April 09, 2019

Humans And Vertebrate Mortality

Listen Later

2 minutes

According to a new study, more than one-quarter of the planet’s land vertebrates die because of humans. This is a “disproportionately huge effect” on the other land vertebrates that share planet’s surface with us.

Researchers from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and

Forestry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture reviewed 1,114 published

studies in which nearly 43,000 animals had perished. Their study, which was recently published in

the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, found that 28% of the animals’

deaths were directly attributable to humans.

The other 72% died from natural sources.

Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that died between 1970 and 2018 in the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania were the foundation of the study. All of these vertebrates had been either collared or tagged as part of other research projects.

The researchers point out that humans are only one among more than

35,000 species of terrestrial vertebrates globally. The fact that humans are responsible for more

than one-quarter of their deaths illustrates the profound magnitude of the

problem. And that statistic is just the

direct causes. According to the

researchers, when urban growth and other land use changes that erode habitat

are considered, the human impact is likely even greater.

The study found that the impact of humans across all the different

species was not equal. In fact, larger animals were more likely to be killed by

humans than smaller animals. Adult animals were more likely to be killed by

humans than juveniles.

The researchers conclude that humans are such a major contributor to

terrestrial vertebrate mortality that they could potentially impact both

evolutionary processes and ecosystem functioning.

**********

Web Links

On the land, one-quarter of vertebrates die because of humans

Photo, posted March 6, 2019, courtesy of USFWS Midwest Region via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more

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Earth Wise

By Randy Simon

4.7

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April 09, 2019

Humans And Vertebrate Mortality

Listen Later

2 minutes

According to a new study, more than one-quarter of the planet’s land vertebrates die because of humans. This is a “disproportionately huge effect” on the other land vertebrates that share planet’s surface with us.

Researchers from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and

Forestry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture reviewed 1,114 published

studies in which nearly 43,000 animals had perished. Their study, which was recently published in

the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, found that 28% of the animals’

deaths were directly attributable to humans.

The other 72% died from natural sources.

Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that died between 1970 and 2018 in the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania were the foundation of the study. All of these vertebrates had been either collared or tagged as part of other research projects.

The researchers point out that humans are only one among more than

35,000 species of terrestrial vertebrates globally. The fact that humans are responsible for more

than one-quarter of their deaths illustrates the profound magnitude of the

problem. And that statistic is just the

direct causes. According to the

researchers, when urban growth and other land use changes that erode habitat

are considered, the human impact is likely even greater.

The study found that the impact of humans across all the different

species was not equal. In fact, larger animals were more likely to be killed by

humans than smaller animals. Adult animals were more likely to be killed by

humans than juveniles.

The researchers conclude that humans are such a major contributor to

terrestrial vertebrate mortality that they could potentially impact both

evolutionary processes and ecosystem functioning.

**********

Web Links

On the land, one-quarter of vertebrates die because of humans

Photo, posted March 6, 2019, courtesy of USFWS Midwest Region via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more