The DOI matches its Crossref record; 164 of the 164 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 6 of the 136 sources its claims cite were checked for support.
Defaunation in the Anthropocene
Open accessAbstract
We live amid a global wave of anthropogenically driven biodiversity loss: species and population extirpations and, critically, declines in local species abundance. Particularly, human impacts on animal biodiversity are an under-recognized form of global environmental change. Among terrestrial vertebrates, 322 species have become extinct since 1500, and populations of the remaining species show 25% average decline in abundance. Invertebrate patterns are equally dire: 67% of monitored populations show 45% mean abundance decline. Such animal declines will cascade onto ecosystem functioning and human well-being. Much remains unknown about this “Anthropocene defaunation”; these knowledge gaps hinder our capacity to predict and limit defaunation impacts. Clearly, however, defaunation is both a pervasive component of the planet’s sixth mass extinction and also a major driver of global ecological change.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
6 of 136 cited sources checked · 5 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured
The cited sources support only part of this claim — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“Across vertebrates, 16% to 33% of all species are estimated to be globally threatened or endangered (17,18)”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Defaunation: a pervasive phenomenon
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [17] 17. IUCN, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species <www.iucnredlist.org> (2013)
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Supportedcites [18] 18. M. Hoffmann et al., Science 330, 1503 (2010). source
The “Status, trends, and threats” section states that, accounting for uncertainty from Data Deficient species, between 16% and 33% of all vertebrate species are classified as Threatened. This directly supports the cited estimate. (LLM, conf=0.95)
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passes- Not matched
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“The long-established major proximate drivers of wildlife population decline and extinction in terrestrial ecosystems, namely overexploitation, habitat destruction, and impacts from invasive species remain pervasive (18).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Multiple, unaddressed drivers of defaunation
What the sources say
- Supportedcites [18] 18. M. Hoffmann et al., Science 330, 1503 (2010). source
The opening summary (p. 1503) identifies agricultural expansion, logging, overexploitation, and invasive alien species as main drivers of biodiversity loss among mammals, birds, and amphibians. The “Confronting threats” section adds that conservation has not yet offset any major driver of increased extinction risk. Agricultural expansion and logging substantiate the claim’s reference to habitat destruction. (LLM, conf=0.93)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes- Supported
The sources with a verdict support this claim; the rest weren’t checked yet, have no full text we could read, or their verdicts aren’t rated yet.
In the paper
“None of these major drivers have been effectively mitigated at the global scale (14,18).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Multiple, unaddressed drivers of defaunation
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [14] 14. S. H. Butchart et al., Science 328, 1164 (2010). source
- Supportedcites [18] 18. M. Hoffmann et al., Science 330, 1503 (2010). source
In “Confronting threats” (page not supplied), the paper says that deteriorations outnumber improvements for every threat assessed and concludes that conservation has not yet offset any major driver of increased extinction risk. This supports the claim at the global scale, within the paper’s scope of vertebrate extinction risk. (LLM, conf=0.93)
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesThe cited sources support only part of this claim — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“the effects of defaunation will be much less about the loss of absolute diversity than about local shifts in species compositions and functional groups within a community (80).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
What the sources say
- Partly supportedcites [80] 80. M. Dornelas et al., Science 344, 296 (2014). sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Conclusions (page not available) describe the replacement of large herbivores by smaller mammals and arthropods, and the ‘Effects of large mammals on small mammals’ section reports changes in vegetation and consumer abundance. These support local shifts in the community, but the paper does not establish that such shifts matter more than losses of absolute diversity or make a general comparison of the two effects of defaunation. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes- Partly supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“and few major human pathogens seem to fit the criteria that would make such a relationship pervasive (71).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Water quality.
What the sources say
- Supportedcites [71] 71. C. L. Wood, K. D. Lafferty, G. DeLeo, H. S. Young, A. M. Kuris, Ecology 95, 817http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/13-1041.1 (2014). source
In “Predicting the Biodiversity–Disease Relationship” (page not available), the authors project that biodiversity would reduce the prevalence of only 12% of the infectious disease species they assessed. They conclude that negative biodiversity–disease relationships may be relatively uncommon, supporting the citing sentence’s hedged claim. Their assessment covers common pathogenic human protozoan and metazoan parasites, not viruses or bacteria. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passes- Supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“However, the impacts of defaunation on disease are far from straightforward (71)”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Water quality.
What the sources say
- Supportedcites [71] 71. C. L. Wood, K. D. Lafferty, G. DeLeo, H. S. Young, A. M. Kuris, Ecology 95, 817http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/13-1041.1 (2014). source
The Introduction says that biodiversity loss is likely to produce both “winners and losers” among parasites. “Where Do We Go From Here?” adds that the biodiversity–disease relationship may be nonlinear and either positive or negative. These passages support the claim that the disease effects of defaunation are not straightforward; page numbers were not provided. (LLM, conf=0.92)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passes- Supported
None of the sources cited for this claim could be matched to a paper in Crossref, so there is nothing to check it against.
In the paper
“Of a conservatively estimated 5-9 million animal species on the planet, we are likely losing ~11,000 to 58,000 species annually (15,16).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Defaunation: a pervasive phenomenon
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [15] 15. C. Mora, A. Rollo, D. P. Tittensor, Science 493, 295 (2013).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Not matchedcites [16] 16. B. R. Scheffers, L. N. Joppa, S. L. Pimm, W. F. Laurance, Trends Ecol. Evol. 27, 501 (2012).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passes- Not matched
In the paper
“with populations of many iconic species such as elephant (Fig S1B) rapidly declining towards extinction (19).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Defaunation: a pervasive phenomenon
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [19] 19. Materials and methods are available in the Supplementary Materials.
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passes- Not matched
None of the sources cited for this claim could be matched to a paper in Crossref, so there is nothing to check it against.
In the paper
“Among terrestrial vertebrates 322 species have become extinct since 1500, while populations of the remaining species show 25% average decline in abundance.”
- Also stated in: § Defaunation: a pervasive phenomenon · plain
“Across vertebrates, 16% to 33% of all species are estimated to be globally threatened or endangered (17,18), and at least 322 vertebrate species have become extinct since 1500 (a date representative of onset of the recent wave of extinction, as formal definition of the start of the Anthropocene still being debated) (17,19,20) (Table S1).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [17] 17. IUCN, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species <www.iucnredlist.org> (2013)
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Not matchedcites [19] 19. Materials and methods are available in the Supplementary Materials.
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Not matchedcites [20] 20. G. Ceballos, A. García, P. R. Ehrlich, J. Cosmol. 8, 1821 (2010).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes- Rests on an assumption: The year 1500 is a representative starting point for the recent wave of extinction.
