The Sixth Mass Extinction: fact, fiction or speculation?

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 97(2), P. 640 - 663

Published: Jan. 10, 2022

ABSTRACT There have been five Mass Extinction events in the history of Earth's biodiversity, all caused by dramatic but natural phenomena. It has claimed that Sixth may be underway, this time entirely humans. Although considerable evidence indicates there is a biodiversity crisis increasing extinctions and plummeting abundances, some do not accept amounts to Extinction. Often, they use IUCN Red List support their stance, arguing rate species loss does differ from background rate. However, heavily biased: almost birds mammals only minute fraction invertebrates evaluated against conservation criteria. Incorporating estimates true number invertebrate leads conclusion vastly exceeds we indeed witnessing start As an example, focus on molluscs, second largest phylum numbers known species, and, extrapolating boldly, estimate that, since around AD 1500, possibly as many 7.5–13% (150,000–260,000) ~2 million already gone extinct, orders magnitude greater than 882 (0.04%) . We review differences extinction rates according realms: marine face significant threats but, although previous mass were largely defined invertebrates, no biota reached same non‐marine biota. Island suffered far continental ones. Plants similar biases are hints lower rates. also those who deny it new trajectory evolution, because humans part world; even embrace it, with desire manipulate for human benefit. take issue these stances. Humans able Earth grand scale, allowed current happen. Despite multiple initiatives at various levels, most oriented (certain charismatic vertebrates excepted) specific actions protect every living individually simply unfeasible tyranny numbers. systematic biologists, encourage nurturing innate appreciation reaffirm message makes our world so fascinating, beautiful functional vanishing unnoticed unprecedented In mounting crisis, scientists must adopt practices preventive archaeology, collect document possible before disappear. All depends reviving venerable study taxonomy. Denying accepting doing nothing, or embracing ostensible benefit humanity, appropriate options pave way continue its sad towards

Language: Английский

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Extinction risk and threats to plants and fungi

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 2(5), P. 389 - 408

Published: Sept. 1, 2020

Societal Impact Statement There is increasing awareness that plants and fungi, as natural solutions, can play an important role in tackling ongoing global environmental challenges. We illustrate how understanding current projected threats to fungi necessary manage mitigate risks, while building of gaps bias assessment coverage essential adequately prioritize conservation efforts. highlight the state art science point methods future studies needed species extinction. Summary Plant fungal biodiversity underpin life on earth merit careful stewardship increasingly uncertain environment. However, biases documented extinction risks plant impede effective management. Formal risk assessments help avoid extinctions, through engagement, financial, or legal mechanisms, but most lack assessments. Available cover c. 30% (ThreatSearch). Red List overrepresents woody perennials useful plants, underrepresents single‐country endemics. Fungal overrepresent well‐known are too few infer status trends. Proportions assessed vascular considered threatened vary between datasets: 37% (ThreatSearch), 44% (International Union for Conservation Nature Threatened Species). Our predictions, correcting several quantifiable biases, suggest 39% all with other remain unquantified, may affect our estimate. Preliminary trend data show moving toward Quantitative estimates based understate likely loss: they do not fully capture impacts climate change, slow‐acting threats, clustering risk, which could amplify loss evolutionary potential. The importance estimation support existing emerging initiatives grow intensify. This necessitates urgent strategic expansion efforts comprehensive risk.

Language: Английский

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Resolving the SLOSS dilemma for biodiversity conservation: a research agenda

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 97(1), P. 99 - 114

Published: Aug. 28, 2021

ABSTRACT The legacy of the ‘SL > SS principle’, that a single or few large habitat patches (SL) conserve more species than several small (SS), is evident in decisions to protect while down‐weighting ones. However, empirical support for this principle lacking, and most studies find either no difference opposite pattern (SS SL). To resolve dilemma, we propose research agenda by asking, ‘are there consistent, empirically demonstrated conditions leading SL SS?’ We first review summarize ‘single small’ (SLOSS) theory predictions. found predictions assume between‐patch variation extinction rate dominates outcome extinction–colonization dynamic. This predicted occur when populations separate are largely independent each other due low movements, differ minimum patch size requirements, strong nestedness composition along gradient. even dynamic, can predict SL. occurs if extinctions caused antagonistic interactions disturbances, spreading‐of‐risk landscape‐scale across SS. also colonization higher immigration rates SL, larger pools proximity Theory considers change among predicts because beta diversity results mainly from greater environmental heterogeneity micro‐habitats within (‘across‐habitat heterogeneity’), and/or heterogeneous successional trajectories Based on our relevant theory, develop ‘SLOSS cube hypothesis’, where combination three variables – movement, role population persistence, across‐habitat SLOSS outcome. use hypothesis existing evidence, only all following true: importance heterogeneity. Testing prediction will be challenging, as it require many groups regions these hold. Each such study would compare gamma multiple landscapes varying number sizes patches. If not generally supported tests, then mechanisms extremely rare nature should abandoned.

