First species extinct due to climate change possibly identified

[blankslate]

National Geographic: First Mammal Species Goes Extinct Due to Climate Change

A small rodent that lived only on a single island off Australia is likely the world's first mammal to be a casualty of climate change, scientists report this week.

The Bramble Cay melomys (Melomys rubicola) seems to have disappeared from its home in the eastern Torres Strait of the Great Barrier Reef, the scientists say. The animal was last seen by a fisherman in 2009, but failed attempts to trap any in late 2014 have prompted scientists to say it is likely extinct.

Also called the mosaic-tailed rat, the rodent is named after its home on Bramble Cay, a small island that is at most 10 feet (3 meters) above sea level.

The rats were first seen by Europeans on the island in 1845, and there were several hundred there as of 1978. But since 1998, the part of the island that sits above high tide has shrunk from 9.8 acres to 6.2 acres (4 hectares to 2.5 hectares). That means the island's vegetation has been shrinking, and the rodents have lost about 97 percent of their habitat.

oh well... that's not as important as me getting to drive my muscle car around.


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[chucky2]

Finally, something the Believers can use to justify chaining themselves to airplane tires as a good first step to stopping this needless CO2 consumption. Believers, no need to be whining hypocrites any longer! To the airports! (any day now, any day...)

 

[blankslate]

Finally, something the Believers can use to justify chaining themselves to airplane tires as a good first step to stopping this needless CO2 consumption. Believers, no need to be whining hypocrites any longer! To the airports! (any day now, any day...)

It's just a rat... and people are too smart to just sit on an island and drown....



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[Jaskalas]

A rodent whose entire species only existed on 9.8 acres?!

The world won't even notice its missing.

 

[chucky2]

It's just a rat... and people are too smart to just sit on an island and drown....



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Don't I know it...when Daley made steps to get the rats off his island, they scattered and ended up - predictably - F'ing up every community they came to. It's like the Plague... ()

 

[werepossum]

A rodent whose entire species only existed on 9.8 acres?!

The world won't even notice its missing.

Etheostoma sellare existed in a smaller territory. It is presumed extinct. I noticed. And I miss it.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

just sad, and even sadder that some folks are elated over it.

 

[mrjminer]

Hopefully, we have sufficient samples of this critter to ensure the survival of the human race if needed. Otherwise, the creature is expendable.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Hopefully, we have sufficient samples of this critter to ensure the survival of the human race if needed. Otherwise, the creature is expendable.

just sad you never learned better.

 

[blankslate]

just sad you never learned better.

I consider it better than even odds that Polar Bears will be extinct by the end of this century...


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[agent00f]

A certain segment of the population lack the mental capacity to grasp the basis of what pollution implies, which is necessary to motivate solutions. Whether it's lead or greenhouse gas, there's some benefit now for a cost later, and studies show that from childhood some kids understand delayed gratification while others do not.

Unfortunately votes of people who can only see the benefits now count the same as those with some forward vision, which is a fundamental failing of democracy vs any sort of merit based system.

 

[Matthiasa]

Even without human help it was going to go extinct anyways within a relatively "short" period of time. Having the entire species on an island that is just barely above sea level when sea level has been both 100 meters lower and higher than they are today does not work over the long term.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Here's a good read on the Melomys, it appears that nesting birds and turtles had a lot to do with the reduced vegetation on the island. It also appears that they've been extinct since the mid 2000's.

http://theconversation.com/australian-endangered-species-bramble-cay-melomys-18036

 

[Pipeline 1010]

Climate change has been occurring on Earth for literally billions of years. We have had multiple ice ages which wiped out thousands or maybe even millions of species. Why is this animal now being considered the first? Why does NatGeo feel compelled to bullshit us?

 

[Zaap]

Climate change has been occurring on Earth for literally billions of years. We have had multiple ice ages which wiped out thousands or maybe even millions of species. Why is this animal now being considered the first? Why does NatGeo feel compelled to bullshit us?

I expected to see some fossil record of a dinosaur, and it being just the *first* known example...


...oh but wait. THAT climate change(TM)

 

[agent00f]

People have been dying for millions of years, so why would you care if you die?

 

[Jaskalas]

People have been dying for millions of years, so why would you care if you die?

This little species has nothing to do with me.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

This little species has nothing to do with me.

this time, probably not, but next time it could be something in the food chain that directly affects your life.

 

[Jaskalas]

this time, probably not, but next time it could be something in the food chain that directly affects your life.

That island was entirely under water during the previous interglacier 100k years ago. Maybe the rodent should have picked a place to live that wasn't guaranteed to kill it. Having less than 10 acres means no room for adaptation. No room for survival. It was going to die whether humans existed or not.

You say next time, but that would be a lie to imply this was the first.

 

[HeXen]

Ah, a weak species.
To hell with them

 

[Moonbeam]

Even without human help it was going to go extinct anyways within a relatively "short" period of time. Having the entire species on an island that is just barely above sea level when sea level has been both 100 meters lower and higher than they are today does not work over the long term.

That particular rat species had been destined to escape the island on storm debris and evolve, after human extinction, into a sentient race that would have traveled to the stars.

 

[flexy]

There is NO logical reason to be "against" the notion that climate is changing DUE TO MAN, even if we were to only assume a small likelihood that this is the case. NO. REASON. AT ALL.

Except, that people at some point (due to political bias) formed an opinion, and now they *have to* defend their opinion/belief due to pride..and need to argue with others, or better even...wipe evidence that speaks for/against one view off the table, again...PRIDE.

It's, from a certain point of view, entirely insane.

As I see from that article, someone predicted that many more species (1 in 5) are going to be at risk due to raising sea levels/climate change...and this is the first confirmed one...so this is indeed relevant.

 

[MajinCry]

Dis rat ain't no sister of mine, I ain't gonna gives no cares 'bouts nothin's of that nonsenses, nuh-uh nosir, nots untils it gon' be ma cows gon' eggstinctshin, then ah's gonna gives a damns maybe, but untilts then, fuckits, gots me an' ma dirty burger an' ain't go climate change takin' ma burger buns from me!

 

[TheGardener]

I think I saw that species today on the Boston Harbor waterfront.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Dis rat ain't no sister of mine, I ain't gonna gives no cares 'bouts nothin's of that nonsenses, nuh-uh nosir, nots untils it gon' be ma cows gon' eggstinctshin, then ah's gonna gives a damns maybe, but untilts then, fuckits, gots me an' ma dirty burger an' ain't go climate change takin' ma burger buns from me!

LMAO!!!! Your response is a racist Ebonics rant.