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.
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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
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“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]
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Senna, G., Gobbato, J., Louis, Y. D., et al. (2026) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.73832
“…and temporal distribution (Linchant et al. 2015), UAVs have proven to be particularly useful for the assessment of hard- to-locate and elusive species such as elasmobranchs and increase the amount of data that is available on their behaviours, populations, and occurrences (Dirzo et al. 2014).”
Ecological meltdown affects soil seed bank and forest regeneration in a tropical rainforest islandPreprint
Fleury, M., Rodrigues, R. R., do Couto, H. T. Z., et al. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6926659
Self-citationAlviz, Á., Stevens, R. D., Vélez, J., & Pérez-Albarracín, K. (2026) · Mastozoología neotropical · doi:10.31687/saremmn.26.33.01.15.e1155 · Cited by 2
Zhou, L., Wang, S., Yang, Q., Hong, P., Zhang, Y., Liang, M., Xing, P., Mao, Z., Li, B., Jeppesen, E., et al. (2026) · Functional Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2435.70380
DNA Barcodes for Evolution and Biodiversity—2nd Edition
Koblmüller, S. (2026) · Diversity · doi:10.3390/d18060361
A Century of Shifting Native Species‐Accumulation Curves Reveals Long‐Term Biodiversity Loss
Pan, K., Marshall, L., Biesmeijer, J. C., & de Snoo, G. R. (2026) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/ele.70429
“Biodiversity loss is one of the most pressing challenges of the Anthropocene, driven largely by habitat destruction and degradation (Dirzo et al. 2014; Ceballos et al. 2015; Jaureguiberry et al. 2022; Keck et al. 2025).”
Wang, M., Wang, S., Liu, X., Zhao, L., Chesters, D., Bruelheide, H., Li, Y., Chen, J., Li, S., Zhou, Q., et al. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-7081193/v1
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Relational structure of illegal wildlife hunting in China: A nationwide hunter–prey network analysis
Luo, Y., Shao, M.-L., Li, Y., Newman, C., Cao, Y., Xiao, X., & Zhou, Z. (2026) · People and Nature · doi:10.1002/pan3.70373
“…demographic impacts on wildlife, unsustainable hunting disrupts trophic cascades, compromises ecosystem functionality and undermines the conservation efficacy of protected areas, leading to the emergence of ‘empty forests’ and defaunated landscapes (Dirzo et al., 2014 ; Harrison et al., 2016 ).”
Optimised light sources reduce nocturnal insect attraction at railway stations
Ludreschl, C., Kirse, A., Hartke, T. R., Bhansali, S., Bourlat, S. J., Mayer, C., Ott, D., Bott, F., Rutte, D., Siemt, P., et al. (2026) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111964
Keyser, S. R., Pauli, J. N., Radeloff, V. C., et al. (2026) · Diversity and Distributions · doi:10.1111/ddi.70194
de Sousa, F. G., Bergamini, L. L., Diniz, M. F., et al. (2026) · Oecologia · doi:10.1007/s00442-026-05920-7
“The global decline in bee populations has led to significant reductions in plant diver - sity and abundance (Dirzo et al. 2014; Goulson et al. 2015 ; Lundgren et al. 2016).”
Silva¹²³, J. P., Louzada-Camilo, L. M., Fernandes¹³, M., Lopes, L. F., & Villa, P. M. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9995593/v1
Cascading Effects of Humans on Trophic Dynamics
Prugh, L. R., Kreling, S. E. S., Ganz, T. R., Cunningham, C. X., Hentati, Y., Sullender, B. K., Breen, C. M., & Procko, M. (2026) · doi:10.1093/9780191996665.003.0010
Resource declines shape phenological and morphological responses to climate change
Probst, C. M., Yanco, S. W., Clark, I. H., Ziebell, M., Fuirst, M., Mackenzie, S. A., Ibáñez, I., & Weeks, B. C. (2026) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2607714123 · Cited by 1
Kasso, M., & Bahiru, A. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10028698/v1
Rodríguez-Torres, J. A., Acevedo‐Quintero, J. F., & Zamora‐Abrego, J. G. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7022800
Tossens, S., Drouilly, M., Woodgate, Z. A., et al. (2026) · Oikos · doi:10.1002/oik.12054
Kasprzykowski, Z., Goławski, A., Mitrus, C., et al. (2026) · PeerJ · doi:10.7717/peerj.21506
“We live in a period of accelerated global biodiversity loss, and declining animal populations have profound implications for ecosystem functioning and human well-being ( Dirzo et al., 2014 ).”
