Alex Barker

English 231 C

20745

Michelle D Heart

Due September 29, 2017

Research Review Paper

Mammal Extinction
 I have been researching and reading articles on the topic of mammal extinction.

Global extinction rates are now elevated up to a thousand times higher than the

background extinction rates shown by the fossil record, and may climb another order of

magnitude in the near future [1][3]. Isaac NJ, Turvey ST, Collen B, Waterman C, Baillie

JE (2007). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines recently

extinct mammals as any mammal that has went extinct since the year 1500 C.E. I have

researched what type of mammals have become extinct and the reasons why. I have also

researched what needs to be conducted to help preserve endangered species and prevent

extinction from occuring.

Among mammals alone, at least 14 genera and three families have gone extinct

since AD 1500 [20], and all members of a further 19 families and three orders are

considered to be in imminent danger of extinction [2] Isaac NJ, Turvey ST, Collen B,

Waterman C, Baillie JE (2007). I think this statement from Mammals on the EDGE:

Conservation Priorities Based on Threat and Phylogeny shows how mammal exctinction

is widesspread throughout the group and involves a range of species. Large mammals

seem to have more of a threat of becoming extinct according to the article I read called

Multiple Causes of High Extinction Risk in Large Mammal Species. The article states

Many large animal species have a high risk of extinction. Cardillo, M., Mace, G. M.,

Jones, K. E., Bielby, J., Bininda-Emonds, O. R., Sechrest, W., . . . Purvis, A. (2005,

August 19). This article makes a good point in showing how larger mammals are prone to

having a higher risk of extinction. On the other hand, another article shows how animals,

including mammals, in the medium range on the size scale have lower extinction rates.

Reporting today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers

who determined body masses for thousands of vertebrate animal species showed that the

largest and smallest species face a greater risk of extinction than do mid-sized animals.

Oregon State University. (2017, September 18). These three articles help give an idea of

what type of mammals have becone extinct, as well as ones that face a greater risk of

extinction.

There are many different causes for animals going extinct I have seen even more

through the articles Ive read. One cause is stated in World's mammals being eaten into

extinction, report warns. Hundreds of mammal species - from chimpanzees to hippos to

bats - are being eaten into extinction by people, according to the first global assessment

of the impact of human hunting. Carrington, D. (2016, October 19) is stated and I think

it shows how hunting for eating purposes is a huge reason for the decline in mammal

species. The article also states that First global assessment finds 301 species are

primarily at risk from human hunting for the bushmeat trade Carrington, D. (2016,

October 19). I think this statement shows just how many species of mammals are being

affected due to hunting for food. I seen poaching of animals as an issue in 5-year-old

determined to save this endangered mammal that stated, In January, the only mammal

with scales in the world was added to the endangered species list, as people poach them.

Garnier, Terrace. (2017, July 14). Another reason I seen in my reading of Mass

Extinction and the Disappearance of Unknown Mammal Species: Scenario and

Perspectives of a Biodiversity Hotspots Hotspot is the cause of biodiversity. The

biodiversity crisis that threatens the planet can be considered the sixth major extinction

event. Mendes Pontes AR, Beltro ACM, Normande IC, Malta AdJR, Silva Jnior APd,

Santos AMM (2016). I had to look up exactly what biodiversity is and it is defined as the
variety of life in the world or in a habitat or ecosystem. Im thinking this problem causes

extinction in mammals because they cant survive in the environment they habitate. I also

seen in this article that deforestation is a leading cause of extinction. It states that

..deforestation is causing extinctions at unprecedented rates Mendes Pontes AR,

Beltro ACM, Normande IC, Malta AdJR, Silva Jnior APd, Santos AMM (2016). I

couldnt imagine how many species lose their lives due to deforestation where their

homes and means of survival get taken away. Finally, I seen again in Multiple Causes of

High Extinction Risk in Large Mammal Species how species size differentiates the cause

of mammal species going extinct. The abstract to this article reads: Many large animal

species have a high risk of extinction. This is usually thought to result simply from the

way that species traits associated with vulnerability, such as low reproductive rates, scale

with body size. In a broad-scale analysis of extinction risk in mammals, we find two

additional patterns in the size selectivity of extinction risk. First, impacts of both intrinsic

and environmental factors increase sharply above a threshold body mass around 3

kilograms. Second, whereas extinction risk in smaller species is driven by environmental

factors, in larger species it is driven by a combination of environmental factors and

intrinsic traits. Thus, the disadvantages of large size are greater than generally

recognized, and future loss of large mammal biodiversity could be far more rapid than

expected. Cardillo, M., Mace, G. M., Jones, K. E., Bielby, J., Bininda-Emonds, O. R.,

Sechrest, W., . . . Purvis, A. (2005, August 19). Larger size is shown to be threatened

more, but it shows the factors that effect both smaller and larger mammals.

The growing number of threatened and endangered species, coupled with

reduced budgets for recovery.. Restani, M., & Marzluff, J. M. (2002, February 01). This
statement is showing how recovery programs are needed for the conservation of

mammals and without them they are even more threatened and risk extinction I think

North Atlantic right whales decline confirmed: 458 remaining makes a good point that

pertains to more than one mammal species with the statement that Study confirms need

for urgent action NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center. (2017, September 19).

