Extinction Rates Have Slowed Down
According to a new study, extinction rates across many plant and animal groups have slowed down.
Research led by scientists at the University of Arizona revealed that the patterns and causes of past extinctions differ from current and future threats.
‘We show that extinction rates are not getting faster towards the present, as many people claim, but instead peaked many decades ago,’ said Wiens.
Past extinctions were mostly caused by invasive species on islands, rather than by today’s most significant threat to wildlife — the destruction of natural habitats.
Authors summary: Extinction rates slowed down in many species.