Industrialization and modernization have made life easier for people. Progress has been fast since the time that the modern age has arrived. It does have its own repercussions however as human industrialization helped vertebrates decline fast.
As the human population grows, so does the need for both more space as well as a faster technological growth. This has made life easier for many people, as technological advances have sped many things up. The cost on the environment is also great though, as an expanding human population has encroached on habitats. This has resulted in animals moving away from their usual habitats.
The decline in vertebrate population began at the end of the 19th century. This has been the result of the findings by Professor Yun-Xin Fu Ph.D. and his colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Fu is a Professor at the Department of Biostatics and the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences at UTHealth School of Public Health. The team includes Haipeng Li, Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The team has looked into scientific articles and studies about the genetic diversity of vertebrates. Through their study, they have found around 600 species that are already endangered. Through a population genetics model, the team has found out when each species began its decline, according to UTHealth.
Genetic diversity is affected when there is a decline in species population. A much larger population would have more genetic diversity, which would increase its survival. Fewer genetic diversity would mean that a species can be vulnerable since it cannot adapt as fast. Protecting ecosystems and habitats is needed in order to lessen the speed of population decline, as Science Daily reports.
The study should help conservation efforts in protecting habitats in order to preserve species from declining. Human expansion into habitats cannot be stopped as long as the human population grows. Human industrialization has helped vertebrates decline fast. A recent decline in reindeer population has been attributed to climate change.
