Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves
Abstract Birds are among the best-studied animal groups, but their prehistoric diversity is poorly known due to low fossilization potential. Hence, while many human-driven bird extinctions (i.e., extinctions caused directly by human activities such as hunting, as well as indirectly through human-ass...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43445-2 |
| _version_ | 1797376922882146304 |
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| author | Rob Cooke Ferran Sayol Tobias Andermann Tim M. Blackburn Manuel J. Steinbauer Alexandre Antonelli Søren Faurby |
| author_facet | Rob Cooke Ferran Sayol Tobias Andermann Tim M. Blackburn Manuel J. Steinbauer Alexandre Antonelli Søren Faurby |
| author_sort | Rob Cooke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Birds are among the best-studied animal groups, but their prehistoric diversity is poorly known due to low fossilization potential. Hence, while many human-driven bird extinctions (i.e., extinctions caused directly by human activities such as hunting, as well as indirectly through human-associated impacts such as land use change, fire, and the introduction of invasive species) have been recorded, the true number is likely much larger. Here, by combining recorded extinctions with model estimates based on the completeness of the fossil record, we suggest that at least ~1300–1500 bird species (~12% of the total) have gone extinct since the Late Pleistocene, with 55% of these extinctions undiscovered (not yet discovered or left no trace). We estimate that the Pacific accounts for 61% of total bird extinctions. Bird extinction rate varied through time with an intense episode ~1300 CE, which likely represents the largest human-driven vertebrate extinction wave ever, and a rate 80 (60–95) times the background extinction rate. Thus, humans have already driven more than one in nine bird species to extinction, with likely severe, and potentially irreversible, ecological and evolutionary consequences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:45:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-96d0ba76dff042e184dcec5066c1a3cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:45:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-96d0ba76dff042e184dcec5066c1a3cb2023-12-24T12:23:56ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-12-0114111410.1038/s41467-023-43445-2Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction wavesRob Cooke0Ferran Sayol1Tobias Andermann2Tim M. Blackburn3Manuel J. Steinbauer4Alexandre Antonelli5Søren Faurby6UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh GiffordDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463Department of Organismal Biology, SciLifeLab, Uppsala UniversityCentre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College LondonBayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) & Bayreuth Center of Sport Science (BaySpo), University of BayreuthDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463Abstract Birds are among the best-studied animal groups, but their prehistoric diversity is poorly known due to low fossilization potential. Hence, while many human-driven bird extinctions (i.e., extinctions caused directly by human activities such as hunting, as well as indirectly through human-associated impacts such as land use change, fire, and the introduction of invasive species) have been recorded, the true number is likely much larger. Here, by combining recorded extinctions with model estimates based on the completeness of the fossil record, we suggest that at least ~1300–1500 bird species (~12% of the total) have gone extinct since the Late Pleistocene, with 55% of these extinctions undiscovered (not yet discovered or left no trace). We estimate that the Pacific accounts for 61% of total bird extinctions. Bird extinction rate varied through time with an intense episode ~1300 CE, which likely represents the largest human-driven vertebrate extinction wave ever, and a rate 80 (60–95) times the background extinction rate. Thus, humans have already driven more than one in nine bird species to extinction, with likely severe, and potentially irreversible, ecological and evolutionary consequences.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43445-2 |
| spellingShingle | Rob Cooke Ferran Sayol Tobias Andermann Tim M. Blackburn Manuel J. Steinbauer Alexandre Antonelli Søren Faurby Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves Nature Communications |
| title | Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves |
| title_full | Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves |
| title_fullStr | Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves |
| title_short | Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves |
| title_sort | undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human driven extinction waves |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43445-2 |
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