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Earth’s wildlife is closer to mass extinction than we think

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Monday, May 29, 2023

A recent study has revealed that we are closer to a mass extinction of Earth’s wildlife than we think. Human destruction of global wildlife is occurring at an alarming rate. This is according to a new study published in the journal Biological Reviews last week. ALSO READ: Africa’s biodiversity: We can’t protect what we don’t know THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD’S BIODIVERSITY IS AT STAKE According to a report in the Jerusalem Post defaunation, defined as “the global-scale decline of animal biodiversity” is a disturbing consequence of human life on Earth, the authors of the peer-reviewed study found. This level of mass extinction is tracked by the International Union for the Nature’s (IUCN) Red List conservation categories. According to the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, approximately one quarter of the the world’s animal populations are under threat of extinction and about one percent have already been declared extinct. The study suggests that the IUCN report does not tell the full story. ALSO READ: Animal welfare organisations can apply for funding from Lottery again TRACKING POPULATIONS ARE AN INVALUABLE TOOL IN DETERMINING THE DECLINE IN SPECIES The authors of the study suggest that extinctions are the result of a progressive population decline which eventually reaches a “tipping point” after which time it cannot recover. ALSO READ: Cost of living crisis: How to save and still eat healthily “The circumstances that trigger the onset of these processes of decline can be multiple,” explained authors, “but they have in common an alteration in the interactions between environmental conditions and the traits that species have evolved to face those conditions – i.e., when patterns of natural selection change at rates that exceed a species’ ability to respond or adapt to such changes.” NOW IS A CRITICAL TIME TO INCREASE OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS The study also suggests that focusing on and publicising the rate of biodiversity decline must be a universal priority. ALSO READ: Cape Town dam levels: Latest numbers after heavy rainfall This article was originally published by Angeline Schwan. The post Earth’s wildlife is closer to mass extinction than we think appeared first on SAPeople - Worldwide South African News.

A recent study has revealed that we are closer to a mass extinction of Earth’s wildlife than we think. Human destruction of global wildlife is occurring at an alarming rate. This is according to a new study published in the journal Biological Reviews last week. ALSO READ: Africa’s biodiversity: We can’t protect what we don’t know THE […] The post Earth’s wildlife is closer to mass extinction than we think appeared first on SAPeople - Worldwide South African News.

A recent study has revealed that we are closer to a mass extinction of Earth’s wildlife than we think.

Human destruction of global wildlife is occurring at an alarming rate. This is according to a new study published in the journal Biological Reviews last week.

ALSO READ: Africa’s biodiversity: We can’t protect what we don’t know

THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD’S BIODIVERSITY IS AT STAKE

According to a report in the Jerusalem Post defaunation, defined as “the global-scale decline of animal biodiversity” is a disturbing consequence of human life on Earth, the authors of the peer-reviewed study found.

This level of mass extinction is tracked by the International Union for the Nature’s (IUCN) Red List conservation categories.

According to the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, approximately one quarter of the the world’s animal populations are under threat of extinction and about one percent have already been declared extinct.

The study suggests that the IUCN report does not tell the full story.

ALSO READ: Animal welfare organisations can apply for funding from Lottery again

TRACKING POPULATIONS ARE AN INVALUABLE TOOL IN DETERMINING THE DECLINE IN SPECIES

The authors of the study suggest that extinctions are the result of a progressive population decline which eventually reaches a “tipping point” after which time it cannot recover.

ALSO READ: Cost of living crisis: How to save and still eat healthily

“The circumstances that trigger the onset of these processes of decline can be multiple,” explained authors, “but they have in common an alteration in the interactions between environmental conditions and the traits that species have evolved to face those conditions – i.e., when patterns of natural selection change at rates that exceed a species’ ability to respond or adapt to such changes.”

NOW IS A CRITICAL TIME TO INCREASE OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS

The study also suggests that focusing on and publicising the rate of biodiversity decline must be a universal priority.

ALSO READ: Cape Town dam levels: Latest numbers after heavy rainfall

This article was originally published by Angeline Schwan.

The post Earth’s wildlife is closer to mass extinction than we think appeared first on SAPeople - Worldwide South African News.

Read the full story here.
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Related News

Bittersweet Findings – Scientists Discover Three New Marsupial Species, but They Are All Likely Extinct

Researchers from Curtin University have made a bittersweet discovery, identifying three new species of mulgaras, small Australian marsupials. While this finding expands our understanding of...

