A recent study conducted by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) reveals a startling discovery: humans are responsible for the extinction of approximately 1,430 bird species—twice the number previously estimated.
The research focuses on areas such as Hawaii, Tonga, and the Azores, where human presence has resulted in significant consequences such as deforestation, overhunting, and the introduction of invasive species.
These effects have been disastrous for bird populations, resulting in the extinction of many previously unknown species.
The study contradicts previous estimates, claiming that one in every nine bird species has vanished since the Late Pleistocene around 130,000 years ago. Because the lightweight bones of birds disintegrate over time, traditional fossil records are limited in reflecting the true scale of global extinctions.
The extent to which humans have impacted bird diversity
Dr Rob Cooke, the study’s lead author and an ecological modeler at UKCEH, told the Independent about the profound human impact on avian diversity.
“Humans have rapidly devastated bird populations via habitat loss, overexploitation, and the introduction of rats, pigs, and dogs that raided birds’ nests and competed with them for food,” he said.
DrSprenFaurby of the University of Gothenburg, a co-author, also emphasized the significant implications of historic bird extinctions on the current biodiversity crisis.
Aside from the loss of fascinating bird species, these extinctions have disrupted ecological roles, affecting functions such as seed dispersal and pollination, resulting in a chain reaction of negative effects on ecosystems.
According to the findings, significant extinction events occurred in the 14th and 9th centuries BC, corresponding to human arrival in the Eastern and Western Pacific regions, respectively. These events, caused by habitat changes and the introduction of invasive species, constitute the most significant human-caused vertebrate extinction event in history.
The study, published in Nature Communications, estimates that approximately 570 bird species were lost in the Eastern Pacific after human arrival.
