scholarly journals The ecology of plant extinction: rates, traits and island comparisons

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Gray
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Red List ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Extinction Rate ◽  
Background Rate ◽  
Extinction Rates ◽  
Sixth Mass Extinction ◽  
Plant Extinction

AbstractAlthough there is increasing evidence for a sixth mass extinction, relatively few plants have been officially declared extinct (<150 are categorized as Extinct on the IUCN Red List). The Red List, although the data are neither perfect nor comprehensive, is perhaps the most reliable indicator of extinction and extinction threat. Here, data collated from the Red List, of Extinct plant species and of Critically Endangered plant species with populations in decline, are examined to address three questions: (1) How do background, continental, and island plant extinction rates compare? (2) Are biological and physical island parameters associated with plant extinction? (3) Are any plant traits associated with extinction and if so do these differ between islands and continents? The background rate for plant extinction is estimated to be 0.05–0.13 E/MSY (extinctions per million species-years) and the Red List data are above these background rates and also above a higher extinction rate of 0.15 E/MSY. The data indicate that plant extinctions are dominated by insular species. The Red List extinction data are associated with lower competitive ability and lower climate change velocities, and anthropogenic factors. Analyses using only Critically Endangered species whose populations are in decline (arguably the species most at risk of extinction in the near future) largely mirrors this pattern and suggests that drivers of plant extinction may have an inertia that could last well into the future.

scholarly journals The dynamics underlying avian extinction trajectories forecast a wave of extinctions

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 20190633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie J. Monroe ◽  
Stuart H. M. Butchart ◽  
Arne O. Mooers ◽  
Folmer Bokma
Keyword(s):  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Extinction Rate ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Extinction Rates ◽  
Historical Times ◽  
Risk Categories

Population decline is a process, yet estimates of current extinction rates often consider just the final step of that process by counting numbers of species lost in historical times. This neglects the increased extinction risk that affects a large proportion of species, and consequently underestimates the effective extinction rate. Here, we model observed trajectories through IUCN Red List extinction risk categories for all bird species globally over 28 years, and estimate an overall effective extinction rate of 2.17 × 10 −4 /species/year. This is six times higher than the rate of outright extinction since 1500, as a consequence of the large number of species whose status is deteriorating. We very conservatively estimate that global conservation efforts have reduced the effective extinction rate by 40%, but mostly through preventing critically endangered species from going extinct rather than by preventing species at low risk from moving into higher-risk categories. Our findings suggest that extinction risk in birds is accumulating much more than previously appreciated, but would be even greater without conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Plant extinction excels plant speciation in the Anthropocene

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Guo Gao ◽  
Hui Liu ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
Xiao-Ling Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Plant Evolution ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
The Past ◽  
Plant Extinction ◽  
Warming World

Abstract Background In the past several millenniums, we have domesticated several crop species that are crucial for human civilization, which is a symbol of significant human influence on plant evolution. A pressing question to address is if plant diversity will increase or decrease in this warming world since contradictory pieces of evidence exit of accelerating plant speciation and plant extinction in the Anthropocene. Results Comparison may be made of the Anthropocene with the past geological times characterised by a warming climate, e.g., the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) 55.8 million years ago (Mya)—a period of “crocodiles in the Arctic”, during which plants saw accelerated speciation through autopolyploid speciation. Three accelerators of plant speciation were reasonably identified in the Anthropocene, including cities, polar regions and botanical gardens where new plant species might be accelerating formed through autopolyploid speciation and hybridization. Conclusions However, this kind of positive effect of climate warming on new plant species formation would be thoroughly offset by direct and indirect intensive human exploitation and human disturbances that cause habitat loss, deforestation, land use change, climate change, and pollution, thus leading to higher extinction risk than speciation in the Anthropocene. At last, four research directions are proposed to deepen our understanding of how plant traits affect speciation and extinction, why we need to make good use of polar regions to study the mechanisms of dispersion and invasion, how to maximize the conservation of plant genetics, species, and diverse landscapes and ecosystems and a holistic perspective on plant speciation and extinction is needed to integrate spatiotemporally.