Li, Y., Zhao, Z., Chen, X., Wang, K., Si, H., Gu, L., Wang, Z., Xing, J., Xu, F., Liu, Y., et al. (2026) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74963-4 · Cited by 1
“By contrast, inmany high-income countries, the existing road network runs through landscapes that have already been substantially reshaped by long histories of habitat loss, hunting and urbanisation 23,24 .”
When Science Speaks for Nature: Forensic Science and the Path to Sustainability
Magar, S. N. K. P. B. (2026) · International Journal of Advanced Research in Science Communication and Technology · doi:10.48175/ijarsct-36868
Novel methods of heathland management promote grasshopper diversity and abundance
Brüggeshemke, J., & Fartmann, T. (2026) · Global Ecology and Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04317
Influence of Derecho and Management Disturbances on Ground-Dwelling Arthropods
Wilson, J. E., & Marshall, J. M. (2026) · Biology · doi:10.3390/biology15130984
“These results suggest that while some taxa, like isopods, were able to persist or even thrive post-disturbance, others, particularly those sensitive to microclimatic changes, were negatively affected by the combined effects of disturbance and drier field season [46].”
Vicente, R. E., dos Santos, R. C. L., Jacobina, A. C. M., et al. (2026) · Biodiversidade Brasileira · doi:10.37002/biodiversidadebrasileira.v16i2.2906
Dias, A. C. B., da Cunha, N. L., Freitas-Oliveira, R., Bovendorp, R. S., Martins, P. T. D. A., & Hannibal, W. (2026) · Austral Ecology · doi:10.1111/aec.70262
Huron, N. A., Hedges, S. B., & Helmus, M. R. (2026) · Oikos · doi:10.1002/oik.12350
“Understanding nonrandom extinction is important because it is a common phenomenon under global change and results in loss of functional diversity (Gross and Cardinale 2005, Brook et al. 2008, Dirzo et al. 2014).”
The cost of tree cover loss: quantifying global extinction rates per million hectares
Antúnez, P. (2026) · Journal for Nature Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2026.127380
Ramírez‐Albores, J. E., Cruz-Bazan, E. J., Encina-Domínguez, J. A., et al. (2026) · Wild · doi:10.3390/wild3030029
“Species with restricted distribution, low population densities, or specialized ecological requirements are particularly sensitive to rapid environmental change [1,2].”
The Anthropological Approach to Meditation
Lee, S. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-7147-5_4
Invertebrate endozoochory: An overlooked pathway of seed dispersal
Chen, G., Chen, G., Chomicki, G., et al. (2026) · Trends in Plant Science · doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2026.06.004
Xu, Z., Wang, F., Li, X., Lin, L., & Wang, T. (2026) · Journal of Hazardous Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142995
Xie, C., Jüriado, I., Lehismets, J. P. S., et al. (2026) · Diversity and Distributions · doi:10.1111/ddi.70235
“The world's biodiversity loss is accelerating in the face of habitat degradation, climate change and increasing anthropogenic disturbance, with cascading consequences for ecosystem functioning and human well-being (Thomas et al. 2004; Dirzo et al. 2014).”
Ferrante, L., Zucherato, B., Natani, T., Torres, N. K., Haddad, C. F. B., Schiesari, L., & Baccaro, F. B. (2026) · Landscape Ecology · doi:10.1007/s10980-026-02394-z
“The loss of biodiversity is synchronous with human landscape occupation, leading the planet to what has been considered the sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history (Barnosky et al. 2011; Dirzo et al. 2014).”
