Research suggests that mass extinctions could affect half of the animals we know so little about
Some of the animals we know today could simply disappear. That’s at least what research analyzing the consequences of the Anthropocene, a geological period marked by human influence on Earth, indicates. During this period, climate change and pollutants are present due to environmental degradation. A mass extinction could be among the devastating consequences
According to researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, humanity may face the sixth mass extinction. To confirm these doubts, scientists made predictions, thanks to computer models, about the risks of extinction of species that science is little known about.
mass extinction
The algorithm used in the Norwegian study published in Communication biology On these potential extinctions takes into account several factors such as geographic distribution, exposure to the effects of climate change and contact with human expansion. The model predicted that more than half of the mammals, insects, marine invertebrates and reptiles analyzed in the research are at risk of extinction. Among them, the most vulnerable group is amphibians, with an extinction probability of about 85%.
“Knowledge and assessment of what species exist, where they are found, and how threatened they are, is the basis for all conservation action and research that takes place after this knowledge is acquired,” Jan Bourget, project manager, explained in an interview with Vice.
The Norwegian team argues that this endangered species should be included in the decision-making process, since the little data obtained on it over the years has ignored its peculiarities in developing conservation recommendations, threatening the survival chances of these animals. Therefore, this situation can affect the balance of the ecosystems into which these animals are introduced, leading to significant repercussions for the environment.
“Our results suggest that we should try to include data-lacking species where possible, for decision-making, policy-making and biodiversity analysis,” Burgelt adds. The good news is that this extinction event can be avoided if the right steps are taken. The bad news is that we don’t know if that will happen.
Have you seen the new YouTube videos on Netcost-Security? Subscribe in the channel!
“Organizer. Social media geek. General communicator. Bacon scholar. Proud pop culture trailblazer.”