TY - JOUR
T1 - Pinpointing and preventing imminent extinctions
AU - Ricketts, Taylor
AU - Dinerstein, Eric
AU - Boucher, Tim
AU - Brooks, Thomas
AU - Butchart, Stuart
AU - Hoffmann, Michael
AU - Lamoreux, John
AU - Morrison, John
AU - Parr, Mike
AU - Pilgrim, John
AU - Rodrigues, Ana
AU - Sechrest, Wes
AU - Wallace, George
AU - Berlin, Ken
AU - Bielby, Jon
AU - Burgess, Neil
AU - Church, Don
AU - Cox, Neil
AU - Knox, David
AU - Loucks, Colby
AU - Luck, Gary
AU - Master, Lawrence
AU - Moore, Robin
AU - Naidoo, Robin
AU - Ridgely, Robert
AU - Schatz, George
AU - Shire, Gavin
AU - Strand, Holly
AU - Wettengel, Wes
AU - Wikramanayake, Eric
N1 - Imported on 12 Apr 2017 - DigiTool details were: Journal title (773t) = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA. ISSNs: 0027-8424;
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Slowing rates of global biodiversity loss requires preventing species extinctions. Here we pinpoint centers of imminent extinction, where highly threatened species are confined to single sites. Within five globally assessed taxa (i.e., mammals, birds, selected reptiles, amphibians, and conifers), we find 794 such species, three times the number recorded as having gone extinct since 1500. These species occur in 595 sites, concentrated in tropical forests, on islands, and in mountainous areas. Their taxonomic and geographical distribution differs significantly from that of historical extinctions, indicating an expansion of the current extinction episode beyond sensitive species and places toward the planet's most biodiverse mainland regions. Only one-third of the sites are legally protected, and most are surrounded by intense human development. These sites represent clear opportunities for urgent conservation action to prevent species loss.
AB - Slowing rates of global biodiversity loss requires preventing species extinctions. Here we pinpoint centers of imminent extinction, where highly threatened species are confined to single sites. Within five globally assessed taxa (i.e., mammals, birds, selected reptiles, amphibians, and conifers), we find 794 such species, three times the number recorded as having gone extinct since 1500. These species occur in 595 sites, concentrated in tropical forests, on islands, and in mountainous areas. Their taxonomic and geographical distribution differs significantly from that of historical extinctions, indicating an expansion of the current extinction episode beyond sensitive species and places toward the planet's most biodiverse mainland regions. Only one-third of the sites are legally protected, and most are surrounded by intense human development. These sites represent clear opportunities for urgent conservation action to prevent species loss.
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0509060102
DO - 10.1073/pnas.0509060102
M3 - Article
VL - 102
SP - 18497
EP - 18501
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 51
ER -