Nature-dependent lifeways are widely exposed to ecological noveltyPreprint
Kerr, M. R., Aznarez, C., Ordonez, A., Riede, F., Affleck, S., & Svenning, J. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10249376/v1
Assessment of the Sustainability Performance of Third-Wave Coffee Shops in Siirt Province
Dalagan, S. (2026) · Verimlilik dergisi · doi:10.51551/verimlilik.1882405
Baker, N. J., Jourdan, J., Pilotto, F., et al. (2026) · Insect Conservation and Diversity · doi:10.1111/icad.70112
Lopes, M. C., Alves, R. R. N., Schiel, N., et al. (2026) · Human Ecology · doi:10.1007/s10745-026-00715-z
Khiev, K., Sor, R., Chea, V., Sett, S., Frechette, J. L., & Hon, N. (2026) · Biosphere · doi:10.3390/biosphere2030007
Climate Predicts Tree Dispersal Strategies Across Brazil's Ecosystems
Souza, F. C., Maia, V. A., Françoso, R. D., et al. (2026) · Global Ecology and Biogeography · doi:10.1111/geb.70285
Biodiversity in Response to Global Change
Chamoli, N., Hamal, B., Prabha, D., Chauhan, J. S., Kumar, J., Sharma, P., Kumar, N., Kumar, R., & Sharma, A. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-19740-5_7
Vilas Sapte, R. J. (2026) · International Journal of Advanced Research in Science Communication and Technology · doi:10.48175/ijarsct-37874
Alberti, J., Bruschetti, C. M., Cardoni, D. A., Daleo, P., Fanjul, E., Iribarne, O. O., Montemayor, D. I., Marino, A., Pascual, J., Pazos, G. E., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.3389/fevo.2026.1895198
Lavariega, M. C., Luna, B., Ramírez-Ibáñez, M., Martín‐Regalado, C. N., Galindo-Aguilar, R. E., García-Casimiro, E., Sánchez-Soto, E., Hidalgo‐Mihart, M. G., Caballero, A. S., Rosas-Rosas, O. C., et al. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-21559-8_13
Dieguez, H., Bondaruk, V. F., Piñeiro, G., & Paruelo, J. M. (2026) · Ecological Processes · doi:10.1186/s13717-026-00737-x
Altimontane Forest Islands in campo rupestre: Threatened Refuges
Kuchenbecker, J., Camarota, F., da Silva, P. G., Perillo, L. N., & Neves, F. S. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-21559-8_2
Smith, T. C., Ray, N., Kodama, N., & Iwamura, T. (2026) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2026.112027
Timescale mismatch: redefining ecological opportunity for evolution in the Anthropocene
Voolstra, C. R., Hermann, R. J., Stibor, H., Keller, A., & Becks, L. (2026) · The EMBO Journal · doi:10.1038/s44318-026-00880-3 · Cited by 2
“Fragmentation (Haddad et al, 2015; Laurance et al, 2014), population decline (Dirzo et al, 2014; Hallmann et al, 2017; Bowler et al, 2019; Morgan et al, 2020), and genetic drift shrink the raw material on which selection can act.”
Tropical-Forest Degradation–Restoration Interface: A Comprehensive Review
de Vasconcelos, R. N., Mariano‐Neto, E., Franca-Rocha, W., de Souza, D. T. M., de Aguiar, W. M., Carneiro, L. M., & de Santana, M. M. M. (2026) · Forests · doi:10.3390/f17080913
Wang, X., Li, Y., Li, H., et al. (2026) · Integrative Zoology · doi:10.1111/1749-4877.70152
Daud, U. N. S., Jamaluddin, M. I. M., Ismail, N. A., Ali, N. A. N. G., Arazmi, N. F. N., Nordin, N., Shuhaily, S. H. J., Khiruddin, F. Z., Zainal, A. H., Nor, S. M., et al. (2026) · Biodiversity and Conservation · doi:10.1007/s10531-026-03435-4
“Despite often being overlooked in conservation planning, NVSM populations are particularly vulnerable to gradual declines and local extinctions that may occur unnoticed, a phenomenon frequently referred to as silent extinction (Magurran 2004 ; Laurance et al. 2011; Dirzo et al. 2014).”
Global patterns and drivers of extinction risk in island endemic terrestrial vertebrates
Zhang, Y., Wang, J., Li, Y., Chen, C., & Wang, Y. (2026) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.aef9781
“These cascading effects are a central feature of Anthropocene defau-nation and draw attention to how species extinctions can erode eco-system functioning well beyond the loss of individual taxa ( 57 , 58 ).”
Torres‐Romero, E. J., Eppley, T. M., Woolrich‐Piña, G. A., et al. (2026) · Conservation Science and Practice · doi:10.1111/csp2.70381
“…biodiversity loss because of habitat fragmentation within landscapes dominated by pasture, cultivated land, secondary re-growth vegetation, and other land use changes (Crooks et al., 2017), as well as driving biodiversity loss (Pimm et al., 2014) and species extinctions (Dirzo et al., 2014).”
Self-citationThe Human Dimension of Araucaria Forest: Resource Uses, Landscape Management, and Ethnozoology
Bogoni, J. A., Graipel, M. E., & Peroni, N. (2026) · Human Ecology · doi:10.1007/s10745-026-00767-1
“Hunting and habitat fragmentation are the main drivers of defaunation in the tropical realm (Dirzo et al., 2014; Galetti et al., 2016; Peres et al., 2016).”
Effects of nonylphenol on the sex ratio during the flowering of monoecious plants
Yasuda, A., Hiraiwa, M. K., Doi, K., et al. (2026) · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · doi:10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101474
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Stoessel, M., Wikinger, F., & Lindborg, R. (2026) · People and Nature · doi:10.1002/pan3.70402 · Cited by 1
“Human activities are disrupting ecosystems at a high pace, affect - ing species distributions, ecological interactions and ultimately ecosystem functioning (Dirzo et al., 2014; Estes et al., 2011; Tucker et al., 2018 ).”
