a trend towards smaller households is threatening biodiversity around the world, a new study finds. Both in developed and developing countries, multi-generational living arrangements are disintegrating, with couples moving out. Rising divorce rates mean families that used to live in one dwelling now occupy two.

Even where the human population is declining, number of households continues to increase, concludes the study by scientists from the us-based Michigan State University (msu) and Stanford University. The researchers examined household dynamics and population changes in 141 countries worldwide. In particular, they scrutinised data pertaining to seven countries