossils and other evidence from cave sites in China to solve the long-standing mystery of the apes' demise.
morefossils

Snore of Value: Bitcoin's Sleepwalk Towards Stasis

Evolution is a reactive process and can lead to extinction if rapid changes occur.

Ancient predatory worms have scientists rethinking the history of life on Earth : Short Wave

Predatory worms with unique features lived in the water 500 million years ago, surprising researchers by resurfacing in the fossil record after a supposed extinction.
#climate-change

'It seemed crazy:' Whale species extinct in the Atlantic spotted off the coast of Nantucket

Climate change effects evident in whale presence
Gray whales presence in Atlantic linked to climate change

How the largest primate to roam Earth vanished

Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest known primate, went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago due to its inability to adapt to a changing climate.
The changing climate led to a reduction in the availability of fruit, the main food source for Gigantopithecus, causing them to turn to less nutritious fallback foods.
The dietary changes resulted in reduced mobility and foraging range, leading to a decline in population and eventual extinction.

A Quarter of Freshwater Fish Are at Risk of Extinction, a New Assessment Finds

A quarter of the world's freshwater fish are at risk of extinction, according to a comprehensive assessment by the IUCN.
Pollution and dams and water extraction are the biggest threats to freshwater fish.

One in five migratory species faces extinction, UN report warns

One in five migratory species is threatened with extinction and 44% are seeing their populations decline.
Humans are the main cause of the threats to migratory species, through habitat destruction, hunting, pollution, and climate change.

Species declared extinct in the US after hurricanes ravaged the South

Climate change-induced sea level rise causes local extinction of Key Largo tree cactus in Florida Keys.

'It seemed crazy:' Whale species extinct in the Atlantic spotted off the coast of Nantucket

Climate change effects evident in whale presence
Gray whales presence in Atlantic linked to climate change

How the largest primate to roam Earth vanished

Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest known primate, went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago due to its inability to adapt to a changing climate.
The changing climate led to a reduction in the availability of fruit, the main food source for Gigantopithecus, causing them to turn to less nutritious fallback foods.
The dietary changes resulted in reduced mobility and foraging range, leading to a decline in population and eventual extinction.

A Quarter of Freshwater Fish Are at Risk of Extinction, a New Assessment Finds

A quarter of the world's freshwater fish are at risk of extinction, according to a comprehensive assessment by the IUCN.
Pollution and dams and water extraction are the biggest threats to freshwater fish.

One in five migratory species faces extinction, UN report warns

One in five migratory species is threatened with extinction and 44% are seeing their populations decline.
Humans are the main cause of the threats to migratory species, through habitat destruction, hunting, pollution, and climate change.

Species declared extinct in the US after hurricanes ravaged the South

Climate change-induced sea level rise causes local extinction of Key Largo tree cactus in Florida Keys.
moreclimate-change
#migratory-species

The threat of extinction is getting worse for migratory animals

More than one in five migratory species are at risk of extinction.
Human activity is the main cause of the decline in migratory species populations.

Earth on track for mass extinction? 20% of migratory animals at risk

22% of migratory species are threatened with extinction, and almost half are declining in numbers
Overexploitation and habitat loss are the biggest threats to migratory species, caused by human activity

From turtles to fruit bats, migratory species increasingly under threat, says UN

More than a fifth of migratory species under international protection are threatened with extinction.
97% of sharks, rays, and sturgeons on the list are facing a high risk of extinction.

Migratory wildlife in shocking decline, UN report reveals DW 02/12/2024

Nearly half of the species listed under the convention are experiencing population declines, and 97% of fish species are threatened with extinction.
Habitat loss and overexploitation are the biggest threats to migratory species.

The threat of extinction is getting worse for migratory animals

More than one in five migratory species are at risk of extinction.
Human activity is the main cause of the decline in migratory species populations.

Earth on track for mass extinction? 20% of migratory animals at risk

22% of migratory species are threatened with extinction, and almost half are declining in numbers
Overexploitation and habitat loss are the biggest threats to migratory species, caused by human activity

From turtles to fruit bats, migratory species increasingly under threat, says UN

More than a fifth of migratory species under international protection are threatened with extinction.
97% of sharks, rays, and sturgeons on the list are facing a high risk of extinction.

Migratory wildlife in shocking decline, UN report reveals DW 02/12/2024

Nearly half of the species listed under the convention are experiencing population declines, and 97% of fish species are threatened with extinction.
Habitat loss and overexploitation are the biggest threats to migratory species.
moremigratory-species

Think Emmanuel Macron has problems? Wait until the French find out about the existential threat to camembert | Emma Beddington

Camembert cheese is facing potential extinction due to a lack of genetic diversity in the bacteria required for its production.
The industrial cheesemaking process has led to the reliance on a single strain of bacteria that cannot reproduce with other strains.
#dinosaurs

Asteroid or supervolcano? New study says both wiped out the dinosaurs

Repeated volcanic winters weakened the dinosaurs for 200,000 years before their extinction.
The Chicxulub meteor impact delivered the final blow to the dinosaurs.
The study supports the 'press-pulse extinction model' and provides clarity on the debate over the cause of dinosaur extinction.