Clucas, G. V., Stillman, A. N., & Craig, E. C. (2026) · The Auk · doi:10.1093/ornithology/ukag040 · Cited by 8
Mapping hunting probability across the tropics in space and time
Philippe‐Lesaffre, M., Ferreiro‐Arias, I., Brodie, J. F., Schüßler, D., Maeso-Pueyo, L., & Benítez‐López, A. (2026) · Nature Sustainability · doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01924-6 · Cited by 5
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Islam, S. S., Mahato, S., Saadi, S. M. A. I., et al. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-34222-6.00001-2
Extreme weather events cause pulsed fruit drop and alter plant–seed disperser mutualisms
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“For instance, global change drivers such as hunting, habitat loss and habitat fragmentation can alter frugivore community composition by increasing the abundance of some species while reducing that of others (Dirzo et al., 2014 ; Galetti et al., 2015 ; Palmeirim et al., 2024 ).”
Law and the Environment: Towards a Geo-Constitutional Identity
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Hidden global diversity and sampling gaps in Orthoptera insects revealed through distribution data
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Limited capacity of habitat features to buffer grassland bird declines
Gilbert, N. A., Williams, P. J., Carlson, D. J., Dunlap, R. M., Worland, M., Jennelle, C. S., & Zipkin, E. F. (2026) · Ecological Applications · doi:10.1002/eap.70298
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Transforming food systems toward carbon neutrality on a rapidly developing tropical island
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“…terrestrial surface, host a disproportionate share of the world’s biodiversity and carbon stocks, including over 75% of amphibian species, extensive tropical forests, and a substantial proportion of the world’s coral reef ecosystems (Ferrario et al. 2014; Dirzo et al. 2014; Barlow et al. 2018).”
Declining habitat directive butterflies within a major stronghold: Challenges for conservation
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Zhao, Y., & Yan, C. (2026) · Conservation Biology · doi:10.1111/cobi.70377
Bird assemblages along a forest-degradation gradient in Neotropical seasonally dry forests
Ordóñez‐Delgado, L., Jara-Guerrero, A., Escudero, A., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.3389/fevo.2026.1897766
Megafauna in Laos: Historical losses, present status, and recovery prospects
Souvansai, D., Ruppert, N., Harapan, T. S., et al. (2026) · Global Ecology and Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04399
Satellite‐Based Mapping of South Manchurian Mixed Forests Highlights Critical Conservation Needs
Dzizyurova, V. D., Dudov, S. V., Korznikov, K., et al. (2026) · Applied Vegetation Science · doi:10.1111/avsc.70087
Sustainable Management Strategies for a Critically Endangered Conifer in Brazil
Mendes, E. T. B., dos Santos, A. S., & Portela, R. D. C. Q. (2026) · Journal of Sustainable Forestry · doi:10.1080/10549811.2026.2727606
Heptinstall, T. C., & Brock, K. M. (2026) · Global Change Biology Communications · doi:10.1002/gcb4.70044
Magaldi, H., Dubus, G., Katumba, R., et al. (2026) · Environments · doi:10.3390/environments13090496
“Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate across the globe, with substantial population declines and local extirpations documented even among species not yet threatened with global extinction [1].”
Alvarenga, G. C., Sartor, C. C., Srbek‐Araujo, A. C., de Oliveira, A. C. M., Harmsen, B. J., Angelo, C. D., Esteves, C. F., de Campos, C. B., Polli, D. J., Viana, D. F. P., et al. (2026) · Global Change Biology · doi:10.1111/gcb.71093
Self-citationImproving the Accuracy of Automatic Wildlife Detection in Nature Reserves Using Infrared Imaging
Samarin, A., Savelev, A., Toropov, A., et al. (2026) · Pattern Recognition and Image Analysis · doi:10.1134/s1054661826700136
Beyond 30%: strategic strict protection delivers disproportionate biodiversity gainsPreprint
Pan, K., Biesmeijer, J. C., Verheul, D., et al. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10638949/v1
Samanta, S., Panja, P., & Jana, D. K. (2026) · Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management · doi:10.5890/jeam.2027.03.011
A framework for the strategic conservation of tropical insects
Chowdhury, S., Jahan, S. F., Akite, P., Benedetti, Y., Bonebrake, T. C., Freitas, A. V. L., Hossain, M. M., Ladle, R. J., Morelli, F., Stork, N. E., et al. (2026) · BioScience · doi:10.1093/biosci/biag136 · Cited by 4
White, M., James, W. R., Lemoine, N. P., Peters, J. R., Stier, A. C., Emery, K., Castorani, M. C. N., Capone, D. A., Štajner, A., Enright, L. N., et al. (2026) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2532469123 · Cited by 1
Joshi, P. R., Zedrosser, A., Sollmann, R., et al. (2026) · Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation · doi:10.1002/rse2.70103
Lenta, C. R., & Ladio, A. H. (2026) · Environmental Management · doi:10.1007/s00267-026-02619-6
“Global socio-environmental change (GSEC) combines planetary-scale transformations with accelerated local and regional changes driven by human activities (Dirzo et al., 2014).”
