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A recent study suggests that humans have caused the extinction of approximately 1,400 bird species, which is twice the previous estimate.
As time passed, the migration of individuals to locations such as Hawaii, Tonga, and the Azores had significant consequences, such as the depletion of forests, excessive hunting, and the introduction of non-native species.
According to a study conducted by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), numerous unidentified bird species were eradicated.
According to researchers, the number of species that have gone extinct is twice as high as previously thought, with one in nine species being affected.
Our research shows that the impact of humans on avian diversity is much greater than previously acknowledged.
They also suggest the findings reveal the largest vertebrate extinction event in history caused by people.
The decline of numerous avian species has been documented since the 16th century, but when it comes to the history of species prior to this, scientific evidence is dependent on fossils.
Experts claim that although these records exist, they are restricted due to the fragile bones of birds breaking down over time, making it difficult to accurately determine the full scope of worldwide extinctions.
Experts now estimate that approximately 1,430 types of birds, which is equivalent to nearly 12% of all bird species, have become extinct during the time period of modern human existence, starting from the Late Pleistocene era approximately 130,000 years ago.
Most of them are believed to have become extinct as a result of human actions, either directly or indirectly.
Lead author Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at UKCEH, said: “Our study demonstrates there has been a far higher human impact on avian diversity than previously recognised.
Not only have many fascinating birds been lost, but also the diverse ecological roles they played.
Humans have quickly caused significant harm to bird populations through the destruction of their habitats, excessive use, and the introduction of predators such as rats, pigs, and dogs that preyed on nests and competed for food.
We demonstrate that numerous species perished prior to written documentation and did not leave any evidence, thus disappearing from the annals of history.
According to Dr. Spren Faurby, a co-author of the research, the significant extinctions in the past have significant consequences for the current issue of biodiversity.
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It is possible that the world has not just lost numerous interesting birds, but also the diverse roles they played in the ecosystem. These roles may have been crucial for functions like spreading seeds and pollination.
“This will result in detrimental consequences for ecosystems, as not only will there be bird extinctions, but also a significant loss of plant and animal species that relied on them for survival.”
Research indicates that around 640 types of birds have become extinct since the Late Pleistocene era, with 90% of these occurring on islands that were inhabited by humans.
These range from the iconic dodo of Mauritius to the great auk of the North Atlantic to the lesser-known Saint Helena giant hoopoe.
The researchers believe that the true number is over twice as much – a total of 1,430 extinct species – which means there are currently less than 11,000 species remaining.
Dr. Cooke believes that approximately 50 of these species would have become extinct without human intervention.
According to researchers, their research has uncovered the greatest extinction event of vertebrate species caused by humans in the 14th century. They estimate that 570 bird species disappeared after humans first inhabited the Eastern Pacific, which includes Hawaii and the Cook Islands.
It is believed that a significant extinction event occurred in the ninth century BC, primarily caused by the migration of people to the Western Pacific region, including Fiji and the Mariana Islands, and the Canary Islands.
The results, which were published in the journal Nature Communications, were determined using projected calculations of documented extinctions and the level of research conducted in various regions in comparison to New Zealand. New Zealand is the only country where it is believed that all bird species present before human arrival have been fully recorded.
As the number of studies in a region decreases, the fossil record is likely to be less complete and the estimated number of undiscovered extinctions increases.
Source: independent.co.uk
