Global News - May 2008
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Knock-on effects of extinction identified
Fri 16 May 2008 14:15 UK — Other
New research has suggested that the presence of endangered species of flora or fauna in a local area increases the risks of extinction for other species.
A team from Linkoping University and the University of Sheffield suggested that the knock-on impacts of a single species' extinction could be severe.
They created models which simulated the impacts on food web when a species dies out. The results showed that secondary extinction increased significantly.
The researchers said that some species "occupy a unique position in the food web", meaning that their extinction will have far-reaching consequences.
In the paper, the researchers pointed to the sea otter. They said that it lives on mussels and sea urchins and its extinction on the Pacific coastline of the Americas caused the whole local ecosystem to collapse. They added that many other species have become extinct locally as a result.
As a result, the scientists said it was important so-called 'keystone species' are identified and targeted for conservation.
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July 2008
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