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Recent shifts in the occurrence, cause, and magnitude of animal mass mortality events [1]

Mass mortality events (MMEs), the rapid, catastrophic die-off of organisms, are an example of a rare event affecting natural populations. Individual reports of MMEs clearly demonstrate their ecological and evolutionary importance, yet our understanding of the general features characterizing such events is limited. Here, we conducted the first, to our knowledge, quantitative analysis of MMEs across the animal kingdom, and as such, we were able to explore novel patterns, trends, and features associated with MMEs. Our analysis uncovered the surprising finding that there have been recent shifts in the magnitudes of MMEs and their associated causes. Our database allows the recommendation of improvements for data collection in ways that will enhance our understanding of how MMEs relate to ongoing perturbations to ecosystems.

Publication Date: 
12/01/2015
Samuel B. Fey [2], Adam M. Siepielski [3], Sébastien Nusslé & et al [4]
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences [5]
1-6
Tags:
Wildlife [6], Marine Ecosystems [7], Mammals [8], Birds [9], Fisheries [10], Reptiles [11], Amphibians [12], Ecosystems [13]

Technology Partners: MimirTech

Source URL: http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/recent-shifts-occurrence-cause-and-magnitude-animal-mass-mortality-events

Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/recent-shifts-occurrence-cause-and-magnitude-animal-mass-mortality-events
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/samuel-b-fey
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/adam-m-siepielski
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/s%C3%A9bastien-nussl%C3%A9-et-al
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/proceedings-national-academy-sciences
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/wildlife
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/marine-ecosystems
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/mammals
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/birds
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/fisheries-0
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/reptiles
[12] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/amphibians
[13] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ecosystems