- Also stated in: § Defaunation: a pervasive phenomenon · plain
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Invertebrate patterns are equally dire: 67% of monitored populations show 45% mean abundance decline.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes? Based: unclear
- It may state two separate claims as one. 24
- Probably not a substantial claim. 8
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“In our evaluation of mammals (1437 species) and birds (4263 species), the number of species per 10,000 km 2 in decline (IUCN population status “decreasing”) varied across regions from a few to 75 in mammals and 125 in birds (Fig 2), with highest numbers in tropical regions.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Patterns of defaunation
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Of all insects with IUCN documented population trends, 33% are declining, with strong variation among Orders 19).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [19] 19. Materials and methods are available in the Supplementary Materials.
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
In the paper
“counts of threatened species do not necessarily translate into extinction risk, much less ecological impact (13).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [13] 13. A. Ø. Mooers, D. P. Faith, W. P. Maddison, PloS one 3, e3700 (2008).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“These extinctions altered ecosystem processes and disturbance regimes at continental scales, triggering cascades of extinction thought to still reverberate today (3,4).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [3] 3. C. E. Doughty, A. Wolf, Y. Malhi, Nat. Geosci. 6, 761 (2013).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [4] 4. J. L. Gill et al., Science 326, 1100 (2009). source
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:conditional· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
In the paper
“Similar to other mass extinction events, the effects of this”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [2] 2. M. Cardillo et al., P. Roy. Soc. Lond. B. Bio. 275, 1441 (2008).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Clearly, however, defaunation is both a pervasive component of the planet's sixth mass extinction, and also a major driver of global ecological change.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Much remains unknown about this”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Loss of invertebrate biodiversity has received much less attention and data are extremely limited.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Defaunation: a pervasive phenomenon
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“We live amidst a global wave of anthropogenically driven biodiversity loss: species and population extirpations and, critically, declines in local species abundance.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“some animal species are able to persist in highly modified habitats”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Abstract
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
In the paper
“Moreover, several newer threats have recently emerged, most notably anthropogenic climate disruption, which will likely soon compete with habitat loss as the most important driver of defaunation (44).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Multiple, unaddressed drivers of defaunation
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [44] 44. O. E. Sala et al., Science 287, 1770 (2000). source
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:conditional· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“While most declining species are affected by multiple stressors, we still have a poor understanding of the complex ways in which these drivers interact, and of feedback loops that may exist (7,11).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Multiple, unaddressed drivers of defaunation
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [7] 7. A. D. Barnosky et al., Nature 486, 52 (2012). source
- Not matchedcites [11] 11. B. W. Brook, N. S. Sodhi, C. J. Bradshaw, Trends Ecol. Evol. 23, 453 (2008).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“While defaunation is a global pattern, geographic distribution patterns are also decidedly non-random (28).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Patterns of defaunation
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [28] 28. S. Pimm et al., Science 344, 1246752 (2014). source
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim could be matched to a paper in Crossref, so there is nothing to check it against.
In the paper
“However, increasingly sophisticated approaches help to predict which species are likely to be at risk, and to map latent extinction risk (38), holding great promise both for managing defaunation and identifying likely patterns of ecological impact (39).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Patterns of defaunation
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [38] 38. M. Cardillo, G. M. Mace, J. L. Gittleman, A. Purvis, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103, 4157 (2006).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Not matchedcites [39] 39. H. Hillebrand, B. Matthiessen, Ecol. Lett. 12, 1405 (2009).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
In the paper
“For instance, among vertebrates, more amphibians (41%) are currently considered threatened than birds (17%), with mammals and reptiles experiencing intermediate threat levels (27).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Patterns of defaunation
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [27] 27. J. Schipper et al., Science 322, 225 (2008). source
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“However, these 'extinction models' have made little impact on conservation management, in part because trait correlations are often idiosyncratic and context dependent (31).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Patterns of defaunation
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [31] 31. M. Cardillo, E. Meijaard, Trends Ecol. Evol. 27, 167 (2012).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Ironically, the cryptic nature of defaunation has strong potential to soon become very non-cryptic, rivaling the impact of many other forms of global change in terms of loss of ecosystem services essential for human well-being.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✗ Checkable: fails✓ Load-bearing: passes✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“we need to focus on predicting the systematic patterns of winners and losers in the Anthropocene and identify the traits that characterize them, as this will provide information on the patterns and the links to function that we can then act upon.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✗ Checkable: fails✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“we emphasize that defaunation is about much more than species loss.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✗ Checkable: fails✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“However, most efforts to quantify this relationship have focused largely on effects of reduced producer diversity, which may typically have much lower functional impacts than does consumer loss (49,50).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Consequences of defaunation
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [49] 49. J. Reiss, J. R. Bridle, J. M. Montoya, G. Woodward, Trends Ecol. Evol. 24, 505 (2009).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [50] 50. B. J. Cardinale et al., Nature 486, 59 (2012). source
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Ongoing declines in populations of animals such as nematodes, beetles, or bats, are considerably less evident to humans”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✗ Checkable: fails✓ Load-bearing: passes✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Ultimately, both reduced and more evenly distributed global resource consumption will be necessary to sustainably change ongoing trends in defaunation and, hopefully, eventually open the door to refaunation.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✗ Checkable: fails✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. It may state two separate claims as one.
- Rests on an assumption: Continued human population growth and increasingly uneven per-capita consumption ultimately drive all these threats.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“yet arguably are more functionally important”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
Load-bearingStrength:hedged· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✗ Checkable: fails✓ Load-bearing: passes✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
In the paper
“One recent study in Madagascar suggested that loss of wildlife as a food source will increase anemia by 30%, leading to increased mortality, morbidity and learning difficulties (66).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Water quality.
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [66] 66. C. D. Golden et al., P. Natl. Acad. Sci. 108, 19653 (2011).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
- Rests on an assumption: In many parts of the world, wild animal food sources are a critical part of the diet, particularly for the poor.
- Not matched
In the paper
“Insect pollination, needed for 75% of all the world's food crops, is estimated to be worth ~10% of the economic value of the world's entire food supply (52).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Impacts on ecosystem functions and services
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [52] 52. N. Gallai, J.-M. Salles, J. Settele, B. E. Vaissière, Ecological Economics 68, 810 (2009).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
In the paper
“Similarly, declines in bird pollinators in New Zealand led to strong pollen limitation, ultimately reducing seed production and population regeneration (55) (Fig 5H).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Impacts on ecosystem functions and services
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [55] 55. S. H. Anderson et al., Science 331, 1068 (2011). source
Strength:boosted· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“This review indicates that a widespread and pervasive defaunation crisis, with farreaching consequences, is upon us.”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
Load-bearingStrength:hedged· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Large animals, including ungulates, hippos, and crocodiles, prevent formation of anoxic zones through agitation and affect water movement through trampling (64).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Water quality.
