Bird extinctions led to 3 billion years of lost evolution

The extinction of hundreds of birds since the evolution of humans 130,000 years ago has led to a massive loss in functional diversity. This not only includes the loss of the species themselves but also of the ecosystem roles they played. These extinctions account for about 3 billion years of unique evolutionary history down the drain, a new study published in Science has found. Researchers have found evidence of the extinction of 600 birds, from the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) to the more recent Kauaʻi ʻōʻō (Moho braccatus). “In addition to functional diversity, each species also carries a certain amount of evolutionary history; therefore, when that species becomes extinct, it’s basically like chopping off a branch of the tree of life, and all of that associated phylogenetic diversity is also lost,” said study author Tom Matthews from the University of Birmingham in a press release.

Read more at Phys.org.