New research published in Molecular Ecology and Nature Communications reveals that human activity has led to the extinction of approximately 1,400 bird species since the Late Pleistocene period, which began around 120,000 years ago. This number is twice as high as previously estimated. The study, involving researchers from UCL, UCL Biosciences, UCL Life Sciences, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and Gothenburg University, suggests that the true magnitude of human-driven bird extinctions may be even larger. The findings underscore the urgent need for action to prevent a potential mass extinction of bird species within a few centuries.
Our new study @Nature synthesizes time series on insects from sites across the world. Building on our previous work @idiv, we show that abundant species are declining faster than rarer species (richness is also declining). Expertly led by @PunksInScience https://t.co/e4ZhtLPfRE
Humans may have led to the extinction of nearly 1,500 bird species since the Late Pleistocene—double that of previous estimates, according to a @NatureComms paper. https://t.co/BFvEY6Ukxo https://t.co/xdrUpLVEQV
This study finds that colouration of dragonfly assemblages in the UK varies in response to seasonal changes in solar radiation, suggesting a link between colour-based thermoregulation & insect phenology https://t.co/iy1Oe44SZd @BioChangeTUM @redkite79 @StefanPinkert3 @Dirk_Zeuss
The number of human-driven bird extinctions is likely larger than we think. This study combines recorded extinctions w/ fossil record estimates to suggest that ~1400 bird species have gone extinct since the Late Pleistocene https://t.co/jRVjZ3Dd8Q @RobertSCCooke @UK_CEH @GGBC_GU
Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves https://t.co/bWA7JsC0zf
Mass extinction 'in one or a few centuries' without action. 'The estimated bird extinction rate tallied with recent estimates of mollusc extinctions.. “a useful way of approximating the extinction crisis”. https://t.co/BmgkBur9pt https://t.co/CzsJSalFaZ
"About 12% of the world’s bird species have been driven to extinction by human activity, new research has found – double previous estimates. 1,430 bird species have died out since the Late Pleistocene period, which started about 120,000 years ago." https://t.co/z2cUchUvZL
Over the last 130,000 years, humans have caused the extinction of around 1,400 bird species - twice as many as previously thought - according to a study involving Prof @TimBlackburn66 @uclbiosciences @UCLLifeSciences and @UK_CEH as well as @goteborgsuni https://t.co/Ozuarv5Ttm
Interested in what can island birds tell us about the contribution of local and regional past ecological disruptions to species' demographic histories? 🐦🏝️🌋❄️ ➡️ Now out in Molecular Ecology! https://t.co/JszYb5grZn