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [64] 64. J. P. Wright, C. G. Jones, A. S. Flecker, Oecologia 132, 96 (2002).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
In the paper
“For instance, global declines in amphibian populations increase algae and fine detritus biomass, reduce nitrogen uptake, and greatly reduce whole stream respiration (Fig 5E; (63)).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Water quality.
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [63] 63. M. Whiles et al., Ecosystems 16, 146 (2013). source
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Large wildlife removal also causes major effects on ecosystem functions and services (Panel D), including changes to fire intensity (Fi); cattle production in both dry (C-D) and wet seasons (C-W); disease prevalence (D); infectivity of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF); photosynthetic rates (Ph); and transpiration rates (TR).”
§ Defaunation in the Anthropocene > Synthesis and ways forward
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [81] 81. F. Keesing, T. P. Young, Bioscience 64, 487 (2014).
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
The paper relies on this without support.
The year 1500 is a representative starting point for the recent wave of extinction.
“(a date representative of onset of the recent wave of extinction, as formal definition of the start of the Anthropocene still being debated)”
The paper relies on this without support.
In many parts of the world, wild animal food sources are a critical part of the diet, particularly for the poor.
“In many parts of the world, wild animal food sources are a critical part of the diet, particularly for the poor.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The indirect evolutionary effects of defaunation on species not directly impacted by human defaunation are still poorly studied.
“Still poorly studied are the indirect evolutionary effects of defaunation on other species, not directly impacted by human defaunation.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Arthropod pests are responsible for 8-15% of the losses in most major food crops.
“For example, arthropod pests are responsible for 8-15% of the losses in most major food crops.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Continued human population growth and increasingly uneven per-capita consumption ultimately drive all these threats.
“continued human population growth and increasingly uneven per-capita consumption, which ultimately drive all these threats”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“the literature reflects broad agreement among environmental scientists that biases lead to underestimating the number of species that have gone extinct in the past few centuries”
From Accelerated modern human–induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Hundreds of species and myriad populations are being driven to extinction every year (1–8).”
From Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines (2017) · cites this paper as [2]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“A growing body of evidence indicates that current species extinction rates are higher than the pre-human background rate (8–15)”
From Accelerated modern human–induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“This suggests that, even if there was not ample sign that the crisis extends far beyond that group of animals, today’s planetary defaunation of vertebrates will itself promote cascading catastrophic effects on ecosystems, worsening the annihilation of nature (2, 3, 46).”
From Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines (2017) · cites this paper as [2]
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“In sum, by losing populations (and species) of vertebrates, we are losing intricate ecological networks involving animals, plants, and microorganisms (e.g., refs. 2, 8, 18, 45, 46).”
From Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines (2017) · cites this paper as [2]
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“However, given that such medium and large species are the most seriously threatened by the predominant proximate drivers of defaunation (2, 3), the likely bias against small-sized species should not affect our overall interpretation of results.”
From Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines (2017) · cites this paper as [2]
In the citing paper
“Fourth, species at the brink have been pushed to a critical conservation status because of human activities, where habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal trade, overexploitation, introduced domestic and wild species, toxification, and pollution have played a major role (10, 13–15, 30, 46, 52, 53).”
From Vertebrates on the brink as indicators of biological annihilation and the sixth mass extinction (2020) · cites this paper as [14]
In the citing paper
“They occur mostly in heavily populated regions such as tropical Asia, where major ongoing biodiversity losses are well known (10, 13–15, 30, 46, 52, 53).”
From Vertebrates on the brink as indicators of biological annihilation and the sixth mass extinction (2020) · cites this paper as [14]
In the citing paper
“More recently, climate disruption is becoming a major cause of species endangerment (10, 11, 14–17).”
From Vertebrates on the brink as indicators of biological annihilation and the sixth mass extinction (2020) · cites this paper as [14]
In the citing paper
“Thus, moving onto the brink is an important part of the process of defaunation (14).”
From Vertebrates on the brink as indicators of biological annihilation and the sixth mass extinction (2020) · cites this paper as [14]
In the citing paper
“However, the number of studies on insect trends with sufficient replication and spatial coverage are limited [10, 23–25] and restricted to certain well-studied taxa.”
From More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas (2017) · cites this paper as [24]
In the citing paper
“Many top predators are both overexploited and strong controllers of nutrient cycling, water quality and other ecosystem services9,77,80–82.”
From Linking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales (2017) · cites this paper as [82]
In the citing paper
“Increasingly, the simple theoretical prediction that fragmentation reduces species richness is being modified to account for species identity through models that focus on how species vary in their traits (4, 21, 36, 48, 57, 58).”
From Habitat fragmentation and its lasting impact on Earth’s ecosystems (2015) · cites this paper as [58]
In the citing paper
“Most forms of global change known to reduce population sizes and biodiversity will be exacerbated by fragmentation (58, 60), including climate change (61), invasive species (62, 63), hunting (64), pollution [including light, noise, and chemicals (65)], and altered disturbance regimes (66).”
From Habitat fragmentation and its lasting impact on Earth’s ecosystems (2015) · cites this paper as [58]
Citations
Cites
Global Biodiversity Scenarios for the Year 2100
Sala, O. E., Stuart Chapin, F., III, Armesto, J. J., Berlow, E., Bloomfield, J., Dirzo, R., Huber-Sanwald, E., Huenneke, L. F., Jackson, R. B., et al. (2000) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.287.5459.1770 · Cited by 9,280
Self-citationBiodiversity loss and its impact on humanity
Cardinale, B. J., Duffy, J. E., Gonzalez, A., Hooper, D. U., Perrings, C., Venail, P., Narwani, A., Mace, G. M., Tilman, D., Wardle, D. A., et al. (2012) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature11148 · Cited by 7,457
Global pollinator declines: trends, impacts and drivers
Potts, S. G., Biesmeijer, J. C., Kremen, C., Neumann, P., Schweiger, O., & Kunin, W. E. (2010) · Trends in Ecology & Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.tree.2010.01.007 · Cited by 6,458
OERKE, E.-C. (2006) · The Journal of Agricultural Science · doi:10.1017/s0021859605005708 · Cited by 5,283
Global Biodiversity: Indicators of Recent Declines
Butchart, S. H. M., Walpole, M., Collen, B., van Strien, A., Scharlemann, J. P. W., Almond, R. E. A., Baillie, J. E. M., Bomhard, B., Brown, C., Bruno, J., et al. (2010) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1187512 · Cited by 4,892
Self-citationHas the Earth’s sixth mass extinction already arrived?
