Extinct in the wild explained

A species that is extinct in the wild (EW) is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as only consisting of living members kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.[1] [2] Classification requires exhaustive surveys conducted within the species' known habitat with consideration given to seasonality, time of day, and life cycle.[3] Once a species is classified as EW, the only way for it to be downgraded is through reintroduction.[4]

Not all EW species are rare. An example is the Brugmansia family, where all seven species are widely cultivated, but none are found in the wild.[5] Ultimately, the purpose of preserving biodiversity is to maintain ecological function to prevent ecological extinction.

Examples

Examples of species and subspecies that are extinct in the wild include (in alphabetical order):

Conservation

See main article: Wildlife conservation.

Reintroduction

See main article: Reintroduction. Reintroduction is the deliberate release of individuals into the wild, from captivity or from other areas where the species survives. However, it may be difficult to reintroduce EW species into the wild, even if their natural habitats were restored, because survival techniques, which are often passed from parents to offspring during parenting, may have been lost. Reintroduction efforts, also referred to as translocation, are complex and a common source of complication is how animals behave upon release.[33] Climate suitability has been shown to influence reintroduction outcomes as well.[34] Though many efforts translocate populations to historic ranges, climate change may be causing those previously inhabited areas to no longer be suitable for the species.The Przewalski's horse was downgraded from EW to Endangered in 2011 after decades of reintroduction efforts.[35] In China, they are still classified as EW since they are given supplemental feed over the winter to aid survival. Of the 2500 living, about 1360 are in the wild, and all 2500 are descended from 12 wild-caught ancestors, causing an inbreeding depression that contributes to factors, such as shorter lifespans and high mortality, that impede conservation.Northern white rhinos have been extinct in the wild since 2007, and only two females remain in captivity.[36] The San Diego Zoo Global is planning to save the species by using living cells from 12 rhinos that have been cryopreserved, turning them into stem cell lines, using in vitro fertilization to create embryos, and then having Southern white rhinos serve as surrogates. Currently, there have been no successful embryo transfers in rhinos. It is estimated to take at least 40 years for the target of 25–40 northern white rhinos to be reached.

Some people critique efforts to save species with such small populations due to the possibility of inbreeding as it can reduce the population growth rate.[37] Small effective population sizes are another critique. Effective population size is a measurement of the loss of genetic diversity.[38] Multiple populations have been found to have an effective population size below conservation goals. Additionally, monitoring effective population size and using it to aid estimations of the success of conservation efforts has been shown to provide a better overview of determining population trends when compared to population size.[39]

IUCN Green Status of Species

See main article: IUCN Green Status of Species. The IUCN developed a system of classifying species recovery efforts in 2012 entitled the Green Status.[40] The species recovery score is a 0%–100% scale, with 0% being the species is extinct or extinct in the wild and 100% being fully recovered. In addition, the Green Status also classifies previous and future conservation impacts with the Green Scores of Conservation Dependency, Conservation Gain, Conservation Legacy, and Recovery Potential.[41]

For a species to receive a score of 100% and be considered fully recovered, three requirements must be met: the species must be present in all areas of both its current and historical range, it is viable in all areas of the range, and performs its ecological niche across the full range. Given the lofty standards, many species are not expected to meet the criteria and it is not a goal of this system. Land use changes have cumulated in many species losing habitat.

Green Scores are snapshots in time to assess a species' current status and how conservation efforts have influenced their status. It is also predictive as it can project how the status would change if conservation efforts ceased or continued. Conservation Legacy assess how previous conservation work has changed or maintained a species' status. The score ranges from high to low with low meaning conservation efforts were ineffective or did not occur. Conservation Dependency is the estimate of a species' status in 10 years if conservation efforts halted. High dependency means the species would have a lower status and low dependency equates to the status not changing. Conservation Gain is the flip side. It projects a species' status in 10 years if conservation efforts continue. Both dependence and gain are considered short-term measures. The long-term measure is Recovery Potential, which is how much of the range is estimated to be able to house ecologically functional populations. 

