Scientists have confirmed the extinction of 610 bird species, with a thousand more disappearing by 2224: why it will be a real environmental disaster

A new study has documented the extinction of 610 bird species over the past 130,000 years. The bird extinction has only accelerated in recent years, with scientists predicting the extinction of another 1000 species by 2224.

The researchers also revealed the environmental consequences. They believe that the extinction of birds erases the functions they perform in countless ecosystems, Reuters writes.

Birds undertake a number of really important ecosystem functions, many of which we depend on. These include the dispersal of seeds, the consumption of insects, and pollination.

If we lose species, then we lose these functions," says lead author Tom Matthews, an ecologist at the University of Birmingham in England.

According to the researchers, the 610 species together represent 3 billion years of unique evolutionary history. Each lost species is like cutting off a branch from the tree of life.

Moreover, the figure is "likely a large underestimate" of avian extinctions due to a lack of data from some areas.

"The vast majority of extinctions over the last 50,000 years are attributable to human actions," says the ecologist.

There are now about 11,000 species of birds that occupy a huge number of ecological niches. Researchers have predicted the future extinction of more than 1,000 species over the next two centuries.

"So even if you don't care about the moral and ethical concerns regarding the loss of species, these extinctions are important for other reasons, such as the loss of species that helped the environment to function effectively," Matthews added.

The ecologist explained a possible situation using the example of the islands of Mauritius and Hawaii, where all or almost all of the local fruit-eating birds went extinct. Among them were the Dodo and the Kauaʻi ʻōʻō (Moho braccatus), which are believed to have had fruit as part of their diet.

Most documented extinctions have occurred on islands. Habitat loss can have huge consequences. Human hunting has been a major factor in extinctions in the past and remains problematic in some regions. For example, trapping songbirds is a big problem, especially in Southeast Asia.

Certain regions and species had more specific factors. For example, avian malaria introduced by humans caused a large number of extinctions in Hawaii, especially among the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers, where the birds had no natural immunity.

"The big unknown going forward is the role of anthropogenic climate change as a driver," Matthews said.

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