Barnosky, A. D., Matzke, N., Tomiya, S., Wogan, G. O. U., Swartz, B., Quental, T. B., Marshall, C., McGuire, J. L., Lindsey, E. L., Maguire, K. C., et al. (2011) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature09678 · Cited by 4,400
Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth
Estes, J. A., Terborgh, J., Brashares, J. S., Power, M. E., Berger, J., Bond, W. J., Carpenter, S. R., Essington, T. E., Holt, R. D., Jackson, J. B. C., et al. (2011) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1205106 · Cited by 4,087
Status and Ecological Effects of the World’s Largest Carnivores
Ripple, W. J., Estes, J. A., Beschta, R. L., Wilmers, C. C., Ritchie, E. G., Hebblewhite, M., Berger, J., Elmhagen, B., Letnic, M., Nelson, M. P., et al. (2014) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1241484 · Cited by 3,667
The biodiversity of species and their rates of extinction, distribution, and protection
Pimm, S. L., Jenkins, C. N., Abell, R., Brooks, T. M., Gittleman, J. L., Joppa, L. N., Raven, P. H., Roberts, C. M., & Sexton, J. O. (2014) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1246752 · Cited by 3,542
Parallel Declines in Pollinators and Insect-Pollinated Plants in Britain and the Netherlands
Biesmeijer, J. C., Roberts, S. P. M., Reemer, M., Ohlemüller, R., Edwards, M., Peeters, T., Schaffers, A. P., Potts, S. G., Kleukers, R., Thomas, C. D., et al. (2006) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1127863 · Cited by 3,189
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 7
- Mora C., Rollo A., Tittensor D. P., Science 443, 295 (2013).
- Ceballos G., García A., Ehrlich P. R., J. Cosmol. 8, 1821 (2010).
- Myers N., Int. Wildl. 5, 5 (1975).
- 10.1017/S0030605300032105 · DOI
- Aebischer N., Potts G., Methods 38, 4 (1990).
- Moore N., Odonatologica 20, 203 (1991).
- Lyons S. K., Smith F. A., Brown J. H., Evol. Ecol. Res. 6, 339 (2004).
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 1,101–1,200 of 4,205
da Silva, P. G., Bogoni, J. A., & Heino, J. (2019) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135171 · Cited by 30
Meneganzin, A., Pievani, T., & Caserini, S. (2020) · Biology & Philosophy · doi:10.1007/s10539-020-09754-2 · Cited by 36
Zeni, J. O., Hoeinghaus, D. J., Roa-Fuentes, C. A., & Casatti, L. (2020) · Hydrobiologia · doi:10.1007/s10750-020-04356-1 · Cited by 33
Silva, W. R., Zaniratto, C. P., Ferreira, J. O. V., Rigacci, E. D. B., Oliveira, J. F., Morandi, M. E. F., Killing, J. G., Nemes, L. G., & de Abreu, L. B. (2020) · Journal of Applied Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13731 · Cited by 30
The ethics of isolation, the spread of pandemics, and landscape ecology
Azevedo, J., Luque, S. S., Dobbs, C., Sanesi, G., & Sunderland, T. (2020) · Landscape Ecology · doi:10.1007/s10980-020-01092-8 · Cited by 30
Rezende, G. C., Sobral‐Souza, T., & Culot, L. (2020) · American Journal of Primatology · doi:10.1002/ajp.23202 · Cited by 30
“In the Anthropocene, changes in land‐use and the correlated habitat loss represent a severe threat for global biodiversity (Dirzo et al., 2014; Newbold et al.,2015).”
BackgroundGuedes, J. J. M., de Assis, C. L., Feio, R. N., et al. (2020) · Animal Biodiversity and Conservation · doi:10.32800/abc.2021.44.0045 · Cited by 30
“The Earth's biota has been severely impacted by anthropogenic activities, leading to population declines and species loss at a global scale (Barnosky et al., 2011; Dirzo et al., 2014).”
BackgroundPortela, R. D. C. Q., & Dirzo, R. (2020) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108852 · Cited by 32
Self-citationFoliar fungi and plant diversity drive ecosystem carbon fluxes in experimental prairies
Kohli, M., Henning, J. A., Borer, E. T., Kinkel, L. L., & Seabloom, E. W. (2020) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/ele.13663 · Cited by 29
Impacts of hydropower on the habitat of jaguars and tigers
Palmeirim, A. F., & Gibson, L. (2021) · Communications Biology · doi:10.1038/s42003-021-02878-5 · Cited by 32
Marjakangas, E., Muñoz, G., Turney, S., Albrecht, J., Neuschulz, E. L., Schleuning, M., & Lessard, J. (2021) · Ecological Monographs · doi:10.1002/ecm.1502 · Cited by 34
Sarkar, D., Bortolamiol, S., Gogarten, J. F., Hartter, J., Hou, R., Kagoro, W., Omeja, P. A., Tumwesigye, C., & Chapman, C. A. (2022) · Animal Conservation · doi:10.1111/acv.12765 · Cited by 33
“Extinction rates are estimated to be ~1000 times above the rate that would have occurred without anthropogenic impacts (Dirzo et al. 2014; Pimm et al. 2014; Ceballos et al. 2015).”
BackgroundEmerging post-Arctic tourism in the age of Anthropocene: case Finnish Lapland
Varnajot, A., & Saarinen, J. (2022) · Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism · doi:10.1080/15022250.2022.2134204 · Cited by 33
“…emerging “Anthropocene gaze” frames our environment © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group CONTACT Alix Varnajot alix.varnajot@oulu.fi Geography Research Unit, FI-90014, University of Oulu, Finland with images of collapsing societies and ecosystems (see Dirzo et al., 2014).”
BackgroundRosa, F., Fulvio, F. D., Lauri, P., Felton, A., Forsell, N., Pfister, S., & Hellweg, S. (2023) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.2c07867 · Cited by 29
Moulton, O. M., Altabet, M. A., Beman, J. M., Deegan, L. A., Lloret, J., Lyons, M. K., Nelson, J. A., & Pfister, C. A. (2016) · Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment · doi:10.1002/fee.1262 · Cited by 32
“J Implications for coastal ecosystem function Natural N inputs and cycling are likely changing as macrobiotic diversity and biomass decline in many aquatic ecosystems (Worm et al. 2006) – part of a larger pattern of global “defaunation” (Dirzo et al. 2014) and habitat loss.”
