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Accelerated modern human–induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction [1]

The oft-repeated claim that Earth’s biota is entering a sixth “mass extinction” depends on clearly demonstrating that current extinction rates are far above the “background” rates prevailing in the five previous mass extinctions. Earlier estimates of extinction rates have been criticized for using assumptions that might overestimate the severity of the extinction crisis. We assess, using extremely conservative assumptions, whether human activities are causing a mass extinction. First, we use a recent estimate of a background rate of 2 mammal extinctions per 10,000 species per 100 years (that is, 2 E/MSY), which is twice as high as widely used previous estimates.

Original Source [2]

Publication Date: 
19/06/2015
Gerardo Ceballos [3], Paul R. Ehrlich [4], Anthony D. Barnosky & et al [5]
Science Advances [6]
1-5
Tags:
Endangered Species [7], Extinct Species [8], Mammals [9], Biodiversity [10], Ecosystem Services [11], Biodiversity Conservation [12], Reptiles [13], Amphibians [14], Birds [15], Fisheries [16]

Technology Partners: MimirTech

Source URL: http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/accelerated-modern-human%E2%80%93induced-species-losses-entering-sixth-mass-extinction

Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/accelerated-modern-human%E2%80%93induced-species-losses-entering-sixth-mass-extinction
[2] http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/1/5/e1400253.full
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/gerardo-ceballos
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/paul-r-ehrlich
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/anthony-d-barnosky-et-al
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/science-advances
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/endangered-species
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/extinct-species
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/mammals
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/biodiversity
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ecosystem-services
[12] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/biodiversity-conservation
[13] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/reptiles
[14] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/amphibians
[15] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/birds
[16] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/fisheries-0