Extinction in the Anthropocene

Turvey, Samuel T.; Crees, Jennifer J.

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.040

Cited by 112 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…We are facing an era, the Anthropocene, characterized by unprecedented rates of human-driven biodiversity loss [1]. According to IUCN, 10%-30% of the amphibian, bird, and mammal species of the world are threatened by extinction [2], and extinction rates could be at least five times higher in the near future than in the recent past if current threats persist [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conserving the Diversity of Ecological Interactions: The Role of Two Threatened Macaw Species as Legitimate Dispersers of “Megafaunal” Fruits

et al. 2020

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The extinction of ecological functions is increasingly considered a major component of biodiversity loss, given its pervasive effects on ecosystems, and it may precede the disappearance of the species engaged. Dispersal of many large-fruited (>4 cm diameter) plants is thought to have been handicapped after the extinction of megafauna in the Late Pleistocene and the recent defaunation of large mammals. We recorded the seed dispersal behavior of two macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus and Anodorhynchus leari) in three Neotropical biomes, totaling >1700 dispersal events from 18 plant species, 98% corresponding to six large-fruited palm species. Dispersal rates varied among palm species (5%–100%). Fruits were moved to perches at varying distances (means: 17–450 m, maximum 1620 m). Macaws also moved nuts after regurgitation by livestock, in an unusual case of tertiary dispersal, to distant perches. A high proportion (11%–75%) of dispersed nuts was found undamaged under perches, and palm recruitment was confirmed under 6%–73% of the perches. Our results showed that these macaws were legitimate, long-distance dispersers, and challenge the prevailing view that dispersal of large-fruited plants was compromised after megafauna extinction. The large range contraction of these threatened macaws, however, meant that these mutualistic interactions are functionally extinct over large areas at a continental scale.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conserving the Diversity of Ecological Interactions: The Role of Two Threatened Macaw Species as Legitimate Dispersers of “Megafaunal” Fruits

et al. 2020

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“…Others propose that encroachment of early Homo into the carnivore guild, and the attendant increase in kleptoparasitism and competition for herbivore prey, drove the extinction of several carnivoran lineages (Faurby et al, 2020; Lewis and Werdelin, 2007; Werdelin and Lewis, 2013b), with the ensuing trophic cascade leading to widespread environmental changes (Fortelius et al, 2016). Such ideas have been around for decades (Clark, 1959; Martin, 1966), but in recent years they have become increasingly cited in the ecological and conservation biology literature (e.g., Hoag and Svenning, 2017; Johnson et al, 2017; Malhi et al, 2016; Turvey and Crees, 2019). Surprisingly—especially in light of the massive and contentious literature surrounding the late Quaternary extinctions (Barnosky et al, 2004; Koch and Barnosky, 2006)—this has happened almost entirely in the absence of discussion or debate (but see Faith et al, 2018; Faurby et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The uncertain case for human-driven extinctions prior toHomo sapiens

Faith

Rowan

et al. 2020

Quat. res.

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A growing body of literature proposes that our ancestors contributed to large mammal extinctions in Africa long before the appearance of Homo sapiens, with some arguing that premodern hominins (e.g., Homo erectus) triggered the demise of Africa's largest herbivores and the loss of carnivoran diversity. Though such arguments have been around for decades, they are now increasingly accepted by those concerned with biodiversity decline in the present-day, despite the near complete absence of critical discussion or debate. To facilitate that process, here we review ancient anthropogenic extinction hypotheses and critically examine the data underpinning them. Broadly speaking, we show that arguments made in favor of ancient anthropogenic extinctions are based on problematic data analysis and interpretation, and are substantially weakened when extinctions are considered in the context of long-term evolutionary, ecological, and environmental changes. Thus, at present, there is no compelling empirical evidence supporting a deep history of hominin impacts on Africa's faunal diversity.

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“…Increased rates of extinction of wildlife populations in association with human activity is the hallmark of the Anthropocene (Pereira et al, 2010;Richardson et al, 2020). Humans greatly impact wildlife by disrupting the distribution and behavior of animals globally (Gaynor et al, 2018;Tucker et al, 2018), and human footprint on the landscape is a key threat to wildlife across virtually all taxonomic groups (Turvey and Crees, 2019). The relation between wildlife and the available space is paramount for conservation (Rosenzweig and Ziv, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%