Sixth Mass Extinction

[David B. Benson]

A thread about the Age of Extinction.

We start with
'The smell will knock you off your feet': mass mussel die-offs baffle scientists
Emily Holden
2019 Oct 14
The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/14/the-smell-will-knock-you-off-your-feet-mass-mussel-die-offs-baffle-scientists

Not just lack of oxygen, it seems.

[David B. Benson]

Nearly all Madagascar's lemur species 'face extinction'
Kelly MacNamara
2020 Jul 09
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-07-lemurs-whales-nearing-extinction.html

Other species mentioned, including the North Atlantic Right Whale

[David B. Benson]

Earth's 'lost species' only tip of the iceberg
Helen Briggs
2020 Sep 05
BBC News
www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54034134

Many more to come unless ...

[David B. Benson]

Protecting half the planet is the best way to fight climate change and biodiversity loss --- we've mapped the best places to do it
Greg Asner
2020 Sep 08
The Conversation
theconversation.com/protecting-half-of-the-planet-is-the-best-way-to-fight-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-weve-mapped-the-key-places-to-do-it-144908

Almost there.

[David B. Benson]

World wildlife plummets more than two-thirds in 50 years: index
Patrick Galey
2020 Sep 10
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-09-world-wildlife-plummets-two-thirds-years.html

Similarly the oceans.

[David B. Benson]

World fails to meet a single target to stop destruction of nature --- UN report
Patrick Greenfield
2020 Sep 15
The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/15/every-global-target-to-stem-destruction-of-nature-by-2020-missed-un-report-aoe

Although some progress was accomplished.

[David B. Benson]

Nature Dying By A Thousand Cuts
James Conca
2020 Sep 18
Forbes
www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2020/09/18/nature-dying-by-a-thousand-cuts/

Using it up at faster than replacement rate, much faster.

[David B. Benson]

Nature up close: the massive decline of bird populations
Judy Lemberg
2019 Oct 07
CBS NEWS
www.cbsnews.com/news/nature-up-close-the-massive-decline-of-bird-populations/

Except ducks and geese in the USA, due to Ducks Unlimited actions to improve habitat.

h/t to Western Hiker at Real Climate

[David B. Benson]

Researchers find half of budgets for species conservation go for monitoring, not protecting
Stephen Reid
2020 Sep 23
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-09-species.html

Analysis paralysis.

[David B. Benson]

Planetary 'safety net' could halt wildlife loss and slow climate breakdown
Niko Kommenda
The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2020/sep/29/planetary-safety-net-could-halt-wildlife-loss-and-slow-climate-breakdown-aoe

Over 50% of land. Nothing stated about oceans.

[David B. Benson]

Amazon study shows big conservation gains possible for imperilled freshwater ecosystems
2020 Oct 01
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-10-amazon-big-gains-imperilled-freshwater.html

Freshwater species conservation underemphasized.

[David B. Benson]

Pesticides and food scarcity dramatically reduce wild bee population
Amy Quinton
2020 Oct 06
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-10-pesticides-food-scarcity-wild-bee.html

Study of blue orchard bees.

[David B. Benson]

First human settlers on islands caused extinctions
Jules Bernstein
2020 Oct 06
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-10-human-settlers-islands-extinctions.html

Some species have survived on neighboring islands.

[David B. Benson]

A continent ablaze: why fires are tearing across South America
Uki Goni et al.
2020 Oct 09
The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/09/a-continent-ablaze-why-fires-are-tearing-across-south-america

In Argentina, the news contains more about the fires in Australia than the substantial fires in Argentina itself. Of course, nothing from the usual major news sources.

[David B. Benson]

'Real and imminent' extinction risk to whales
Helen Briggs
2020 Oct 09
BBC News
www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54485407

Also dolphins.

[David B. Benson]

Restoring 30% of the world's ecosystems in priority areas could stave off extinctions and absorb CO2
2020 Oct 14
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-10-world-ecosystems-priority-areas-stave.html

Not prime farmland. Impressive CO2 figures.

[huon]

Oct 15, 2020 4:53:54 GMT 9.5 David B. Benson said:

Restoring 30% of the world's ecosystems in priority areas could stave off extinctions and absorb CO2
2020 Oct 14
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-10-world-ecosystems-priority-areas-stave.html

Not prime farmland. Impressive CO2 figures.

The following article includes a global map of the best restoration targets:

www.courthousenews.com/to-save-earth-start-here/

[David B. Benson]

Nine insect-eating bird species in Amazon in sharp decline, scientists find
Daniel Grossman
2020 Oct 26
The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/26/nine-insect-eating-bird-species-in-amazon-in-sharp-decline-scientists-find

Climate change blamed.

[David B. Benson]

Humans pushing North Atlantic right whale to extinction faster than believed
Leyland Cecco
2020 Oct 30
The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/north-atlantic-right-whale-extinction-faster-than-believed

Canadian government doing a little.

[David B. Benson]

Climate change and food demand could shrink species' habitats by almost a quarter by 2100
2020 Nov 06
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-11-climate-food-demand-species-habitats.html

So the populations shrink by at least as much.

[David B. Benson]

Humans are changing fire patterns, and it's threatening 4,403 species with extinction
Luke Kelly et al.
2020 Nov 23
The Conversation
theconversation.com/humans-are-changing-fire-patterns-and-its-threatening-4-403-species-with-extinction-150532

Not only too much wildfire but some places too little.

[David B. Benson]

Three Rare Cat Species in Southeast Asia May Go Extinct Unless Better Protected
Carly Naim
2020 Nov 23
EcoWatch
www.ecowatch.com/rare-cat-species-asia-threatened-2649016989.html

Includes South Asia, I think.

[David B. Benson]

Clean Air Act saved 1.5 billion birds, study shows
2020 Nov 24
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-11-air-billion-birds.html

But still 3 billion lost in the USA.

[David B. Benson]

It's not too late to save 102 species at risk of extinction
Lou Copus-Bosshart
2020 Nov 28
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-11-late-species-extinction.html

Frazier River in British Columbia.

[David B. Benson]

Flightless birds more common globally before human driven extinctions
2020 Dec 02
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-12-flightless-birds-common-globally-human-driven.html

Not mentioned, but still a few flightless parrots.

[David B. Benson]

Historical photo of mountain of buffalo skulls documents animals on the brink of extinction
Danielle Tashereau Mamers
2020 Dec 02
The Conversation
theconversation.com/historical-photo-of-mountain-of-bison-skulls-documents-animals-on-the-brink-of-extinction-148780

Animal bones brought to a plant to make bone china.

[David B. Benson]

With Fewer Than 2,000 Butterflies Counted So Far, Western Monarch Takes An Astonishing Step Closer To Extinction
Eric Simmons
2020 Dec 04
Bay Nature
baynature.org/2020/12/04/with-fewer-than-2000-butterflies-counted-western-monarch-takes-an-astonishing-step-closer-to-extinction/

Neonicotinoids suspect.

[David B. Benson]

Who Will Save the Slender Yoke-Moss?
Sabrina Imbler
2020 Dec 09
Hakai Magazine
www.hakaimagazine.com/news/who-will-save-the-slender-yoke-moss/

Just the one patch in the Americas.

[David B. Benson]

Global warming is faster than evolution
2020 Dec 14
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-12-global-faster-evolution.html

Zebrafish study

[David B. Benson]

Fire-resistant tropical forest on brink of disappearance
2020 Dec 18
Phys.org
phys.org/news/2020-12-fire-resistant-tropical-forest-brink.html

In two islands of Indonesia.