A critically endangered new species of Comanthera from Bahia, Brazil (Paepalanthoideae, Eriocaulaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 186 (3) ◽  
pp. 166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Livia Echternacht
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Red List ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Campos Rupestres ◽  
White Sand ◽  
Iucn Criteria

The present work describes and illustrates the new narrowly endemic species Comanthera pignalii (Eriocaulaceae: Paepalanthoideae). This species is restricted to the white-sand environments in the Campos Rupestres at the border of the Serra Geral, in the Espinhaço Mountain Range in Bahia, Brazil. The morphological variation, habitat and geographic distribution of the species are discussed. It is critically endangered according to the IUCN criteria B2ab (i, ii, iii, iv), as evaluated by CNCFlora, the Plant Red List Authority in Brazil. This is the first newly published plant species already officially proposed to the Brazilian Red List.

scholarly journals Conservation status of the unique population of Wenchengia alternifolia, an enigmatic plant endemic to Hainan Island, China

Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Zhiyong Zhang ◽  
Dianxiang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Ex Situ Conservation ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Hainan Island ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Remnant Population

AbstractWenchengia alternifolia (Lamiaceae) is a plant species endemic to Hainan Island, China. Since the 1930s it was known from only four collections and was believed to be extinct until a remnant population was rediscovered in 2010. We conducted further field surveys during 2010–2012 but located only one population, with 66 individuals. W. alternifolia is restricted to the c. 1,500 m2 Shuangximu Valley, in a harsh microenvironment surrounded by plantations. As the population comprises < 50 mature individuals, we propose that W. alternifolia be categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, based on criterion D. We recommend that the remnant population and its habitat need urgent protection and monitoring and that ex situ conservation, for future reintroduction, should be implemented.

scholarly journals A paradoxical knowledge gap in science for critically endangered fishes and game fishes during the sixth mass extinction

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher S. Guy ◽  
Tanner L. Cox ◽  
Jacob R. Williams ◽  
Colter D. Brown ◽  
Robert W. Eckelbecker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Extinction ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Scientific Productivity ◽  
Scientific Output ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Extinction Rate ◽  
Sixth Mass Extinction ◽  
Game Fish ◽  
The Difference

AbstractDespite unprecedented scientific productivity, Earth is undergoing a sixth mass extinction. The disconnect between scientific output and species conservation may be related to scientists studying the wrong species. Given fishes have a high extinction rate, we assessed the paradox between scientific productivity and science needed for conservation by comparing scientific output created for critically endangered fishes and game fishes. We searched 197,866 articles (1964–2018) in 112 journals for articles on 460 critically endangered fishes, 297 game fishes, and 35 fishes classified as critically endangered and game fish—our analysis included freshwater and marine species. Only 3% of the articles in the final database were on critically endangered fishes; 82% of critically endangered fishes had zero articles. The difference between the number of articles on game fishes and critically endangered fishes increased temporally with more articles on game fishes during the extinction crisis. Countries with 10 or more critically endangered fishes averaged only 17 articles from 1964 to 2018. Countries with the most critically endangered fishes are most in need of science. More scientific knowledge is needed on critically endangered fishes to meet the challenges of conserving fishes during the sixth mass extinction.

Using extinctions in species distribution models to evaluate and predict threats: a contribution to plant conservation planning on the island of Sardinia

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAURO FOIS ◽  
GIANLUIGI BACCHETTA ◽  
ALBA CUENA-LOMBRAÑA ◽  
DONATELLA COGONI ◽  
MARIA SILVIA PINNA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Sixth Mass Extinction ◽  
Local Extinctions ◽  
Independent Effects

SUMMARYRecent extinction rates suggest that humans are now causing the sixth mass extinction, and the Mediterranean islands are at the forefront of many of the environmental issues involved. This study provides an alternative approach for investigating documented local plant extinctions that occurred in Sardinia (western Mediterranean) during the last half century. A total of 190 local extinctions of 62 plant species were used to investigate the independent effects of eight ecological and anthropogenic variables and to model the areas of potential extinctions where plant conservation efforts could be focused. If all analysed plant species were considered together, ecological factors explained local extinctions more than anthropogenic factors. The independent effects of each factor considerably varied among species of different lifeforms and altitude ranges. Accordingly, distribution models of local extinctions outscored areas that are potentially rich in plant species with conservation interest, but which are particularly affected by humans. This paper suggests a reproducible, operational framework for analysing which extinction factors may play important roles in similar contexts and where they might be relevant.

Extinctions in Mediterranean areas

1994 ◽  
Vol 344 (1307) ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Extinction Rate ◽  
Species Loss ◽  
Higher Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Extinction Rates

Thirty-one species and two subspecies of vascular plants of the M editerranean area are presumed extinct. This would correspond to an extinction rate of 0.11 % of the native M editerranean flora, which compares with rates of 0.3% for vascular plant species of the Cape floristic province of S. Africa, 0.4% for higher plant taxa of California, and 0.66% for those of Western Australia. Percentages of threatened plant taxa are between 25 and 125 times as high as extinction rates. Records of plant extinctions are both incomplete and error-prone, as shown by examples, but even with improving knowledge the rates of species loss are unlikely to change significantly. They are lowest for the M editerranean area, in which hum an im plantation is most ancient, and for which large-scale undocumented early extinction is assumed, and highest for the most recently colonized area, south-western Australia, where extinction may now be at its peak. At least for the M editerranean, aiming at the rescue of each and every species in danger is a realistic if ambitious goal.

