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Related Concept Videos

Threats to Biodiversity01:50

Threats to Biodiversity

There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
Habitat Fragmentation02:31

Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
Conservation of Declining Populations02:07

Conservation of Declining Populations

Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.
Conservation of Small Populations02:04

Conservation of Small Populations

Small population sizes put a species at extreme risk of extinction due to a lack of variation, and a consequent decrease in adaptability. This weakens the chances of survival under pressures such as climate change, competition from other species, or new diseases. Large populations are more likely to survive pressures such as these, as such populations are more likely to harbor individuals that have genetic variants that are adaptive under new stresses. Small populations are much less likely to...
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.Phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary relationships among these organisms. Scientists infer organisms’ common ancestry by evaluating shared morphological and genetic characteristics. Together, the fossil...

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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
10:20

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter

Published on: March 12, 2013

Multiple ecological pathways to extinction in mammals.

Ana D Davidson1, Marcus J Hamilton, Alison G Boyer

  • 1Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, DF 04510, MX. davidson@unm.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|June 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Biodiversity conservation is critical as mammal extinction risk is high. Unique ecological traits and interactions drive these risks, requiring tailored conservation strategies for diverse species.

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Published on: August 23, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Conservation Biology
  • Ecology
  • Mammalogy

Background:

  • Growing human populations and resource demands escalate biodiversity loss.
  • Approximately 25% of mammal species face extinction, with over 50% experiencing population declines.
  • Understanding ecological traits predicting extinction risk is a conservation science priority.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify interacting factors associated with mammal extinction risk.
  • To identify unique pathways to extinction based on species' lifestyles and traits.
  • To develop predictive rules for identifying species at greatest risk.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a novel database encompassing nearly 4,500 mammal species.
  • Employed decision-tree models to analyze multiple interacting extinction risk factors.
  • Quantified the relationship between ecological traits and extinction vulnerability.

Main Results:

  • Extinction risk correlates vary significantly across mammal species.
  • Distinct ecological pathways to extinction exist for species with different trait combinations.
  • Mammal extinction risk is relative and dependent on specific ecologies, irrespective of body size.

Conclusions:

  • Results enhance understanding of extinction processes in mammals.
  • Decision-tree analyses provide practical rules for identifying high-risk species.
  • This approach offers valuable insights for informing targeted conservation efforts.