Flagship species

See main article: Flagship species. The Pinta Island tortoise (Geochelone nigra abingdoni) had only one living individual, named Lonesome George, until his death in June 2012.[42] The tortoise was believed to be extinct in the mid-20th century, until Hungarian malacologist József Vágvölgyi spotted Lonesome George on the Galapagos island of Pinta on 1 December 1971. Since then, Lonesome George has been a powerful symbol for conservation efforts in general and for the Galapagos Islands in particular.[43] With his death on 24 June 2012, the subspecies is again believed to be extinct.[44] With the discovery of 17 hybrid Pinta tortoises located at nearby Wolf Volcano, a plan has been made to attempt to breed the subspecies back into a pure state.[45]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2001 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100621095221/https://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/redlist_cats_crit_en.pdf . 21 June 2010 . 30 May 2010 . IUCN . 14.
  2. Web site: The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria . IUCN Red List.
  3. IUCN. (2003). Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional Levels: Version 3.0. IUCN Species Survival Commission. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. ii + 26 pp.
  4. Web site: Reasons for Changing Category . IUCN Red List.
  5. Web site: Petruzzello . Melissa . Extinct in the Wild but Still Around: 5 Plants and Animals Kept Alive by Humans . 16 November 2019 . Encyclopædia Britannica.
  6. Bárrios, S. . Smyth, N. . 2018 . Abutilon pitcairnense . 2018 . e.T122926206A122926208 . 16 December 2023.
  7. Alagoas Curassow (Mitu mitu). 7 August 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215043257/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22678486/132315266 . Dec 15, 2023 .
  8. Freyhof, J. . Kottelat, M. . Stenodus leucichthys (Caspian Inconnu) . 2008 . e.T20745A9229071 . 2008 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T20745A9229071.en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215042501/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20745/9229071 . Dec 15, 2023 .
  9. Johnson, D. . 1998 . Corypha taliera . 1998 . e.T38493A10118302 . 16 December 2023.
  10. Christmas Island Blue-tailed Shinning-skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae). 20 February 2017. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215035856/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/102327291/102327566 . Dec 15, 2023 .
  11. Qiwei, W. . 2022 . Acipenser dabryanus (Yangtze Sturgeon) . e.T231A61462199 . 3 September 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215035428/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/231/61462199 . Dec 15, 2023 .
  12. Donaldson. J.S.. Encephalartos brevifoliolatus (Escarpment Cycad) . 2010. e.T41882A10566751. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41882A10566751.en.
  13. Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha). 3 February 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215033516/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/30408/62077322 . Dec 15, 2023 .
  14. Golden Skiffia (Skiffia francesae). 18 April 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215031928/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20285/2757376 . Dec 15, 2023 .
  15. Guam Kingfisher (Todiramphus cinnamominus). October 2016 . live . https://archive.today/20231215030917/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22725862/117372355%23assessment-information . 15 Dec 2023 .
  16. Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis). October 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230612175608/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22706052/94048187#assessment-information . Jun 12, 2023 .
  17. Web site: 'Alalā released into natural area reserve . Aliso Laguna News . September 27, 2017 . Susan . Keysor Espenschied . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427090101/https://www.alisolagunanews.com/alala-released-into-natural-area-reserve/ . Apr 27, 2023 .
  18. Web site: Rare Hawaiian crows released into native forests of Hawai'i Island. KITV4 . October 16, 2017 . Diane . Ako . 10 February 2020. 24 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211024121436/https://www.kitv.com/story/36609266/rare-hawaiian-crows-released-into-native-forests-of-hawaii-island. dead.
  19. Web site: Five more alala released into Puu Makaala Forest Reserve. October 1, 2018 . Michael . Brestovansky . West Hawaii Today . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510141532/https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2018/10/01/hawaii-news/go-for-crow/ . May 10, 2023 .