Some specimens of mulgaras used in this investigation from the Western Australian Museum Mammology collection. Credit: Photo by Jake Newman-Martin. Courtesy WA Museum Researchers from Curtin University have made a bittersweet discovery, identifying three new species of mulgaras, small Australian marsupials. While this finding expands our understanding of marsupials related to Tasmanian Devils and quolls, it is marred by the likelihood that these newly discovered species are already extinct. These mulgaras, known for their carnivorous nature, play a significant role in the ecosystems of arid and semi-arid regions in South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. Led by Curtin Ph.D. student Jake Newman-Martin, a collaboration with Dr. Kenny Travouillon from the Western Australian Museum, Associate Professor Natalie Warburton from Murdoch University, and Associate Professor Milo Barham and Dr. Alison Blyth both from Curtin analyzed preserved specimens of mulgaras from museums across the country, including bones found in caves which had previously not been identifiable. Importance of Mulgaras in Ecosystems Mr Newman-Martin said the research had identified six species of mulgaras, as opposed to the previously accepted two and it also concluded that a third previously named mulgara was indeed a valid species. However, four of the proposed species appeared to be already extinct. “Known as ‘ecosystem engineers’, mulgaras are immensely important to the regions they inhabit as they help control the population of insects and small rodents and assist in turning over the desert soils by burrowing,” Mr. Newman-Martin said. “By taking precise measurements of the skulls and teeth of preserved mulgara specimens, we were able to differentiate the species, the exact number of which had previously been the source of some debate. “Using the skulls and teeth of mulgaras had previously not been achievable because no study had documented and measured the bones in detail. Our study shows that mulgaras are actually far more diverse than previously thought.” Challenges Faced by Australian Marsupials Research co-author Dr Kenny Travouillon, Curator of Mammalogy at the Western Australian Museum, said while the discovery of more species of mulgaras may sound like good news, the fact they were likely already extinct was disconcerting. “While Australia is renowned for its diverse and unique marsupials, it also has the highest mammalian extinction rate in the world, with many species suffering from the impacts of environmental degradation and introduced predators such as foxes and cats,” Dr Travouillon said. “The most at-risk species are often overlooked small marsupials, which have suffered a great drop in their abundance and distribution since European colonization. The mulgaras may even represent the first recorded Australian extinction within the broader family of related animals (Dasyuridae) and are sadly disappearing with even less recognition than their now infamous ‘cousins’ the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine). It is likely that many more undescribed species have already become extinct before they could be known to science, highlighting the need to better understand Australian wildlife and the growing threats to our ecosystems.” Reference: “Taxonomic review of the genus Dasycercus (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) using modern and subfossil material; and the description of three new species” by Jake Newman-Martin, Kenny J. Travouillon, Natalie Warburton, Milo Barham and Alison J. Blyth, 30 November 2023, Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology.DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2023.2262083

Extinction
Animals
Science

Scientists Uncover a Golden Mole Species Thought to Be 'Possibly Extinct'

A scent-detecting dog led the team to the discovery in South Africa, and traces of mole DNA helped confirm it

A De Winton's golden mole. A member of the species hadn't been definitely seen since 1936. JP Le Roux Thanks to a sniffing dog and traces of DNA left in the sand, scientists have found a species of golden mole once thought to be “possibly extinct.” The researchers spotted the creature, called De Winton’s golden mole, along the west coast of South Africa. The findings “suggest that this species may in fact be widespread, but not necessarily abundant,” the researchers write in a November study published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation. With their search effort, which was conducted in 2021, the team detected four total golden mole species and improved the records of their distribution. “Though many people doubted that De Winton’s golden mole was still out there, I had good faith that the species had not yet gone extinct,” Cobus Theron, a co-author of the study and senior conservation manager for the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in South Africa, says in a statement from Re:wild, a conservation group that was a partner in the research. De Winton’s golden mole hadn’t been recorded since 1936 and is one of 21 species of golden mole. Ten of these species are listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and De Winton’s is listed as critically endangered and possibly extinct. Golden moles are blind, but they have strong navigational abilities and enhanced hearing that can detect prey underground. The mammals get their name from the iridescent oil they release that lubricates their fur as they dig through sand. However, their movement through dunes doesn’t produce traceable tunnels, making the moles even more difficult to detect. As diamond mining in South Africa threatens the habitat of De Winton’s golden mole, the study authors wanted to determine whether any members of the species still existed and map their distribution, along with that of three other species. To confirm a finding of De Winton’s golden mole, the team was going to need two things: a photo of the creature and DNA evidence. Since the critically endangered species looks like other golden moles, the genetic confirmation would be key, CNN’s Stephanie Bailey wrote in 2021. The researchers started by interviewing local community members in South Africa at locations where the animal might be living. They trained a border collie named Jessie to lie on the ground when she smelled a different golden mole species, since they didn’t have a sample of De Winton’s golden mole to train her on. When the team found golden mole tracks and burrows and Jessie didn’t lie down, that suggested De Winton’s golden moles might be in the area. At each site the dog identified, the team collected environmental DNA, or eDNA. This genetic material shed by organisms and left behind in the environment can be extracted from feces, mucus, skin, hair and carcasses. With advancements in collecting and sequencing eDNA, researchers have previously used it to study species that are endangered, rare or otherwise difficult to capture. It allows scientists to identify the presence of animals and study their movement across space and time without having to capture or even see them. During their 2021 field work, the researchers collected eDNA that didn’t match up with other golden mole species. But they weren’t able to confirm it was from De Winton’s golden mole until the following year, when a separate team sequenced the species’ DNA from a specimen at a museum in South Africa, per Re:wild. The researchers used the eDNA data to confirm the presence of four species of golden mole and map which areas they occupy along South Africa’s west coast. Since the 2021 expedition, the team has found evidence of four additional golden mole species, according to the Guardian’s Phoebe Weston. The researchers say it will be important to gather more data on the distribution and abundance of De Winton’s golden moles due to the threat presented by diamond mining. “We need to identify areas to focus our conservation [efforts]… and secure protected areas to make sure there’s still strongholds for these species,” JP Le Roux, a co-author of the study and former EWT field officer, says in a Re:wild statement. “A lot of the conservation focus is on the more charismatic and big animals that people see often, while the rare ones that probably need more help are the ones that need more publicity,” Esther Matthew, a co-author of the study and senior field officer at EWT, says in the statement. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Extinction
Animals
Nature

