A new study reveals that recovering mammal species lost to extinction in Madagascar would take three million years, whereas extinction of threatened species could extend this period to over 20 million years. This highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect the island’s unique biodiversity and evolutionary history.
A recent study involving an international team of scientists, including Dr. Liliana M. Dávalos from Stony Brook University, indicates that the extinction of mammal species due to human actions in Madagascar would require an estimated three million years to recover. Published in Nature Communications, the research highlights that if threatened species were to become extinct, recovery might take over 20 million years, which exceeds previous estimates for any island archipelago.
Madagascar is a crucial biodiversity hotspot, housing approximately 90 percent of its flora and fauna found exclusively on the island, including distinctive species such as baobabs and lemurs. Since human settlement approximately 2,500 years ago, numerous extinctions, including those of giant lemurs and elephant birds, have occurred. Despite these challenges, Madagascar’s mammal fauna remains relatively intact, with over 200 species still present; however, more than half of these are now threatened mainly due to habitat destruction stemming from agricultural practices.
To investigate the impact of human activities on Madagascar’s ecosystems, biologists and paleontologists developed a comprehensive dataset detailing the evolutionary relationships among all mammal species on the island at the time of human colonization. The dataset identified 249 species, including 30 now extinct, with over half of the current species listed as threatened by the IUCN Red List.
The study utilized a computer simulation based on island biogeography theory to estimate that approximately three million years would be necessary to recover mammal species lost since human arrival. If threatened species were to go extinct, recovery would, however, extend to approximately 23 million years. This alarming statistic has escalated in the past decade due to intensified human impacts on the island.
Dr. Dávalos emphasized the urgency of conservation efforts on the island, stating that effective action could significantly mitigate the risk of extinction and preserve unique evolutionary history. Leading researcher Luis Valente noted the extraordinary value of Madagascar’s biodiversity and how the recovery time for its species far exceeds that of other islands like New Zealand and the Caribbean. The findings signify an imminent extinction wave with profound evolutionary consequences if immediate conservation actions are not enacted. Fortunately, the simulation model indicates that with proactive measures, a considerable history of unique evolution can still be safeguarded in Madagascar.
The alarming findings of the recent study underscore the critical need for conservation efforts in Madagascar. Approximately three million years would be necessary to recover mammal species lost due to human activity, while extinction of currently threatened species could result in a recovery period of 23 million years. The research emphasizes that without immediate conservation actions, Madagascar faces a significant threat to its unique biodiversity, which has evolved over millions of years. However, opportunities remain for safeguarding this evolutionary legacy through effective interventions.
Original Source: news.stonybrook.edu