  20. Nectophrynoides asperginis. 25 July 2014.
  21. La Palma Pupfish (Cyprinodon longidorsalis). 27 September 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215041417/https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6174/3107266 . Dec 15, 2023 .
  22. Christmas Island Chained Gecko (Lepidodactylus listeri). 20 February 2017.
  23. Leptogryllus deceptor. August 1996.
  24. Web site: 'Last wave' for wild golden frog . 22 February 2015. 2 February 2008. BBC.
  25. Père David's Deer (Elaphurus davidianus). 31 March 2016.
  26. Yang, R., Zhang, L., Tan, B. and Zhong, Z. 2003. Investigation on the status of Père David's deer in China. Chinese Journal of Zoology 38: 76~81.
  27. Zenaida graysoni (Socorro Dove). October 2016.
  28. Thermosphaeroma thermophilum. August 1996.
  29. Web site: South China Tiger. World Wide Fund for Nature.
  30. Panthera tigris amoyensis. 30 June 2008.
  31. Spix's Macaw. 20 June 2019.
  32. Web site: Wyoming Toads Begin To Recover As States Seek Endangered Species Act Overhaul. NPR.
  33. Berger-Tal . O. . Blumstein . D. T. . Swaisgood . R. R. . April 2020 . Conservation translocations: a review of common difficulties and promising directions . Animal Conservation . en . 23 . 2 . 121–131 . 10.1111/acv.12534 . 2020AnCon..23..121B . 1367-9430.
  34. Bellis . Joe . Bourke . David . Maschinski . Joyce . Heineman . Katie . Dalrymple . Sarah . December 2020 . Climate suitability as a predictor of conservation translocation failure . Conservation Biology . en . 34 . 6 . 1473–1481 . 10.1111/cobi.13518 . 0888-8892. free . 32304113 . 2020ConBi..34.1473B .
  35. Turghan . Mardan Aghabey . Jiang . Zhigang . Niu . Zhongze . 2022-11-15 . An Update on Status and Conservation of the Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii): Captive Breeding and Reintroduction Projects . Animals . 12 . 22 . 3158 . 10.3390/ani12223158 . 2076-2615. free . 36428386 . 9686875 .
  36. Ryder . Oliver A. . Friese . Carrie . Greely . Henry T. . Sandler . Ronald . Saragusty . Joseph . Durrant . Barbara S. . Redford . Kent H. . August 2020 . Exploring the limits of saving a subspecies: The ethics and social dynamics of restoring northern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) . Conservation Science and Practice . en . 2 . 8 . 10.1111/csp2.241 . 2578-4854. free . 2020ConSP...2E.241R .
  37. Bozzuto . Claudio . Biebach . Iris . Muff . Stefanie . Ives . Anthony R. . Keller . Lukas F. . 2019-09-02 . Inbreeding reduces long-term growth of Alpine ibex populations . Nature Ecology & Evolution . en . 3 . 9 . 1359–1364 . 10.1038/s41559-019-0968-1 . 31477848 . 2019NatEE...3.1359B . 2397-334X. 11250/2637691 . free .
  38. Husemann . M . Zachos . F E . Paxton . R J . Habel . J C . October 2016 . Effective population size in ecology and evolution . Heredity . en . 117 . 4 . 191–192 . 10.1038/hdy.2016.75 . 0018-067X . 5026761 . 27553454.
  39. Wang . J . Santiago . E . Caballero . A . October 2016 . Prediction and estimation of effective population size . Heredity . en . 117 . 4 . 193–206 . 10.1038/hdy.2016.43 . 0018-067X . 5026755 . 27353047.
  40. Grace . Molly K. . Akçakaya . H. Resit . Bennett . Elizabeth L. . Brooks . Thomas M. . Heath . Anna . Hedges . Simon . Hilton-Taylor . Craig . Hoffmann . Michael . Hochkirch . Axel . Jenkins . Richard . Keith . David A. . Long . Barney . Mallon . David P. . Meijaard . Erik . Milner-Gulland . E.J. . December 2021 . Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact . Conservation Biology . en . 35 . 6 . 1833–1849 . 10.1111/cobi.13756 . 34289517 . 2021ConBi..35.1833G . 0888-8892. 10919/108163 . free .
  41. Web site: The IUCN Green Status of Species . IUCN Red List.
  42. Web site: Gardner . Simon . 6 February 2001 . Lonesome George faces own Galapagos tortoise curse . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604055952/http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/9708/newsDate/06-Feb-2001/story.htm . 4 June 2011.
  43. Book: Nicholls, H. . Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of a Conservation Icon . Macmillan Science . 2006 . 1-4039-4576-4 . London, England . 28 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110914155707/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/henry/ . 14 September 2011 . dead.
  44. Web site: 24 June 2012 . Last Pinta giant tortoise Lonesome George dies . 25 June 2012 . BBC News.
  45. Web site: 22 November 2012 . Scientists: Extinct Galapagos tortoise species could be resurrected . 25 November 2012 . CTV News.

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