Earth facing mass extinction; researchers determine which species to save

by rpshen | October 22, 2008 at 01:04 pm

971 views | 15 Recommendations | 22 comments

Did you know that our planet Earth is facing its sixth mass extinction and that we may lose half of the existing plant and animal species? Given that researchers won't be able to save all of the species, they are struggling to determine which ones to give up upon and which ones to salvage.

The Earth is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of both plants and animals, with nearly 50 percent of all species disappearing, scientists say.

Because of the current crisis, biologists at UC Santa Barbara are working day and night to determine which species must be saved.

"The current extinction event is due to human activity, paving the planet, creating pollution, many of the things that we are doing today," said co-author Bradley J. Cardinale, assistant professor of ecology, evolution and marine biology (EEMB) at UC Santa Barbara. "The Earth might well lose half of its species in our lifetime. We want to know which ones deserve the highest priority for conservation."

Exactly what qualities make a species worthwhile maintaining? Apparently it's the most genetically unique ones that are of utmost importance to us and are deserving of our attention.

"Given that we are losing species from ecosystems around the world, we need to know which species matter the most –– and which we should pour our resources into protecting," said first author Marc W. Cadotte, postdoctoral fellow at UCSB's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS).

Cadotte, Cardinale, and co-author Todd Oakley, an EEMB associate professor, put together a "meta-analysis" of approximately 40 important studies of grassland ecosystems around the world. They reconstructed the evolutionary history among 177 flowering plants used in these studies by comparing the genetic makeup of the plants.

The scientists found that some species are more critical than others in preserving the functions of ecosystems and that these species tend to be those that are genetically unique. Therefore, they are looking to evolutionary history for guidance in conservation efforts and in understanding the potential impacts of species loss.

Losing half of the current species isn't the only consequence of mass extinction. As fewer species exist to produce biomass, less carbon dioxide will be absorbed from the atmosphere and less oxygen will be produced. One can just imagine...

So, as the biomass of plants plummets around the globe, the composition of gasses in the atmosphere that support life could be profoundly affected. Additionally, there are fewer plants for herbivorous animals to eat. Entire food chains can be disrupted, which can impact the production of crops and fisheries.

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Emjay

at 13:38 on October 22nd, 2008

It was a hot summer day. On our way back to Edmonton we came across the Grasslands Nationalpark. We saw some animals and a lot of grassland for sure. But it wasn't the best time to take photos I think.

Emjay has contributed a photo to this story.

Amy Judd

at 14:01 on October 22nd, 2008

This is just so sad and I cannot belive a story like this is flying under the radar. This is potentially one of the most important things happening to our planet and these species could just disappear and we probably not notice until it was all too late.

Thanks for posting this.

shawn.manny

at 14:26 on October 22nd, 2008

In our residential neighborhood this "urban grassland" caught my eye in the evening sun. I wish more people would have natural long grass yards.

shawn.manny has contributed a photo to this story.

ellyssian

at 15:03 on October 22nd, 2008

The photo I contributed was taken at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, a nature preserve built on lands restored from damage by a neighboring superfund site.

The ground is contaminated by heavy metals from years of zinc processing, and the native prairie grasses are the only approved plantlife for the site. The return to the forest destroyed by industry would move those heavy metals from the soil into the food chain. The grasses protect the site from further erosion, and also do not take up the metals.

The grassland restores a necessary habitat for birds and animals, providing additional benefit along this major raptor migration corridor (the Kittatinny Ridge).

ellyssian has contributed a photo to this story.

wild prairie man

at 15:53 on October 22nd, 2008

Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan is my favourite prairie location for wildlife and landscape photography. What makes it special? Good management, in part. Parks Canada recognizes that it is not possible to restore damaged prairie to its original pristine state, so their ongoing goal is to return it to the healthiest condition possible.

Healthy prairie is grazed prairie, and to that end, plains bison have recently been reintroduced to Grasslands. The most recent plan involves reintroduction of the black-footed ferret. This is the good news. The bad news? Take a tour of the surrounding ranch and farm lands. Monoculture. Loss of habitat. Loss of species diversity. And we can only guess at the long term implications of climate change. A relatively small area such as Grasslands cannot withstand global ecosystem collapse and mass extinctions; we are all connected. Everything depends on everything else.

wild prairie man has contributed a photo to this story.

n0tvq

at 15:56 on October 22nd, 2008

In an area identified as Coal Creek, Boy Scouts participated in a massive clean-up effort in the Fall of 2008 to remove waste materials left behind by shooters. They then participated in shooting sport activities. Seen here are 4 of the target stands used by the Boy Scouts. --Photo by Ed Gage

n0tvq has contributed a photo to this story.

Rhonda J Mangus

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:01 on October 22nd, 2008

rpshen, I like this story. It's good stuff.

zhpeter

at 16:24 on October 22nd, 2008

This was taken in Cane Creek Park last weekend. The afternoon sunshine was so warm and the grassland was just so peaceful. I love the scenes in the countryside. It can easily keep me away from all the bothers in a week, make me feel like I'm back into the nature finally. It's really good experience.

zhpeter has contributed a photo to this story.

majasa

at 16:52 on October 22nd, 2008

Where did the bees go?

sonofsteppe

at 00:33 on October 23rd, 2008

This photo was taken on a hungarian hilly region -which called Gödöllői-dombság- on a wonderful autumnal afternoon. This is a play with lights and the depth of focus, which first of all makes an emotional impression. If you want to see more photos from me, just click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pusztafia

sonofsteppe has contributed a photo to this story.

cnlizziebns

at 03:04 on October 23rd, 2008

This was taken on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range in South East Queensland.

cnlizziebns has contributed a photo to this story.

chikosanpuente

at 04:53 on October 23rd, 2008

Native grassland buffer strip between the beach and a thin strip of wind-beaten forest; taken on the John Dellenback Trail in Oregon's coastal sand dunes.

chikosanpuente has contributed a photo to this story.

sposta

at 11:37 on October 23rd, 2008

This was a photo of a grassland on the North side of Burns Bog. The BC Hydro lines are above and the Terasen Transmission lines are below. Quite the contradiction to such a beautiful setting.

sposta has contributed a photo to this story.

lucyrocksuk

at 12:11 on October 23rd, 2008

Photo from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23777435@N08/
- Original photographer of the photo.

And thanks for using this as a way to show that the earth is facing mass extinction :) - Lucy

lucyrocksuk has contributed a photo to this story.

danesller0127

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:27 on October 23rd, 2008

rpshen, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Thanks! for sharing...

lkgphotography

at 11:27 on October 29th, 2008

On a cross-country road trip in May 2006, I took this photo across a South Dakota prairie just after a thunderstorm blew across the landscape.

lkgphotography has contributed a photo to this story.

eluxzen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:29 on November 1st, 2008

rpshen,very frightning situation you describe here :-S it's a sad future and a harsh decision scientist have to make!

Al Turnbull

at 17:27 on November 1st, 2008

Al Turnbull has contributed a photo to this story.

Eustaquio Santimano

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:04 on November 1st, 2008

rpshen, I like this story. It's good stuff.

rochm_70

at 14:47 on November 2nd, 2008

I'm pleased to share one of my images!

rochm_70 has contributed a photo to this story.

jjenet

at 01:49 on November 11th, 2008

awesome snaps

cool & loving ones

jjenet

at 21:44 on November 11th, 2008

Our environment is affected due to, global warming because of urbanization, increasing population and pollution. We and our livings along with the atmosphere is affected due to it. After all we are responsible for that and finally we and our environment have to suffer for it.