Scientists Just Discovered a Second "Chicken from Hell" Dinosaur - And Reopened a Major Debate

Debate has persisted for years about whether dinosaurs were already declining before the asteroid hit Earth 66 million years ago.
Some argue that a perceived decrease in dinosaur diversity may be due to biases in fossil preservation and accessibility.

Asteroid or supervolcano? New study says both wiped out the dinosaurs

Repeated volcanic winters weakened the dinosaurs for 200,000 years before their extinction.
The Chicxulub meteor impact delivered the final blow to the dinosaurs.
The study supports the 'press-pulse extinction model' and provides clarity on the debate over the cause of dinosaur extinction.

Scientists Just Discovered a Second "Chicken from Hell" Dinosaur - And Reopened a Major Debate

Debate has persisted for years about whether dinosaurs were already declining before the asteroid hit Earth 66 million years ago.
Some argue that a perceived decrease in dinosaur diversity may be due to biases in fossil preservation and accessibility.
moredinosaurs

That giant extinct shark, Megalodon? Maybe it wasn't so mega

Scientists are studying the Megalodon to understand its biology and the role large carnivores play in marine ecosystems.
New research suggests that the Megalodon may have been more slender than previously thought, which would alter our understanding of its behavior and impact on the ocean ecosystem.

Kew Gardens reveals its top 10 plants and fungi discovered in 2023

Scientists from Kew Gardens discovered 74 plants and 15 fungi new to science last year.
At least one of these species is already extinct.
#gigantopithecus-blacki

How the gigantopithecus, the largest ape that ever walked on Earth, became extinct

Giant ape Gigantopithecus blacki disappeared between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago, according to a new study.
Dating the extinction of a species is crucial in understanding the causes of their disappearance.

What Killed the Largest Known Ape Species Ever?

Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest known primate, went extinct due to a change in its forest habitat and a lack of nutritious food.
The extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki occurred earlier than previously thought, before the forest thinned out and in response to a changing plant community.

How the gigantopithecus, the largest ape that ever walked on Earth, became extinct

Giant ape Gigantopithecus blacki disappeared between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago, according to a new study.
Dating the extinction of a species is crucial in understanding the causes of their disappearance.

What Killed the Largest Known Ape Species Ever?

Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest known primate, went extinct due to a change in its forest habitat and a lack of nutritious food.
The extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki occurred earlier than previously thought, before the forest thinned out and in response to a changing plant community.
moregigantopithecus-blacki

California Grizzlies Got More Carnivorous. Blame Humans.

Before Europeans arrived, California grizzlies had a vegan diet.
Newspapers portrayed California grizzlies as meat-loving monsters, leading to their extinction.

The Endangered Species Act by the numbers

The Endangered Species Act has protected over 1,600 species and prevented an estimated 291 extinctions since its passage in 1973.
The law has been consistently underfunded and attacked by industry, leading to the extinction of some species even after ESA listing.

U.S. moves to protect wolverines as climate change melts their mountain refuges

The North American wolverine will receive threatened species protections due to climate change.
Wolverines rely on mountain snowpack, which is shrinking due to warming temperatures.
Wolverines join other animals at risk from climate change, including polar bears and crocodiles.

A biodiversity catastrophe': how the world could look in 2050 unless we act now

Continued destruction of nature can result in major shocks to food supplies and safe water.
Inaction on biodiversity loss may lead to extinctions, invasive species, plastic pollution, and disappearing forests.
Conservation efforts are facing opposition due to culture wars in many countries.

Experts find rare skull of Australia's 50,000-year-old 'giant goose'

Unearthed skull reveals appearance of ancient 'mega-bird' Genyornis newtoni.
#inbreeding

Freak event probably killed last woolly mammoths, scientists say

Genetic analysis indicates a possible freak event, not inbreeding, led to the extinction of the last woolly mammoths on a remote Arctic island 4,000 years ago.

4000 Years After Woolly Mammoths Went Extinct, We Might Finally Know Why

Deciphering the genome of the Wrangel Island mammoth reveals it wasn't genetically destined for extinction despite inbreeding challenges.

Freak event probably killed last woolly mammoths, scientists say

Genetic analysis indicates a possible freak event, not inbreeding, led to the extinction of the last woolly mammoths on a remote Arctic island 4,000 years ago.

4000 Years After Woolly Mammoths Went Extinct, We Might Finally Know Why

Deciphering the genome of the Wrangel Island mammoth reveals it wasn't genetically destined for extinction despite inbreeding challenges.
moreinbreeding

The mystery of the last mammoths: Neither the climate, nor human hunting nor genetics explain their extinction

The study of the woolly mammoth genome from Wrangel Island provides insights into their population growth and eventual mysterious extinction.

The Last Stand of the Woolly Mammoths

Mammoths survived on Wrangel Island for thousands of years, founded by a small herd but ultimately went extinct due to genetic disorders and inbreeding risks.

'Lost' birds list will aid in protecting species | Cornell Chronicle

Scientists release first comprehensive list of 'lost' birds not documented in over a decade.
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