Good Condition, but Noisy: Critical Gaps in Ecological Assessment Frameworks
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XYNOGALA, I., Papastergiadou, E., Alahuhta, J., et al. (2026) · Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems · doi:10.1002/aqc.70463
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ХАЗИЗУЛИН, В. Б. (2026) · Расследование преступлений проблемы и пути их решения · doi:10.54217/2411-1627.2026.51.1.013
Gao, B., Li, G., Huan, S., Gao, S., Li, K., Shi, H., & Gao, Z. (2026) · Urban Ecosystems · doi:10.1007/s11252-026-02121-1
“Accelerating global urbanization and industrialization have intensified human interference on natural ecosys - tems, leading to land-use conversion, biodiversity loss, and declining ecosystem service functions (Dirzo et al. 2014 ; McDonnell and MacGregor-Fors 2016 ).”
Parsons, S. E., Youngsteadt, E., Willadsen, P. C., et al. (2026) · Landscape and Urban Planning · doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2026.105798
Revanales, T., Lastra, M., & Rodil, I. F. (2026) · Biodiversity and Conservation · doi:10.1007/s10531-026-03464-z
“Global biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate (Ceballos et al. 2015; Dirzo et al. 2014), and the natural systems that sustain life are deteriorating worldwide (IPBES 2019).”
Gene flow drives periods of both evolutionary stasis and change in a wild bird population
Evans, S. R., Bouwmeester, H., van Noordwijk, A. J., et al. (2026) · PLoS Biology · doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3004004
Carvalho-Roel, C. F., Marinho-Vieira, K., Bonfim, A. L., et al. (2026) · Mammalia · doi:10.1515/mammalia-2026-0055
Pena, S. A., da Silva, C. R., Alexandre, R. J. R., et al. (2026) · Environmental Conservation · doi:10.1017/s037689292610054x
Meneses‐Ribeiro, M., van Vuuren, B. J., Koepfli, K.-P., et al. (2026) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2026.117612
Pereira, M., Regolin, A. L., & Collevatti, R. G. (2026) · Journal of Tropical Ecology · doi:10.1017/s026646742610073x
“Habitat loss leads to decline of large-bodied vertebrates and disrupts their key role in seed dispersal, particularly of large-seed plants (Dirzo et al. 2014).”
Translocation of endangered black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) as a population restoration tool
Fletcher, N. C., Miner, C. M., Heady, W. N., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Conservation Science · doi:10.3389/fcosc.2026.1952618
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Zuluaga, S., Murgatroyd, M., & Amar, A. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10636685/v1
Quantifying ecosystem degradation via energetic deficits
Angulo, M. T., Liu, Y., Morris, D., & Saavedra, S. (2026) · Royal Society Open Science · doi:10.1098/rsos.260268 · Cited by 2
Dubus, L., Verdier, A., Giotto, N., Mbemba, G., Michelin, G., Mulot, B., Manel, S., & Mouillot, D. (2026) · Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation · doi:10.1002/rse2.70110
Faurot-Daniels, C., Flenniken, M. L., & Debinski, D. M. (2026) · Journal of Insect Conservation · doi:10.1007/s10841-026-00831-7
“Declines in insect diversity, abundance, and biomass have been reported across the globe and these losses threaten vital ecosystem services that insects provide to both wild and managed systems (Dirzo et al. 2014 ; Hallmann et al. 2017 ; Forister et al. 2019; Edwards et al. 2025).”
Insufficient Environmental Protection by the European Regulatory Framework for Pesticides
Schäfer, R. B., Backhaus, T., Filser, J., Gessner, M. O., Liess, M., Roß‐Nickoll, M., Rundlöf, M., Scheringer, M., Spurgeon, D. J., Tscharntke, T., et al. (2026) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.6c06604 · Cited by 1
“They correctly note that Dirzo et al. 79 , as cited in Schäffer et al. 27 , does not allow clear conclusions on the relative importance of different drivers of biodiversity decline.”
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.
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