{"id":138751,"date":"2025-01-02T14:25:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T18:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=138751"},"modified":"2025-01-03T14:34:57","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T18:34:57","slug":"the-sixth-mass-extinction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-sixth-mass-extinction\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the Sixth Mass Extinction Is Different From the Others"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What’s causing the sixth mass extinction<\/a> of species? How are endangered animals tracked? Can humans do anything to help?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists say we\u2019re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction\u2014but it\u2019s hard to determine when a species is actually gone for good because endangered species are difficult to track. But new technology and techniques can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading for a comprehensive look at the current mass extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Sixth Extinction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As long as species of animals, plants, birds, insects, fish, and other creatures have existed on Earth, countless species have gone extinct. In fact, scientists estimate that 99% of all the species that have ever existed<\/a> have gone extinct. These species have died out over the course of five mass extinctions. Some experts argue that we\u2019re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction<\/a>. Unlike mass extinctions earlier in our planet\u2019s history, this one is our fault. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Humans Are Involved in the Sixth Extinction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scientists say that <\/strong>human activities<\/strong><\/a> have dramatically accelerated the natural rate of species extinction, bringing about a mass extinction crisis<\/strong>. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) evaluates and categorizes the vulnerability of species in the wild on its Red List of Threatened Species<\/a>. According to the IUCN, many species are classified as critically endangered, extinct in the wild, locally extinct, functionally extinct, or extinct based on their population status and risk of extinction.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experts estimate that the current rate of species loss is <\/strong>hundreds or even thousands of times higher<\/strong><\/a> than the natural rate<\/strong>. This means that while natural extinction cycles have occurred throughout Earth’s history<\/a>, the scale and pace of the current crisis are unparalleled. Habitat loss, climate change, invasive species<\/a>, disease, overfishing, and hunting\u2014all factors created by humans\u2014are among the major drivers of the trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensory Pollution<\/a> Is Fatal to Animals\u2014But We Can Change That<\/strong>

In his book An Immense World<\/a><\/em>, Ed Yong argues that because it can be hard for humans to imagine how other animals perceive the world<\/a>, we often contribute to sensory pollution, which causes significant damage to all kinds of animals. It forces animals to adapt to attacks on their senses or perish\u2014and for many species, adaptation in a short time frame isn\u2019t possible. Human-caused sensory pollution of animals\u2019 environment is one of the factors contributing to a mass extinction crisis. <\/strong>By understanding how animals sense the world, however, we can help save animals and their environment.

Light Pollution: <\/strong>Yong says that humans have artificially lit the night: About 83% of the world lives under light-polluted skies. Blue and white lights are particularly disruptive to animals, but they\u2019re also the cheapest and easiest to produce. Researchers say these problems can be mitigated by better lighting design<\/a>, such as by using LEDs that are less blue-rich and ensuring outdoor lighting is targeted and low-level

Noise Pollution: <\/strong>Human activities such as transportation and construction have also altered our quiet places. Yong explains that this affects animals in many ways. Birds have difficulty finding mates because their songs aren\u2019t loud enough to be heard over human noise. Various animals can no longer hear their prey or predators, which can cause them to lose weight and become weaker, or to abandon their normal habitat altogether. Unfortunately, there isn\u2019t always a quieter place for them to go, as 83% of the continental US is less than a mile from a road.

Other Senses: <\/strong>Besides vision and hearing, every other animal sense is also impacted by human activity. Yong cites a few examples: Bats crash into windows because smooth vertical surfaces, which don\u2019t exist in nature, produce echoes that sound like open air. About 90% of seabirds eventually swallow plastic because it contains DMS. DMS is also precisely the smell that\u2014when it occurs naturally\u2014helps seabirds locate krill.
<\/strong>
Yong argues that understanding how animals sense the environment can help us save it.<\/strong> He adds that, unlike other more permanent types of pollution, such as chemical or radioactive pollution, sensory pollution can be addressed quickly and easily by simply removing the sensory stimuli that humans have added to the natural environment<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Monitoring Endangered Species<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Monitoring and tracking species extinction is a crucial part of planning conservation efforts and policy decisions aimed at protecting endangered species<\/strong>. By understanding the rate and patterns of species loss, experts can prioritize and target their efforts to protect remaining habitats and endangered populations. Keeping track of extinctions helps scientists quantify the rate at which species are disappearing. They estimate that since 1800, more than 800 amphibian, bird, mammal, and reptile<\/a> species haven\u2019t been seen by scientists<\/a> in at least a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But scientists say that determining when a species is truly extinct presents significant challenges<\/strong>. That\u2019s especially true for elusive or rare species, on whom experts may have only incomplete data<\/a>. Determining definitively that a species has gone extinct requires extensive search efforts over a prolonged period of time, as well as rigorous criteria and definitive evidence to confirm the absence of any remaining individuals. Declaring a species extinct when it hasn\u2019t yet disappeared can have major consequences: Scientists warn that premature declarations of extinction can lead to the actual extinction of species<\/a> if they cause conservation efforts to be abandoned.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extinction Tracking Methods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experts say that advances in technology and new approaches to research can improve the tracking of species extinction and inform conservation strategies<\/strong>. Tools such as camera traps<\/a>, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis<\/a>, remote sensing<\/a>, and citizen science initiatives<\/a> can help gather data on species presence and distribution, even for species that are rarely spotted in the wild. These techniques can also aid in the detection and rediscovery of lost species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The involvement of local communities is also crucial in efforts to track and stop extinctions. Indigenous and local communities often possess invaluable knowledge<\/a> about the native habitats and behaviors of species, which can guide search efforts and provide insights into their potential survival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists also use mathematical models<\/a> that consider various factors to assess the likelihood of a species\u2019 extinction. For instance, researchers have developed a model that accounts for threats posed to species and the extent and reliability of search efforts to determine the species\u2019s conservation status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, scientists have introduced new metrics like PERIL (Paleontological Extinction Risk In Lineages<\/a>). This method uses fossil records to predict extinction risk for species that are difficult to track and monitor, such as certain sea creatures. By analyzing the history of extinctions in these groups, researchers can identify predictors of extinction risk and inform conservation efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the biodiversity crisis intensifies, accurately tracking species extinction rates has become a critical endeavor. Experts say that despite the challenges, accurately tracking extinction rates is crucial for understanding what\u2019s happening in the current wave of extinctions\u2014and for trying to stop more species from disappearing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What’s causing the sixth mass extinction of species? How are endangered animals tracked? Can humans do anything to help? Scientists say we\u2019re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction\u2014but it\u2019s hard to determine when a species is actually gone for good because endangered species are difficult to track. But new technology and techniques can help. Keep reading for a comprehensive look at the current mass extinction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":138752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160,24],"tags":[727],"class_list":["post-138751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science","category-society","tag-articles","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy the Sixth Mass Extinction Is Different From the Others - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many scientists believe that the sixth mass extinction is upon us. 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