BackgroundKrause, T., & Nielsen, M. R. (2019) · Forests · doi:10.3390/f10040344 · Cited by 31
“Defaunation may change plant community composition, forest structure, and productivity to the extent that the long-term viability and service delivery of ecosystems is affected [60,63].”
BackgroundPerzanowski, K., Bleyhl, B., Olech, W., & Kuemmerle, T. (2019) · Animal Conservation · doi:10.1111/acv.12530 · Cited by 35
“Large mammals around the world are under increasing pressure from habitat loss and overhunting, with many species holding out only in small, fragmented populations (Dirzo et al., 2014; Ripple et al., 2015).”
BackgroundTyrrell, P., Toit, D., & Macdonald, D. W. (2019) · Conservation Science and Practice · doi:10.1111/csp2.136 · Cited by 34
“Obviously, megafauna needs special protection as keystone and umbrella species (Dickman et al., 2015; Dirzo et al., 2014), and they include the first species to be lost under increasing human pressure (Smith, Smith, Lyons, & Payne, 2018).”
BackgroundNava-Díaz, R., Zuria, I., & Pineda‐López, R. (2022) · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.3389/fevo.2021.795913 · Cited by 32
“Habitat degradation and habitat loss resulting from human activity are among the dominant drivers of the current mass extinction of fauna, the so-called Anthropocene defaunation (Dirzo et al., 2014; Young et al., 2016).”
BackgroundA multidimensional framework to quantify the effects of urbanization on avian breeding fitness
Chen, S., Liu, Y., Patrick, S. C., Goodale, E. B., Safran, R. J., & Pagani‐Núñez, E. (2023) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.10259 · Cited by 34
“Insectivorous species have experienced population declines of 13% in Europe (Bowler et al., 2019) and 31.8% in North America (Rosenberg et al., 2019), and such reduction has been attributed to the loss of insect diversity and biomass and other environmental factors (Dirzo et al., 2014).”
BackgroundInfluentialSvenning, J., McGeoch, M. A., Normand, S., Ordóñez, A., & Riede, F. (2024) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2023.0008 · Cited by 29
“…of ecological change, such as biotic mixing owing to globalization and associated changes in biotic network structure [19], defaunation [38,58], mismatches in the dynamics of different dimensions of biodiversity [10], prevalent disequilibrium dynamics [27,59], as well as mis-specified…”
BackgroundWidespread ecological novelty across the terrestrial biosphere
Kerr, M. R., Ordóñez, A., Riede, F., Atkinson, J., Pearce, E. A., Sykut, M. T., Trepel, J., & Svenning, J. (2025) · Nature Ecology & Evolution · doi:10.1038/s41559-025-02662-2 · Cited by 30
“…ecosystems at different timescales, with climate shifts operating over several millennia 18,48 , defaunation driving shifts both over centuries 49 and many millennia 27,57 and shifts from land-use changes and alien species acting over decades to centuries to drive rapid shifts in community…”
Seed dispersal disruption limits tropical forest regrowth
Fricke, E. C., Cook‐Patton, S. C., Harvey, C. F., & Terrer, C. (2025) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2500951122 · Cited by 34
“The disruption of seed dispersal—caused by ongoing declines in animal diversity, abundance, and movement ( 11 , 18 – 20 )—could therefore negatively impact forest carbon dynamics.”
Sydenham, M. A. K., Moe, S. R., Stanescu‐Yadav, D. N., Totland, Ø., & Eldegard, K. (2016) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.1963 · Cited by 30
“Human disturbance is currently reducing biodiversity globally (Dirzo et al. 2014).”
BackgroundMass Flowering Crops as a Conservation Resource for Wild Pollinators (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)
Todd, K. J., Gardiner, M. M., & Lindquist, E. D. (2016) · Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society · doi:10.2317/0022-8567-89.2.158 · Cited by 30
“…bee benefits to agriculture are threatened by bee population declines which have been documented across several countries (Beismeijer et al., 2006; Colla and Packer, 2008; Goulson et al., 2008; Gallai et al., 2009; Grixti et al., 2009; Potts et al., 2010; Bommarco et al., 2012; Dirzo et al., 2014).”
BackgroundQuantifying marine mammal hotspots in British Columbia, Canada
Harvey, G. K. A., NELSON, T. A., Fox, C. H., & Paquet, P. C. (2017) · Ecosphere · doi:10.1002/ecs2.1884 · Cited by 32
Brocardo, C. R., Pedrosa, F., & Galetti, M. (2017) · Forest Ecology and Management · doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2017.09.046 · Cited by 31
Self-citationUnmasking the architecture of ant–diaspore networks in the Brazilian Savanna
Anjos, D. V., Dáttilo, W., & Del‐Claro, K. (2018) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201117 · Cited by 29
Bias, incompleteness and the ‘known unknowns’ in the Holocene faunal record
Crees, J. J., Collen, B., & Turvey, S. T. (2019) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2019.0216 · Cited by 30
“In order to respond to the ongoing biodiversity extinction crisis [1,2], it is imperative to understand patterns and drivers of species and population losses across taxonomy, time and space.”
BackgroundSelf-citationSalomão, R. P., Favila, M. E., & González‐Tokman, D. (2019) · Ecological Indicators · doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105968 · Cited by 32
Liu, W., Ma, L., & Abuduwaili, J. (2020) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su12020711 · Cited by 30
Move or change, an eco-evolutionary dilemma: The case of Collembola
Ponge, J. (2020) · Pedobiologia · doi:10.1016/j.pedobi.2020.150625 · Cited by 32
Climate niche mismatch and the collapse of primate seed dispersal services in the Amazon
Sales, L. P., Culot, L., & Pires, M. M. (2020) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108628 · Cited by 32
How the loss of forest fauna undermines the achievement of the SDGs
Krause, T., & Tilker, A. (2021) · AMBIO · doi:10.1007/s13280-021-01547-5 · Cited by 29
Albert, S., Flores, O., Baider, C., Florens, F. B. V., & Strasberg, D. (2021) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109131 · Cited by 29
Large herbivores transform plant-pollinator networks in an African savanna
Guy, T. J., Hutchinson, M. C., Baldock, K. C. R., Kayser, E., Baiser, B., Staniczenko, P. P. A., Goheen, J. R., Pringle, R. M., & Palmer, T. M. (2021) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.04.051 · Cited by 32
“7,28 Global large-herbivore declines 29,30 therefore have the potential to reorganize ecological networks, but this possibility has not been assessed.”