scholarly journals Accelerated modern human–induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. e1400253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Ceballos ◽  
Paul R. Ehrlich ◽  
Anthony D. Barnosky ◽  
Andrés García ◽  
Robert M. Pringle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Extinction ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Mass Extinctions ◽  
Rapid Loss ◽  
Background Rate ◽  
Extinction Rates ◽  
Sixth Mass Extinction ◽  
Recent Estimate ◽  
Subsequent Loss

The oft-repeated claim that Earth’s biota is entering a sixth “mass extinction” depends on clearly demonstrating that current extinction rates are far above the “background” rates prevailing between the five previous mass extinctions. Earlier estimates of extinction rates have been criticized for using assumptions that might overestimate the severity of the extinction crisis. We assess, using extremely conservative assumptions, whether human activities are causing a mass extinction. First, we use a recent estimate of a background rate of 2 mammal extinctions per 10,000 species per 100 years (that is, 2 E/MSY), which is twice as high as widely used previous estimates. We then compare this rate with the current rate of mammal and vertebrate extinctions. The latter is conservatively low because listing a species as extinct requires meeting stringent criteria. Even under our assumptions, which would tend to minimize evidence of an incipient mass extinction, the average rate of vertebrate species loss over the last century is up to 100 times higher than the background rate. Under the 2 E/MSY background rate, the number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken, depending on the vertebrate taxon, between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear. These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already under way. Averting a dramatic decay of biodiversity and the subsequent loss of ecosystem services is still possible through intensified conservation efforts, but that window of opportunity is rapidly closing.

Flower-visiting insects observed on the critically endangered alpine plant species Callianthemum kernerianum Freyn ex A. Kerner (Ranunculaceae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Gobbi ◽  
Daniele Avesani ◽  
Gilberto Parolo ◽  
Antonio Scupola ◽  
Adriano Zanetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Alpine Plant ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Harsh Habitat ◽  
Flower Visiting

In the present paper we provide the first contribution to the knowledge of the flower-visiting insect assemblages of the alpine plant species Callianthemum kernerianum Freyn ex A. Kerner (Ranunculaceae). This focal plant species was selected since it is a steno-endemic and critically endangered species belonging to the IUCN red-list. Fifteen taxa were recorded, among which very few are true pollinators, whereas all the others can be considered only indirect pollinators. The peculiar phenology of the plant and the harsh habitat conditions in which it grows probably affect the richness and abundance of flower-visiting insects as well as of true pollinators. This could be the reason for this plant to be a self-compatible species.

MOSAICITY OF THE VEGETATION COVER OF THE KOCHUBEY BIOSPHERE STATION PASTURES

1970 ◽  
pp. 40-42
Author(s):  
М. А. Babaeva ◽  
S. V. Osipova
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Avena Fatua ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Fodder Plants ◽  
Falcaria Vulgaris

The regularities of changes in the resistance of different groups of fodder plants to adverse conditions were studied. This is due to the physiological properties that allow them to overcome the harmful effects of the environment. As a result of research species - plant groups with great adaptive potential to the harsh continental semi-desert conditions were identified. Monitoring observation and experimental studies showed too thin vegetation cover as a mosaic, consisting of perennial xerophytic herbs and semishrubs, sod grasses, saltwort and wormwood, as well as ephemera and ephemeroids under the same environmental conditions, depending on various climatic and anthropogenic factors. This is due to the inability or instability of plant species to aggressive living environment. It results in horizontal heterogeneity of the grass stand, division into smaller structures, and mosaic in the vegetation cover of the Kochubey biosphere station. The relative resistance to moderate stress was identified in the following species from fodder plants Agropyron cristatum, A. desertorum, Festuca valesiaca, Cynodon dactylon, Avena fatua; as for strong increasing their abundance these are poorly eaten plant species Artemisia taurica, Atriplex tatarica, Falcaria vulgaris, Veronica arvensis, Arabidopsis thaliana and other. On the site with an increasing pressure in the herbage of phytocenoses the number of xerophytes of ruderal species increases and the spatial structure of the vegetation cover is simplified. In plant communities indigenous species are replaced by adventive plant species. The mosaic of the plant cover of phytocenoses arises due to the uneven distribution in the space of environmental formation, i.e. an edificatory: Salsola orientalis, S. dendroides, Avena fatua, Cynodon dactylon, Artemisia taurica, A. lercheanum, Xanthium spinosum, Carex pachystyli, under which the remaining components of the community adapt. Based on the phytocenotic indicators of pasture phytocenoses it can be concluded that the vegetation cover is in the stage of ecological stress and a decrease in the share of fodder crops and an increase in the number of herbs indicates this fact.

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