Costa Ricans Overwhelmingly Reject Shrimp Trawling, Survey Reveals

A vast majority of Costa Ricans have voiced their rejection of shrimp trawling. According to the National University (UNA), 91.3% of the population is against this practice. The study, published on Wednesday morning, indicated that a mere 8.7% of respondents were in favor of shrimp trawling. The “Perception of Islands and Living Conditions of Their […] The post Costa Ricans Overwhelmingly Reject Shrimp Trawling, Survey Reveals appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

A vast majority of Costa Ricans have voiced their rejection of shrimp trawling. According to the National University (UNA), 91.3% of the population is against this practice. The study, published on Wednesday morning, indicated that a mere 8.7% of respondents were in favor of shrimp trawling. The “Perception of Islands and Living Conditions of Their Populations” survey interviewed 1,448 individuals over 18 via telephone in early September. The results have a margin of error of 2.6% and a confidence level of 95%. The main reasons for opposing shrimp trawling include an adverse impact on diversity due to the trawling technique, destruction of the ecosystem and species, extinction of several species, and poor fishing techniques combined with a lack of regulations. In contrast, those in favor of shrimp trawling are motivated by job creation and economic benefits for fishermen (34.5% of supporters), the belief that fishermen need to make a living somehow (18.0%), responsible fishing with permits (17.3%), among other reasons. According to Mario Hernández, a researcher at the Institute of Population Studies (Idespo-UNA), 69.4% claimed to understand what trawl fishing entails, while 29.0% admitted they did not. Additionally, 42.3% believed that this technique allows the capture of fish, and only 39.1% correctly identified shrimp as the target catch. Hernández noted, “Studies from 2010 and 2022 had indicated complexities due to the high environmental and ecological impact from capture techniques, leading to the incidental catch of non-commercial but ecologically valuable species such as turtles, crabs, and mantas.” Other important findings Additional results emerging from the UNA study relate to the fact that 67.9% of respondents believe that the State does not adequately manage the seas and coasts, compared to 23.3% who believe it does, and 8.7% who either don’t know or did not respond. The researcher emphasized that Costa Rica has a national marine policy in place; however, the actions taken in this regard during the current administration are unknown. “During this administration, there has been no appointment of a deputy ministry for water and seas, as previous administrations have done, and there has been no determination of any sector,” stated Hernandez. The post Costa Ricans Overwhelmingly Reject Shrimp Trawling, Survey Reveals appeared first on The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate.

Extinction
Water

Still Alive! Golden Mole Not Seen for 80 Years and Presumed Extinct Is Found Again in South Africa

Researchers in South Africa say they have rediscovered a mole species that has an iridescent golden coat and the ability to “swim” through sand dunes after it hadn't been seen for more than 80 years and was thought to be extinct

