Latest Anthony Barnosky Stories

Paleobiologists at the University of California at Berkeley are studying the state of biodiversity today, using the world's mammal species as a barometer. Mammal extinctions were very rare: on average, just two species died out every million years, until humans' largest expansion yet, some 500 years ago.In the last five centuries however, at least 80 out of 5,570 mammal species have disappeared, thinning out the biodiversity of the planet. "It looks like modern extinction rates resemble...

Steep decline of many animal species warns that Earth is on the brinkWith the steep decline in populations of many animal species, scientists have warned that Earth is on the brink of a mass extinction like those that have occurred just five times during the past 540 million years.Each of these "Big Five" saw three-quarters or more of all animal species go extinct.In results of a study published in this week's issue of journal Nature, researchers report on an assessment of where...

If Earth is headed for a mass extinction like the previous five, in which more than 75 percent of all species were wiped out, then North American mammals are one-fifth to one-half the way there, according to a University of California, Berkeley, and Pennsylvania State University analysis.Many scientists warn that the perfect storm of global warming and environmental degradation - both the result of human activity - is leading to a sixth mass extinction equal to the "Big Five" that...

Mammals may be nearly half way toward mass extinctionIf the planet is headed for another mass extinction like the previous five, each of which wiped out more than 75 percent of all species on the planet, then North American mammals are one-fifth to one-half the way there, according to a University of California, Berkeley, and Pennsylvania State University analysis.Many scientists warn that the perfect storm of global warming and environmental degradation "“ both the result of human activity...

For those who think of nature as a wild, unspoiled Eden that preserves the natural flora and fauna free from human interference, global warming has a nasty surprise in store, according to University of California, Berkeley, biologist Anthony Barnosky.In his new book, "Heatstroke: Nature in an Age of Global Warming" (Island Press, 2009), Barnosky says that because of climate change, wilderness left to its own will no longer look like the natural areas we see today. Our conservation...