According to a recent study, the first birds to become extinct in the global biodiversity catastrophe brought on by the climate crisis may be those with the most “unique” physical characteristics.
Researchers, including Emma Hughes from the University of Sheffield in the UK, believe that an ongoing mass extinction that has caused a “homogenization” of bird species offers a specific threat to the diversity of morphological features in birds.
The remaining bird species on the globe vary greatly in size and shape, from the enormous, flightless ostrich to the small, buzzing hummingbird.
‘Role and Effect in the Ecosystem’
With their distinctive physical characteristics, many of these species play specific tasks in the ecosystem, from scavenging for food in the case of vultures to dispersing seeds in the case of hummingbirds. As a result, they have a unique impact on the productivity and operation of their habitats.
According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over 13% of the approximately 11,000 bird species that are now known to exist on Earth are in danger of going extinct due to the ongoing global mass extinction caused by the climate catastrophe.
Climate Crisis-‘A major concern for species‘
Experts have warned that almost a quarter of bird species are seriously endangered in the UK alone due to dramatic population declines over the past 25 years.
The most recent research, which was released on Thursday in the journal Current Biology, suggests that species with distinctive features are specifically declining and being replaced by more widespread generalist species.
According to Dr. Hughes’ comment, “we do find substantial evidence to support the idea that the largest and smallest species are likely to be most at risk of extinction.” This could lead to birds becoming more alike in terms of their morphology as the climate crisis worsens, scientists warn.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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