The mass extinction of species on Earth will occur earlier than scientists predict. And the scale of the likely catastrophe is amazing: almost half of the animals are faced with a rapid decline in the population. Scientists have published a startling study that finds species extinction rates are twice as high as previously estimated.
Some groups of mammals, birds and insects have already experienced unexpected declines, according to a new analysis. Details are reported by the Daily Mail.
Daniel Pincheira-Donoso, evolutionary biologist, head of the macrobiodiversity laboratory at Queen’s University Belfast, and lead author of the study, said the rate of extinction is worrying. More than 700,000 species have been studied, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. Scientists tried to understand which populations are at risk of disappearing forever soon, and which ones still have a chance of survival.
The study showed really disastrous results: the population of 48% of the fauna is drastically reduced. Compared to preliminary data, an additional 33% of species not previously of concern are now in serious decline or on the verge of extinction. Previously, the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified 25% of known species as critically endangered.
Amphibians face the highest risk, according to the latest data. They are known to be very vulnerable to industrial chemicals, diseases and fungi that are now on the rise globally.
There is good news: fish and reptiles have shown stable population rates, they are not yet threatened with extinction.
The benefits and benefits of climate change, melting glaciers, industrial development and population growth are actually receiving too little biodiversity, scientists say.
“A tiny 3% of them are seeing population growth,” Pincheira-Donoso said.
Currently, species living in the tropics are the most affected – for them, climate change is a key factor. Birds are in a relatively favorable position – at least they can migrate.
Earlier, GLOBAL HAPPENINGS said that scientists had found out the cause of the mass extinction of insects on the planet.
Source: Obozrevatel
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