The mass extinction has begun on land and in freshwater, and it's driven by none other than humans. Researchers from the University of Hawaii revealed that the sixth mass extinction has begun in land and freshwater habitats worldwide. The extinction of animals is also said to be happening more rapidly on land compared to marine habitats as a result of human activity. Marine species are not spared from declining biodiversity. Moreover, island ecosystems are seen to be more susceptible to diversity loss compared to continental habitats.
While the team's study focuses on mollusks, the family of soft-bodied invertebrates, their findings also take into account data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categorises species based on their likelihood to go extinct, but they usually focus on vertebrates. The team stressed that the data from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is accurate, but they fail to take into account invertebrates which make up 95% of animal diversity.
Because pollution, climate change, and species exploitation are leading causes of biodiversity loss, environmental conservation and biodiversity protection are needed now more than ever. Major stakeholders and industries are urged to take immediate action to combat the rapidly declining biodiversity and mitigate anthropogenic activities that contribute to habitat loss and degradation.
Article developed by: Gavinelle Adrias, Leigh Sindac, and Regina Castor
References
Ferreira, B. (2022, January 19). Scientists Warn that Sixth Mass Extinction Has 'Probably Started'. VICE. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxdg4z/scientists-warn-that-sixth-mass-extinction-has-probably-started
Mulhern, O. (2020, December 4). The Statistics of Biodiversity Loss [2020 WWF Report]. Earth.Org. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://earth.org/data_visualization/biodiversity-loss-in-numbers-the-2020-wwf-report/
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