Language: Английский

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Landscape‐scale habitat fragmentation is positively related to biodiversity, despite patch‐scale ecosystem decay

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(2), P. 268 - 277

Published: Dec. 5, 2022

Positive effects of habitat patch size on biodiversity are often extrapolated to infer negative fragmentation at landscape scales. However, such cross-scale extrapolations typically fail. A recent, landmark, patch-scale analysis (Chase et al., 2020, Nature 584, 238-243) demonstrates positive biodiversity, that is, 'ecosystem decay' in small patches. Other authors have already this result effects, higher a few large than many patches the same cumulative area. We test whether extrapolation is valid. find landscape-scale patterns opposite their analogous patterns: for sets with equal total area, species richness and evenness decrease increasing mean comprising even when considering only conservation concern. Preserving will, therefore, be key sustain amidst ongoing environmental crises.

Language: Английский

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Life-history adaptation under climate warming magnifies the agricultural footprint of a cosmopolitan insect pest

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Jan. 18, 2025

Abstract Climate change is affecting population growth rates of ectothermic pests with potentially dire consequences for agriculture and global food security. However, current projection models pest impact typically overlook the potential rapid genetic adaptation, making forecasts uncertain. Here, we predict how climate adaptation in life-history traits insect affects their on agricultural yields by unifying thermodynamics classic theory resource acquisition allocation trade-offs between foraging, reproduction, maintenance. Our model predicts that warming temperatures will favour towards maintenance coupled increased through larval evolution this strategy results both per capita host consumption, causing a double-blow yields. We find support these predictions studying thermal gene expression wide-spread pest, Callosobruchus maculatus ; 5 years under experimental an almost two-fold increase its predicted footprint. These show can offset projections emphasize need integrating mechanistic understanding into change.

Language: Английский

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Ecological time lags and the journey towards conservation success

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 4(3), P. 304 - 311

Published: Jan. 27, 2020

Language: Английский

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Combining land-sparing and land-sharing in European landscapes

Advances in ecological research/Advances in Ecological Research, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 251 - 303

Published: Nov. 24, 2020

Language: Английский

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The mismeasure of conservation

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 36(9), P. 808 - 821

Published: July 21, 2021

One of the basic purposes protected areas and other effective area-based conservation interventions is to achieve impact, sum avoided biodiversity loss promoted recovery relative outcomes without protection. In context Convention on Biological Diversity's negotiations post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, we find that targets for are framed overwhelmingly with measures fail inform decision-makers about impact risk diverting limited resources away from achieving it. We show predicting in space time feasible can provide basis global guidance jurisdictions develop shift investment priorities where be most effectively achieved.

Language: Английский

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Geographical, temporal and taxonomic biases in insect GBIF data on biodiversity and extinction

Ecological Entomology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 46(4), P. 718 - 728

Published: Feb. 23, 2021

1. Analysis of geographic patterns extinction must be accompanied by knowledge biodiversity patterns. Such analysis is not yet available in insects given three shortfalls. First, insect species' distribution poor. Second, inventories have taxonomic, geographical, temporal and habitat biases. Third, the accelerated loss species likely surpasses rate at which authors are discovering new species. 2. The examined state art geographical risk diversity, as well their relation with human footprint. 3. Insect records highly scattered. Geographically, incomplete worldwide, except for some areas Europe. Although description has increased last 40 years, this biased towards lepidopterans coleopterans. Comparably, IUCN‐listed also biases odonates lepidopterans. Likewise, aquatic been more intensively sampled considered IUCN than terrestrial Of high priority pristine but few records, whereas east coast United States, Europe Japan raise concerns that footprint exceeded richness registered.

Language: Английский

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A review of recent and future marine extinctions

Cambridge Prisms Extinction, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Abstract Between 20 and 24 marine extinctions, ranging from algal to mammal species, have occurred over the past 500 years. These relatively low numbers question whether sixth mass extinction that is underway on land also occurring in ocean. There is, however, increasing evidence of worldwide losses populations may foretell a wave oncoming extinctions. A review current methods being used determine loss biodiversity world’s oceans reveals need develop apply new assessment methodologies incorporate standardized metrics allow comparisons be made among different regions taxonomic groups, between extinctions events. Such efforts will contribute better understanding risk facing flora fauna, as well ways which it can mitigated.

Language: Английский

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