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Main Index
- Biodiversity Journal 2024
- Biodiversity Journal 2023
- Biodiversity Journal 2022
- Biodiversity Journal 2021
- Biodiversity Journal 2020
- Biodiversity Journal 2019
- Biodiversity Journal 2018
- Biodiversity Journal 2017
- Biodiversity Journal 2016
- Biodiversity Journal 2015
- Biodiversity Journal 2014
- Biodiversity Journal 2013
- Biodiversity Journal 2012
- Biodiversity Journal 2011
- Biodiversity Journal 2010
John C. Briggs
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Biodiversity Journal, 5 (4): 447–452
John C. Briggs
Global biodiversity gain is concurrent with declining population sizesABSTRACT
Many authorities believe that the world’s foremost conservation problem is biodiversity loss caused by the extinctions of thousands of species per year. Estimates of huge losses are based on indirect evidence such as the amount of habitat destroyed, pollution, or overexploitation. But, we now have documented records of species extinctions that provide direct instead of indirect information about diversity loss. By using extinction records for well-known animal groups plus surrogate data, I show there is no evidence for an unusually high rate of extinction, a mass extinction is not yet underway, and there are indications of a continued biodiversity gain. On the other hand, there is ample evidence to demonstrate the persistence of numerous small populations that are the remnants of once widespread and productive species. These populations represent an extinction debt that will be paid unless they are rescued through present day conservation activity. They constitute the world’s true biodiversity problem.
- Biodiversity Journal 2024
- Biodiversity Journal 2023
- Biodiversity Journal 2022
- Biodiversity Journal 2021
- Biodiversity Journal 2020
- Biodiversity Journal 2019
- Biodiversity Journal 2018
- Biodiversity Journal 2017
- Biodiversity Journal 2016
- Biodiversity Journal 2015
- Biodiversity Journal 2014
- Biodiversity Journal 2013
- Biodiversity Journal 2012
- Biodiversity Journal 2011
- Biodiversity Journal 2010