Thinking about the Biodiversity Loss in This Changing World
Palombo, M. R. (2021) · Geosciences · doi:10.3390/geosciences11090370 · Cited by 32
Ecological dependencies make remote reef fish communities most vulnerable to coral loss
Strona, G., Beck, P. S. A., Cabeza, M., Fattorini, S., Guilhaumon, F., Micheli, F., Montano, S., Ovaskainen, O., Planes, S., Veech, J. A., et al. (2021) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-021-27440-z · Cited by 28
Large herbivores facilitate a dominant grassland forb via multiple indirect effects
Zhong, Z., Li, X., Smit, C., Li, T., Wang, L., Aschero, V., Vázquez, D. P., Ritchie, M. E., Cushman, J. H., & Wang, D. (2022) · Ecology · doi:10.1002/ecy.3635 · Cited by 28
Functional structure of European forest beetle communities is enhanced by rare species
Burner, R. C., Drag, L., Stephan, J. G., Birkemoe, T., Wetherbee, R., Müller, J. C., Siitonen, J., Snäll, T., Skarpaas, O., Potterf, M., et al. (2022) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109491 · Cited by 29
Late quaternary biotic homogenization of North American mammalian faunas
Fraser, D., Villaseñor, A., Tóth, A. B., Balk, M. A., Eronen, J. T., Barr, W. A., Behrensmeyer, A. K., Davis, M., Du, A., Faith, J. T., et al. (2022) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-022-31595-8 · Cited by 30
“10), (3) all sites excluding extinct megafauna, (4) all sites including species >1 kg, and (5) all sites including species > 5 kg, because the preservation potential, fieldwork collection practices, and dispersal abilities of small and large mammals differ63,98.”
BackgroundHopkins, S. R., Lafferty, K. D., Wood, C. L., Olson, S. H., Buck, J. C., Leo, G. A. D., Fiorella, K. J., Fornberg, J. L., Garchitorena, A., Jones, I. J., et al. (2022) · The Lancet Planetary Health · doi:10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00148-6 · Cited by 31
Using functional traits to identify conservation priorities for the world's crocodylians
Griffith, P., Lang, J. W., Turvey, S. T., & Gumbs, R. (2022) · Functional Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2435.14140 · Cited by 28
Awuku-Sowah, E. M., Graham, N. A. J., & Watson, N. (2022) · Dialogues in Health · doi:10.1016/j.dialog.2022.100059 · Cited by 30
Range-wide trends in tiger conservation landscapes, 2001 - 2020
Sanderson, E. W., Miquelle, D. G., Fisher, K., Harihar, A., Clark, C., Moy, J., Potapov, P. V., Robinson, N., Royte, L., Sampson, D., et al. (2023) · Frontiers in Conservation Science · doi:10.3389/fcosc.2023.1191280 · Cited by 29
“These different forms of habitat loss can trigger cascading consequences for other species and ecosystem functions, including the ecosystem services on which human beings rely (Dirzo et al., 2014; Emer et al., 2020; Moreno-Mateos et al., 2020; Williams et al., 2020; Mahmood et al., 2021).”
Transforming the global energy system is required to avoid the sixth mass extinction
Barnosky, A. D. (2015) · MRS Energy & Sustainability · doi:10.1557/mre.2015.11 · Cited by 31
Introduction to Edible Insects
Dunkel, F. V., & Payne, C. L. R. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-802856-8.00001-6 · Cited by 37
Defaunation and habitat disturbance interact synergistically to alter seedling recruitment
Granados, A., Brodie, J. F., Bernard, H., et al. (2017) · Ecological Applications · doi:10.1002/eap.1592 · Cited by 29
Ávila-Nájera, D. M., Chávez, C., Lazcano-Barrero, M. A., et al. (2015) · Revista de Biología Tropical · doi:10.15517/rbt.v63i3.15410 · Cited by 29
Manfrin, A., Pilotto, F., Larsen, S., Tonkin, J. D., Lorenz, A. W., Haase, P., & Stoll, S. (2023) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164278 · Cited by 29
“Despite being in apparent contrast with the well documented decline in biodiversity across Europe (e.g., Dirzo et al., 2014; Hallmann et al., 2017), these results align with several studies reporting increases in freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity over recent decades (Vaughan and Ormerod, 2012;…”
ResultMeta-analysis reveals that vertebrates enhance plant litter decomposition at the global scale
Tuo, B., García‐Palacios, P., Guo, C., Yan, E., Berg, M. P., & Cornelissen, J. H. C. (2024) · Nature Ecology & Evolution · doi:10.1038/s41559-023-02292-6 · Cited by 34
A matter of fat: Hunting preferences affected Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions and human evolution
Ben‐Dor, M., & Barkai, R. (2024) · Quaternary Science Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108660 · Cited by 29
Genomic and fitness consequences of a near-extinction event in the northern elephant seal
Hoffman, J. I., Vendrami, D. L. J., Hench, K., Chen, R. S., Stoffel, M. A., Kardos, M. D., Amos, W., Kalinowski, J., Rickert, D., Köhrer, K., et al. (2024) · Nature Ecology & Evolution · doi:10.1038/s41559-024-02533-2 · Cited by 41
Human migrations, anthropogenic changes, and insect-borne diseases in Latin America
Wilke, A. B. B., Farina, P., Ajelli, M., Canale, A., Dantas‐Torres, F., Otranto, D., & Benelli, G. (2025) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06598-7 · Cited by 35
Drivers and impacts of global seed disperser decline
Fricke, E. C., Bello, C., Chaplin‐Kramer, R., Dent, D. H., Feeley, K. J., Galetti, M., González‐Varo, J. P., Heleno, R., & Reid, J. L. (2025) · Nature Reviews Biodiversity · doi:10.1038/s44358-025-00053-w · Cited by 39
“Accumulating evidence of the extinction of seed-dispersing species 10 , as well as changes in seed disperser abundance, composition, functional diversity and behaviour along anthropogenic gradients 11–13 , highlights the severity and scope of seed disperser declines.”
InfluentialSelf-citationRapid monitoring of global land change
Pickens, A., Hansen, M. C., Song, Z., Poulson, A., Komarova, A., Baggett, A., Kerr, T., Mikus, A., Dominguez, C. O., Tyukavina, A., et al. (2025) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-025-64014-9 · Cited by 44
“Fragmentation and habitat loss have pushed many species to extinction with many more threatened 2 – 5 .”
Estrada, A. (2014) · Tropical Conservation Science · doi:10.1177/194008291400700301 · Cited by 28
“org 361 Importantly, the reintroduction of the scarlet macaw in Palenque will restore a seed and fruit-eating avian species with important consequences for ecosystem functions and processes [35], and will also serve to reconnect people with their natural heritage [15].”
