How long have species been endangered

In the ocean, reef-building corals are declining at an alarming rate: 's first-ever comprehensive global assessment of these animals revealed that a third of reef-building corals are threatened. MAMMALS Perhaps one of the most striking elements of the present extinction crisis is the fact that the majority of our closest relatives — the primates — are severely endangered.

About 90 percent of primates — the group that contains monkeys, lemurs, lorids, galagos, tarsiers, and apes as well as humans — live in tropical forests, which are fast disappearing. The IUCN estimates that almost 50 percent of the world's primate species are at risk of extinction.

Overall, the IUCN estimates that half the globe's 5, known mammals are declining in population and a fifth are clearly at risk of disappearing forever with no less than 1, mammals across the globe classified as endangered, threatened, or vulnerable. In addition to primates, marine mammals — including several species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises — are among those mammals slipping most quickly toward extinction.

PLANTS Through photosynthesis, plants provide the oxygen we breathe and the food we eat and are thus the foundation of most life on Earth.

They're also the source of a majority of medicines in use today. Of the more than , known species of plants, the IUCN has evaluated only 12, species, finding that about 68 percent of evaluated plant species are threatened with extinction.

Unlike animals, plants can't readily move as their habitat is destroyed, making them particularly vulnerable to extinction. Global warming is likely to substantially exacerbate this problem.

Already, scientists say, warming temperatures are causing quick and dramatic changes in the range and distribution of plants around the world. With plants making up the backbone of ecosystems and the base of the food chain, that's very bad news for all species, which depend on plants for food, shelter, and survival. Island reptile species have been dealt the hardest blow, with at least 28 island reptiles having died out since The main threats to reptiles are habitat destruction and the invasion of nonnative species, which prey on reptiles and compete with them for habitat and food.

Get the latest on our work for biodiversity and learn how to help in our free weekly e-newsletter. Saving Life on Earth Read our report on how we can tackle the extinction crisis before it's too late.

Skip to main content. Smithsonian Institution. Extinction Over Time. Helena olive tree -- extinct from logging and plantations Extinction Rates Recent studies estimate about eight million species on Earth, of which at least 15, are threatened with extinction. Five Mass Extinctions At five other times in the past, rates of extinction have soared. Preventing Extinction The science of conservation biology focuses on managing ecosystems to prevent species from going extinct.

Reversing Extinction Recent improvements in genetic engineering have raised questions about bringing extinct species back to life. Related Videos. Mass Extinction - Solving the Dinosaur Mystery.

Human Impacts and Extinction of Freshwater Snails. Mass Extinction of Large Dinosaurs and More. Bird Extinctions in Recent Geologic Time. Freshwater Snails and Ecosystems. Triassic Life, Extinction, and Recovery. Evolve or Perish Board Game. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS.

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Up to one million plant and animal species face extinction, many within decades, because of human activities, says the most comprehensive report yet on the state of global ecosystems. Without drastic action to conserve habitats, the rate of species extinction — already tens to hundreds of times higher than the average across the past ten million years — will only increase, says the analysis.

According to the report, agricultural activities have had the largest impact on ecosystems that people depend on for food, clean water and a stable climate. The loss of species and habitats poses as much a danger to life on Earth as climate change does, says a summary of the work, released on 6 May.

The analysis distils findings from nearly 15, studies and government reports, integrating information from the natural and social sciences, Indigenous peoples and traditional agricultural communities. It is the first major international appraisal of biodiversity since These introduced species are called invasive species. For example, when some fish are introduced into a lake or stream, they may prey upon, or eat the food of the native fish.

The native species may then have to find a new source of food or a new home, or face becoming endangered or extinct. Another way that people harm animals and plants is by taking them from the wild. Some people might catch an insect like the Mission blue butterfly for a butterfly collection. Others might capture a wild animal for a pet, or pick a flower because it's pretty.

In addition, some people illegally hunt animals for food, skins, or fur. In the past, lots of American crocodiles were killed so that their skins could be made into shoes and other clothing. This crocodile is now an endangered species. Can you imagine walking in the woods without hearing birds singing, or picture what a field would be like without wildflowers blooming?

Our plants and wildlife. More importantly, all living species, including people, depend on other species for survival. For example, if a fish such as the shortnose sturgeon becomes extinct, all of the species that rely on it will also suffer and may become threatened or endangered. We all depend upon plants and wildlife. From studying them, we have learned new ways of growing food, making clothing, and building houses.

Scientists have discovered how to use certain plants and animals as medicine. If we fail to protect threatened or endangered species, we will never know how they might have improved our lives.