Many mammals are in need of action programs to be saved from extinction. Different

conservation strategies will be needed to address threats. Oregon State University.

(2017, September 18). This statement from When it comes to the threat of extinction, size

matters: Animals in the Goldilocks zone -- neither too big, nor too small, but just the

right size -- face a lower risk of extinction than do those on both ends of the scale shows

that many conservation actions need to be carried out to prevent extinction from

occurring. This is also shown by Funding Extinction? Biological Needs...species stating:

Our nation's endangered species require implementation of scientifically based recovery

actions to attain sustainable population sizes and to avert extinction. Restani, M., &

Marzluff, J. M. (2002, February 01). "To turn the tide, international cooperation is

crucial," says a team of lawyers, conservation biologists and social scientists. Pensoft

Publishers. (2017, September 13). I think this statement is saying to enact and carry out

conservation programs global teamwork is required since it is a worldwide issue. Their

analysis clearly shows the importance of various global and regional treaties... Pensoft

Publishers. (2017, September 13). I believe this is saying treaties need to be enacted to

help show, along with enforce, the conservation that is needed for endangered mammals.

Natural resource policy directed at conserving biodiversityallocating funds to species

listed as threatened or endangered, for exampleshould be most effective when based on

current scientific thinking and supported by the public (Ehrlich and Wilson 1991, Babbitt

1995, Eisner et al. 1995). Scientific wisdom, public opinion, and agency policy are

currently aligned to allocate funds in proportion to species' needs. Restani, M., &

Marzluff, J. M. (2002, February 01). From my point of view this is saying three things;

that allocating funds is neccesary, scientific thinking needs to be conducted, and public

support are all needed in the conservation process. Strategic delays in conservation

efforts could be the key to protecting more species according to researchers at The

University of Queensland. University of Queensland. (2017, September 12). This is

saying exactly what the title states: Biding time could improve conservation outcomes.

The article shows how the right amount of delay of time to enact conservation methods

can help improve benefits of conservation by focusing first on investment, capacity

building, or monitoring and research which can help save many more mammal species.

All in all I found several articles that advanced my knowledge on mammal

extinction. The articles I read were very informative on this subject. I knew there were

many mammals that have become extinct, but I didnt know quite how many. I also

wasnt sure how much was in place to help conserve extinct animals prior to my readings.

I have seen many different ideas on mammal extinction.

 References:

Cardillo, M., Mace, G. M., Jones, K. E., Bielby, J., Bininda-Emonds, O. R., Sechrest, W.,
. . . Purvis, A. (2005, August 19). Multiple Causes of High Extinction Risk in Large
Mammal Species. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/309/5738/1239

Carrington, D. (2016, October 19). World's mammals being eaten into extinction, report
warns. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/19/worlds-mammals-being-eaten-
into-extinction-report-warns

Garnier, Terrace. (2017, July 14). 5-year old determined to save this endangered
mammal. NY Post. Retrieved September 21, 2017 from
http://nypost.com/2017/07/14/5-year-old-determined-to-save-this-endangered-mammal/

Isaac NJ, Turvey ST, Collen B, Waterman C, Baillie JE (2007) Mammals on the EDGE:
Conservation Priorities Based on Threat and Phylogeny. PLoS ONE 2(3): e296.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000296

Loi, P., Ptak, G., Barboni, B., Fulka, J., Cappai, P., & Clinton, M. (2001). Genetic rescue
of an endangered mammal by cross-species nuclear transfer using post-mortem somatic
cells. Nature Biotechnology, 19(10), 962-4. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt1001-962
https://search.proquest.com/docview/222264236?pq-origsite=gscholar

Mendes Pontes AR, Beltro ACM, Normande IC, Malta AdJR, Silva Jnior APd, Santos
AMM (2016) Mass Extinction and the Disappearance of Unknown Mammal Species:
Scenario and Perspectives of a Biodiversity Hotspots Hotspot. PLoS ONE 11(5):
e0150887. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150887

NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center. (2017, September 19). North Atlantic right
whales decline confirmed: 458 remaining: Study confirms need for urgent action.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 21, 2017 from
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170919140419.htm

Oregon State University. (2017, September 18). When it comes to the threat of
extinction, size matters: Animals in the Goldilocks zone -- neither too big, nor too small,
but just the right size -- face a lower risk of extinction than do those on both ends of the
scale. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 21, 2017 from
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170918132732.htm

Pensoft Publishers. (2017, September 13). Lion conservation requires effective

international cooperation. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 21, 2017 from
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170913104422.htm
Restani, M., & Marzluff, J. M. (2002, February 01). Funding Extinction? Biological
Needs and Political Realities in the Allocation of Resources to Endangered Species
Recovery: An existing priority system, which should guide the Fish and Wildlife Service
in endangered species recovery, is ineffective, and current spending patterns decrease
long-term viability of island species | BioScience | Oxford Academic. Retrieved
September 22, 2017, from
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/52/2/169/341429/Funding-Extinction-
Biological-Needs-and-Political?searchresult=1

University of Queensland. (2017, September 12). Biding time could improve

conservation outcomes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 21, 2017 from
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170912093143.htm