BackgroundSaavedra, S., Cenci, S., del‐Val, E., Boege, K., & Rohr, R. P. (2017) · Journal of Animal Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12710 · Cited by 28
Turunen, J., Louhi, P., Mykrä, H., Aroviita, J., Putkonen, E., Huusko, A., & Muotka, T. (2018) · Ecological Applications · doi:10.1002/eap.1762 · Cited by 27
Tamang, B., Sarkar, B. C., Pala, N. A., et al. (2018) · Acta Ecologica Sinica · doi:10.1016/j.chnaes.2018.09.017 · Cited by 28
Parr, T. B., Capps, K. A., Inamdar, S., & Metcalf, K. A. (2018) · Functional Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2435.13242 · Cited by 28
“…is im‐ portant for predicting how biogeochemical processes and food web dynamics respond to anthropogenic perturbations that negatively impact insect abundance (Hallmann et al., 2017) and diversity (Dirzo et al., 2014), and that produce shifts in insect community composition (Hawkins & Yuan, 2016).”
BackgroundMomigliano, P., Jokinen, H., Calboli, F. C. F., Aro, E., & Merilä, J. (2018) · Evolutionary Applications · doi:10.1111/eva.12738 · Cited by 26
“…or of the presence of cryptic species (morpho‐ logically indistinguishable biological groups incapable of interbreed‐ ing), is of major importance for the conservation and management of global biodiversity in the age of rapid environmental changes (Bickford et al., 2007; Dirzo et al., 2014).”
BackgroundHurlbert, A. H., Hayes, T., McKinnon, T., & Goforth, C. L. (2019) · Citizen Science Theory and Practice · doi:10.5334/cstp.148 · Cited by 28
Using the Phylo Card Game to advance biodiversity conservation in an era of Pokémon
Callahan, M., Echeverri, A., Ng, D. C. Y., Zhao, J., & Satterfield, T. A. (2019) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-019-0287-9 · Cited by 36
Evolutionary Traits that Enable Scleractinian Corals to Survive Mass Extinction Events
Dishon, G., Grossowicz, M., Krom, M. D., Guy, G., Gruber, D. F., & Tchernov, D. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-60605-2 · Cited by 28
Pesticide Impacts on the Environment and Humans
Zaller, J. G. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-50530-1_2 · Cited by 39
Effects of vehicle-passing frequency on forest roads on the activity patterns of carnivores
Watabe, R., & Saito, M. U. (2021) · Landscape and Ecological Engineering · doi:10.1007/s11355-020-00434-7 · Cited by 27
Lira, P. K., Portela, R. D. C. Q., & Tambosi, L. R. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-55322-7_11 · Cited by 36
Gabín-García, L. B., Bartolomé, C., Guerra-Tort, C., Rojas‐Nossa, S. V., Llovo, J., & Maside, X. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-90615-7 · Cited by 30
Abundance of spring‐ and winter‐active arthropods declines with warming
Fitzgerald, J. L., Stuble, K. L., Nichols, L. M., Diamond, S. E., Wentworth, T. R., Pelini, S. L., Gotelli, N. J., Sanders, N. J., Dunn, R. R., & Penick, C. A. (2021) · Ecosphere · doi:10.1002/ecs2.3473 · Cited by 31
“Some estimates conclude that over 40% of all insect species are currently at risk of extinction (Dirzo et al. 2014).”
BackgroundEnvironmental sound as a mirror of landscape ecological integrity in monitoring programs
Sánchez‐Giraldo, C., Ayram, C. A. C., & Daza, J. M. (2021) · Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.pecon.2021.04.003 · Cited by 32
“Today’s world faces an evident biodiversity loss accelerated notably over the last half-century by growing anthropogenic pressures and ecosystem overexploitation (Dirzo et al., 2014; Jantz et al., 2015).”
BackgroundDe, R., Sharma, R., Davidar, P., Arumugam, N., Sedhupathy, A., Puyravaud, J., Selvan, K., Rahim, P. A., Udayraj, S., Parida, J., et al. (2021) · Global Ecology and Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01888 · Cited by 28
Dehaudt, B., Amir, Z., Decoeur, H., Gibson, L., Mendes, C. P., Moore, J. H., Nursamsi, I., Sovie, A. R., & Luskin, M. S. (2022) · Journal of Animal Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13663 · Cited by 29
Levenson, H. K., Sharp, A., & Tarpy, D. R. (2022) · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · doi:10.1016/j.agee.2022.107901 · Cited by 28
Lamarre, G. P. A., Pardikes, N. A., Segar, S. T., Hackforth, C. N., Laguerre, M. S., Vincent, B., Lopez, Y., Perez, F., Bobadilla, R., Silva, J. A. R., et al. (2022) · Biology Letters · doi:10.1098/rsbl.2021.0519 · Cited by 28
“Ongoing declines in insect biodiversity threaten to destabilize ecosystems world-wide [1].”
BackgroundMultispecies facial detection for individual identification of wildlife: a case study across ursids
Clapham, M., Miller, E., Nguyen, M., & HORN, R. C. V. (2022) · Mammalian Biology · doi:10.1007/s42991-021-00168-5 · Cited by 28
“Automated methods are increasingly needed due to an ever-growing need for effective conservation (Dirzo et al. 2014) and expanding awareness that objective and replicable methods to identify individuals are needed to avoid undesired conservation outcomes (Choo et al.”
BackgroundGeographic patterns of tree dispersal modes in Amazonia and their ecological correlates
Correa, D. F., Stevenson, P. R., Umaña, M. N., Coêlho, L. D. S., Filho, D. D. A. L., Salomão, R. P., do Amaral, I. L., Wittmann, F., Matos, F. D. D. A., de Castilho, C. V., et al. (2022) · Global Ecology and Biogeography · doi:10.1111/geb.13596 · Cited by 28
Collapse of native freshwater mussel populations: Prospects of a long-term study
Nakamura, K., Sousa, R., & Mesquita‐Joanes, F. (2023) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2023.109931 · Cited by 28
Toone, T. A., Benjamin, E. D., Hillman, J. R., Handley, S. J., & JEFFS, A. G. (2023) · Ecosphere · doi:10.1002/ecs2.4390 · Cited by 27
“The loss of these natural ecosystems underpins the global biodiversity crisis (Dirzo et al., 2014) and has compounding consequences for the goods and services on which humans rely”
BackgroundSéguigne, C., Mourier, J., Clua, É., et al. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0282837 · Cited by 28
“In addition, a lack of detection does not necessarily mean an absence of the species and may be linked to low abundance, particular life history traits, and deep or pelagic habitat that hampers observations made by divers [58].”
BackgroundAnoop, N. R., Krishnan, S., & Ganesh, T. (2023) · Frontiers in Conservation Science · doi:10.3389/fcosc.2023.1142325 · Cited by 28
“Conservation of threatened and conflict-prone large mammals is challenging in the Anthropocene because of increasing competition with people for space and resources (Dirzo et al., 2014).”
