A new study led by Dr. Liliana M. Dávalos indicates that recovering mammal species lost due to human activities in Madagascar could take millions of years. The research highlights the urgency of conservation efforts, emphasizing that without action, more than 20 million years of evolutionary history may be at risk. The study identifies the significant impact human activities have had on Madagascar’s biodiversity, where over half of its mammal species face extinction.
A recent study conducted by international scientists, including Dr. Liliana M. Dávalos of Stony Brook University, indicates that recovering species lost due to human activities in Madagascar could take an astonishing three million years. This research, published in Nature Communications, asserts that recovering the biodiversity of currently endangered species could require over 20 million years, a timeline unprecedented compared to other island archipelagos.
Madagascar is a critical biodiversity hotspot, home to about 90 percent of species that are found nowhere else. Human settlement, which began approximately 2,500 years ago, has led to numerous extinctions, including those of giant lemurs and elephant birds. Thankfully, over 200 mammal species remain, including the fossa and ring-tailed lemur, but more than half of these are now threatened due to habitat loss from agricultural practices.
The research team comprised biologists and paleontologists from Europe, Madagascar, and the United States. They developed an extensive dataset detailing the evolutionary relationships among all mammal species present during the initial human colonization of Madagascar. Co-author Dr. Dávalos played a pivotal role in structuring the study and analyzing potential new species discoveries.
This comprehensive dataset identified 249 species, including 30 that have already gone extinct. Currently, over 120 of the 219 extant mammal species in Madagascar are listed as threatened by the IUCN Red List, primarily due to habitat destruction and hunting practices. A simulation based on island biogeography concluded that recovery of lost mammal species would require about three million years, with an increased timeframe of approximately 23 million years if currently endangered species were to become extinct.
The findings surprised the research team and underscored the urgency of conservation efforts in Madagascar. Dr. Dávalos noted, “These staggering results highlight the importance of effective conservation efforts in Madagascar.”
Leading researcher Luis Valente remarked on the significance of the study, indicating that Madagascar’s biodiversity holds immense value, as reflected in the lengthy recovery period that exceeds previous studies on similar islands. The research ultimately conveys that without prompt conservation actions, Madagascar may face a looming extinction crisis with profound evolutionary consequences. However, proactive measures could safeguard over 20 million years of the island’s unique evolutionary history.
The study emphasizes the alarming state of Madagascar’s biodiversity, highlighting the potential loss of unique species and the extensive time required for recovery from human-induced extinctions. It reveals the urgent need for immediate conservation strategies to prevent an extinction wave, thereby preserving the island’s rich evolutionary heritage. Effective actions can significantly alter the outlook for Madagascar’s wildlife and the invaluable biodiversity it hosts.
Original Source: news.stonybrook.edu
