Study finds human-driven mass extinction is eliminating entire branches of the tree of life

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Study finds human-driven mass extinction is eliminating entire branches of the tree of life

Quote

The passenger pigeon. The Tasmanian tiger. The Baiji, or Yangtze river dolphin. These rank among the best-known recent victims of what many scientists have declared the sixth mass extinction, as human actions are wiping out vertebrate animal species hundreds of times faster than they would otherwise disappear.

Yet, an analysis from Stanford University and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows the crisis may run even deeper. Each of the three species above was also the last member of its genus, the higher category into which taxonomists sort species. And they aren't alone.

Read More: phys.org

 

[Piney]

The irony about the passenger pigeon is the population boomed after disease wiped out 2/3s of Native Americans. 

[+and-then]

1 hour ago, Piney said:

The irony about the passenger pigeon is the population boomed after disease wiped out 2/3s of Native Americans. 

Was there some recognized cause/effect in that? 

[Piney]

10 hours ago, and-then said:

Was there some recognized cause/effect in that? 

Lymes disease going nuts.