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Researchers in South Africa say they have rediscovered a species of mole with an iridescent golden coat and the ability to almost “swim” through sand dunes after it hadn't been seen for more than 80 years and was thought to be extinct.The De Winton's golden mole -- a small, blind burrower with “super-hearing powers” that eats insects -- was found to be still alive on a beach in Port Nolloth on the west coast of South Africa by a team of researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the University of Pretoria.It had been lost to science since 1936, the researchers said.With the help of a sniffer dog, the team found traces of tunnels and discovered a golden mole in 2021. But because there are 21 species of golden moles and some look very similar, the team needed more to be certain that it was a De Winton's.They took environmental DNA samples -- the DNA animals leave behind in skin cells, hair and bodily excretions -- but had to wait until 2022 before a De Winton's DNA sample from decades ago was made available by a South African museum to compare. The DNA sequences were a match.The team's research and findings were peer reviewed and published last week.“We had high hopes, but we also had our hopes crushed by a few people,” one of the researchers, Samantha Mynhardt, told The Associated Press. “One De Winton’s expert told us, ‘you’re not going to find that mole. It’s extinct.’”The process took three years from the researchers' first trip to the west coast of South Africa to start searching for the mole, which was known to rarely leave signs of its tunnels and almost “swim” under the sand dunes, the researchers said. Golden moles are native to sub-Saharan Africa and the De Winton's had only ever been found in the Port Nolloth area.Two De Winton's golden moles have now been confirmed and photographed in Port Nolloth, Mynhardt said, while the research team has found signs of other populations in the area since 2021.“It was a very exciting project with many challenges,” said Esther Matthew, senior field officer with the Endangered Wildlife Trust. “Luckily we had a fantastic team full of enthusiasm and innovative ideas, which is exactly what you need when you have to survey up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) of dune habitat in a day.”The De Winton's golden mole was on a “most wanted lost species" list compiled by the Re:wild conservation group. Others on the list that have been rediscovered include a salamander that was found in Guatemala in 2017, 42 years after its last sighting, and an elephant shrew called the Somali sengi seen in Djibouti in 2019, its first recorded sighting since 1968.Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Extinction
Animals
Science

Back from the brink: sand-swimming golden mole, feared extinct, rediscovered after 86 years

Border collie Jessie sniffs out elusive species last seen in 1937 among dunes of South AfricaAn elusive, iridescent golden mole not recorded since before the second world war has been rediscovered “swimming” in the sand near the coastal town of Port Nolloth in north-west South Africa.The De Winton’s golden mole (Cryptochloris wintoni), previously feared extinct, lives in underground burrows and had not been seen since 1937. It gets its “golden” name from oily secretions that lubricate its fur so it can “swim” through sand dunes. This means it does not create conventional tunnels, making it all the harder to detect. Continue reading...

An elusive, iridescent golden mole not recorded since before the second world war has been rediscovered “swimming” in the sand near the coastal town of Port Nolloth in north-west South Africa.The De Winton’s golden mole (Cryptochloris wintoni), previously feared extinct, lives in underground burrows and had not been seen since 1937. It gets its “golden” name from oily secretions that lubricate its fur so it can “swim” through sand dunes. This means it does not create conventional tunnels, making it all the harder to detect.Sand-swimming golden mole burying into sand after rediscovery – videoIt is also blind, relying on its highly sensitive hearing, and bolting if it senses vibrations caused by movement above ground. It has been featured among the “most wanted” on a list of lost species compiled by the global conservation group Re:wild.The mole has now been rediscovered 86 years after its last sighting, thanks to a two-year search by conservationists and a border collie dog called Jessie, who was trained to sniff out golden moles. Their findings have been published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation.“It was very exciting to be part of a team looking for lost species. The cherry on the cake is finding one,” said Esther Matthew, senior field officer at the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).A De Winton’s golden mole on the dunes in South Africa. Photograph: JP Le Roux/re:wildResearchers from EWT and the University of Pretoria worked with Jessie the dog, who alerted them by lying down on the spot when she found the scent. Jessie was rewarded for her efforts by being allowed to play with her tennis ball.Each time she stopped, they collected a soil sample, which was later tested for environmental DNA (eDNA). This detects DNA from skin cells, urine, faeces and mucous, which the moles release as they move through the dunes. Using this technique, the team searched up to 18km (11.2 miles) of dunes in a day. They collected 100 samples of sand in total, and eventually encountered two De Winton golden moles.Tracks left by the mole, which can ‘swim’ through the sand. Photograph: JP Le Roux/re:wildField research was done in 2021, and the team thought they might have found the mole, but De Winton’s looks very similar to other golden moles, so the finding was not confirmed until samples were genetically sequenced.“Though many people doubted that De Winton’s golden mole was still out there, I had good faith that the species had not yet gone extinct,” said Cobus Theron, senior conservation manager at EWT and a member of the search team. “Now, not only have we solved the riddle, but we have tapped into this eDNA frontier where there is a huge amount of opportunity – not only for moles but for other lost or imperilled species.”There are 21 known species of golden moles, most living only in South Africa. The team found evidence of three other moles, including the Van Zyl’s golden mole, which is also endangered.Since the research was carried out in 2021, EWT has found four more populations of De Winton’s golden moles, and researchers believe Port Nolloth is home to a healthy population of them. However, the area is not protected and is threatened by diamond-mining.“​​We need to identify areas to focus our conservation [efforts] on … and secure protected areas to make sure there are still strongholds for these species,” said JP Le Roux, a former EWT field officer.Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield on X (formerly known as Twitter) for all the latest news and features

Extinction
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