BackgroundPreventing Global Extinction of the Javan Rhino: Tsunami Risk and Future Conservation Direction
Setiawan, R., Gerber, B. D., Rahmat, U. M., Daryan, D., Firdaus, A. Y., Haryono, M., Khairani, K. O., Kurniawan, Y., Long, B., Lyet, A., et al. (2017) · Conservation Letters · doi:10.1111/conl.12366 · Cited by 29
Lin, S., Jiang, Y., He, J., Ma, G., Xu, Y., & Jiang, H. (2017) · PeerJ · doi:10.7717/peerj.3320 · Cited by 28
Rich, M. E., Thompson, C. M., Prange, S., & Popescu, V. D. (2018) · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.3389/fevo.2018.00078 · Cited by 29
“Defaunation, loss of wildlife from both pristine and disturbed landscapes, is a widespread global phenomenon (Dirzo et al., 2014), and significant efforts and financial resources are put into recovery and restoration measures.”
BackgroundPalacios, M. G., D’Amico, V. L., & Bertellotti, M. (2018) · Conservation Physiology · doi:10.1093/conphys/coy060 · Cited by 28
“Population declines and extinctions of wildlife are occurring globally as a consequence of human activity (Dirzo et al. , 2014; McCauley et al. , 2015).”
Zeng, H., Wang, J.-N., Guan, M.-Z., Lu, Y., Liu, H., & Zhao, D.-X. (2023) · Urban Forestry & Urban Greening · doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127928 · Cited by 27
Male harm suppresses female fitness, affecting the dynamics of adaptation and evolutionary rescue
Gómez‐Llano, M., Faria, G. S., García‐Roa, R., et al. (2023) · Evolution Letters · doi:10.1093/evlett/qrac002 · Cited by 27
“Given the current rate of human-induced environmental change decreasing population size and increasing extinction risk across species is expected (Ceballos et al., 2017; Dirzo et al., 2014; Wagner et al., 2021).”
Sternhagen, E. C., Davis, M. A., Larson, E. R., et al. (2024) · Environmental DNA · doi:10.1002/edn3.525 · Cited by 27
Global scale assessment of the human-induced extinction crisis of terrestrial carnivores
Torres‐Romero, E. J., Eppley, T. M., Ripple, W. J., Newsome, T. M., Krofel, M., Carter, N., Ordiz, A., de Oliveira, T. G., Selva, N., & Penteriani, V. (2025) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.adq2853 · Cited by 35
Conservation genomics of the endangered Burmese roofed turtle
Çilingir, F. G., Rheindt, F. E., Garg, K. M., Platt, K., Platt, S. G., & Bickford, D. (2017) · Conservation Biology · doi:10.1111/cobi.12921 · Cited by 28
“Turtles are among the vertebrate groups most affected by the Anthropocene defaunation (Hoffmann et al. 2010; Dirzo et al. 2014).”
BackgroundPedersen, R. Ø., Faurby, S., & Svenning, J. (2017) · Journal of Animal Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12701 · Cited by 26
Diversity and endemism of ungulates on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: Evolution and conservation
Jiang, Z., Li, L., Hu, Y., Hu, H., Li, C., Ping, X., & Luo, Z. (2018) · Biodiversity Science · doi:10.17520/biods.2017321 · Cited by 26
Gallinat, A. S., Primack, R. B., & Lloyd-Evans, T. L. (2019) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108268 · Cited by 28
Schroeder, H., Majewska, A. A., & Altizer, S. (2019) · Ecological Entomology · doi:10.1111/een.12828 · Cited by 27
Asymmetric competition between sympatric endangered primates affects their population recovery
Chen, Y., Ma, C., Yang, L., Guan, Z., Jiang, X., & Fan, P. (2020) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108558 · Cited by 29
Seasonality and Climatic Factors Affect Diversity and Distribution of Arthropods Around Wetlands
Majeed, W., Rana, N., Koch, E. B. D. A., & Nargis, S. (2020) · Pakistan Journal of Zoology · doi:10.17582/journal.pjz/20200112020107 · Cited by 28
Community-level modelling of boreal forest mammal distribution in an oil sands landscape
Wittische, J., Heckbert, S., James, P. M. A., Burton, A. C., & Fisher, J. T. (2020) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142500 · Cited by 27
Dyck, M. A., Wyza, E., & Popescu, V. D. (2021) · Mammal Review · doi:10.1111/mam.12260 · Cited by 32
Pollinator conservation in the context of global changes with a focus on France and Belgium
Schatz, B., Drossart, M., Henry, M., Geslin, B., Allier, F., Savajol, C., Maxence, G., & Michez, D. (2021) · Acta Oecologica · doi:10.1016/j.actao.2021.103765 · Cited by 28
“However, two other studies have shown similar results: a drastic reduction of arthropods populations and species at a global scale (Dirzo et al., 2014; Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys, 2019; Zattara and Aizen, 2021).”
ResultCruz, C., Santulli-Sanzo, G., & Ceballos, G. (2021) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2018203118 · Cited by 31
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Dirzo, R., Young, H. S., Galetti, M., Ceballos, G., Isaac, N. J. B., & Collen, B.
- Affiliations
- Stanford University (US)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) (BR)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
- Natural Environment Research Council (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Dirzo, Rodolfo
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2014-07-25
- Volume
- 345
- Issue
- 6195
- Pages
- 401-406
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2100135944
- Cited by
- 4,474
- References
- 164
- Citations by year
- 2026: 382 · 2025: 425 · 2024: 397 · 2023: 475 · 2022: 501 · 2021: 494 · 2020: 416 · 2019: 411 · 2018: 294 · 2017: 280 · 2016: 189 · 2015: 167 · 2014: 39
- FWCI
- 16.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- discovery.ucl.ac.uk
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Acervo Digital da Universidade Estadual Paulista (Universidade Estadual Paulista) (submittedVersion)
- UNESP Institutional Repository (São Paulo State University) (submittedVersion)
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Natural Environment Research Council (CEH010010)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Plant and animal studies
- Keywords
- defaunation, biodiversity loss, species abundance decline, extinction, invertebrates, terrestrial vertebrates, sixth mass extinction, ecosystem functioning, Anthropocene
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Birds, Humans, Human Activities, Insecta, Invertebrates, Mammals, Pest Control, Population, Biodiversity, Extinction, Biological, Pollination, Endangered Species
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-10-02, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).
A second model labelled each claim on 2026-10-02 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).
Cited sources are checked with a language model’s help (gpt-6-sol).
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
