Can We Save the Tree of Life?

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By Muddasir Ammar

In a recent study that surfaced on Monday, a troubling revelation has come to light – the impact of human activity is causing entire branches of the “Tree of Life” to wither away, signaling the looming threat of a sixth mass extinction event.

Gerardo Ceballos, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and co-author of this study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), firmly asserts, “The extinction crisis is as bad as the climate change crisis. It is not recognized.” Ceballos goes on to emphasize the severity of the situation by stating, “What is at stake is the future of mankind.” What sets this study apart is its unique approach – instead of just scrutinizing individual species’ extinctions, it delves into the extinction of entire genera.

In the intricate hierarchy of life forms, the genus stands between the species and family ranks. For example, in the case of dogs, they belong to the species canis, which, in turn, falls under the canid family. Robert Cowie, a biologist at the University of Hawaii, not involved in the study, lauds this approach, saying, “It is a really significant contribution, I think the first time anyone has attempted to assess modern extinction rates at a level above the species.” He further highlights that this study vividly showcases the devastating loss of entire branches of the Tree of Life, a concept initially formulated by Charles Darwin.

This comprehensive study reveals that we are not merely witnessing the trimming of the tree’s terminal twigs; rather, it’s akin to wielding a chainsaw to sever substantial branches. Anthony Barnosky, professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, aptly concurs, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The researchers primarily relied on data from species declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with a particular focus on vertebrate species, excluding fish, due to the greater availability of data in this category. Out of approximately 5,400 genera, encompassing around 34,600 species, the study found that a staggering 73 genera have faced extinction over the past five centuries. Most of these extinctions occurred within the last two hundred years. The research team then compared these findings with the estimated extinction rate derived from the fossil record over an extensive time frame.

Ceballos explains the alarming statistics, stating, “Based on the extinction rate in the previous million years, we would have expected to lose two genera. But we lost 73.” The study estimates that such a loss should have occurred over 18,000 years rather than a mere 500. However, it’s important to note that these estimations carry some degree of uncertainty due to incomplete fossil records and the fact that not all species are documented.

This study serves as an urgent call to recognize the perilous consequences of human actions on the delicate web of life, imploring society to take swift and meaningful steps towards preserving the “Tree of Life” and the future of our planet.

The root cause of this burgeoning crisis? The relentless march of human activity. Activities such as the obliteration of habitats to make way for agriculture or infrastructure, the unchecked spread of overfishing, and the insatiable appetite for hunting, among others. It’s a profound and interconnected web of factors that has thrown the delicate balance of nature into disarray.

As we delve deeper into the heart of the matter, it becomes increasingly evident that the loss of a single genus, a category that sits between species and family in the classification of life forms, can send shockwaves through an entire ecosystem. Gerardo Ceballos, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a co-author of this pivotal study, paints a vivid analogy, stating, “If you take one brick, the wall won’t collapse. You take many more, eventually the wall will collapse.” What looms on the horizon is the precarious state of our civilization, teetering on the brink of collapse due to our relentless actions.

The experts unanimously sound the alarm on the current rate of extinctions. It’s a dire scenario, but whether it equates to the onset of a sixth mass extinction, akin to the catastrophic asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, is still a matter of debate. The scientific community defines a mass extinction as the catastrophic loss of 75 percent of species within a short timeframe. Using this rather arbitrary benchmark, Robert Cowie, a biologist at the University of Hawaii, points out that a sixth mass extinction hasn’t officially materialized.

However, he cautions that if the current rate of species extinctions persists, or worse, accelerates, then it’s an inevitability. Cowie firmly asserts, “We can surely say that this is the beginning of a potential sixth mass extinction.” The window of opportunity for humanity to take decisive action is swiftly narrowing, warns Ceballos.

The primary imperative on this harrowing journey to avert disaster is to staunch the relentless destruction of natural habitats. Equally critical is the restoration of those habitats that have already been lost. Ceballos offers a glimmer of hope amidst the impending darkness, stating, “But there is still time to save many genera.” A total of 5,400 genera exist, and with concerted efforts, a substantial number can be rescued from the brink of oblivion. The clock is ticking, and the responsibility lies heavily upon our shoulders to act decisively and resolutely.

In conclusion, the findings of this study serve as a stark reminder of the dire consequences of human actions on our planet’s biodiversity. The loss of entire genera, driven by habitat destruction, overfishing, and other activities, poses a grave threat not only to the natural world but also to the future of humanity. While we may not have officially entered a sixth mass extinction, the alarm bells are ringing loudly. Urgent action is imperative to halt habitat destruction, restore lost ecosystems, and safeguard the delicate balance of nature. It is a race against time, but there is still hope that we can preserve many genera if we act decisively and collectively to protect our precious “Tree of Life.”

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