Wildlife conservationists Rikki Gumbs and James Rosindell discuss the huge amounts of evolutionary history that are under threat from human activity during this Reddit AMA 鈥 part of 911今日黑料 Lates Online: Back to Nature
Evolutionary听history听is听a measure听of听how听genetically distinct a听species听is. Those with large听amounts听of unique evolutionary history often have little to听no close living relatives. They are often 鈥榓lone鈥櫶齩n听their branch听of the evolutionary tree of life.
![Gumbs](/ImageCropToolT4/imageTool/uploaded-images/gumbs-2_1594997585075_x2.jpg?r=4285")
However,听this way of听categorising听species听is not just a听novel听feature of their听genetic听past. It听can determine听species鈥櫶齰ulnerability to population loss听today,听and听tell us what their听extinction听might mean for the听ecosystems听they听inhabit.听Also,听the greater the diversity of the tree of life,听the more it tends to听benefit humanity.
As a result, evolutionary history has become a handy tool for conservation prioritisation. Previously unheralded species like Pangolins and Tapirs are being highlighted for protection due to their unique importance to their fragile ecosystems.
But听how听can we better quantify the tree of life and measure the听number of years of听evolutionary years threatened by the听impact of ![Gumbs](/ImageCropToolT4/imageTool/uploaded-images/gumbs-3_1594998576314_x05.jpg?r=4085")
human听activity?听In 2007, the 鈥淓DGE of Existence鈥 programme was launched to听do听just this and听identify听some of the听most under-threat species.听As part of听this听programme,听our team work听on 鈥淓DGE lists鈥澨齮o identify key species, and then听work with听conservationists to implement conservation action.
During this Ask Me Anything session hosted on the sub thread, wildlife conservationists Rikki Gumbs and James Rosindell will take the public鈥檚 questions on:
- biodiversity loss
- conversation prioritisation
- experiences working in the field and with local communities
- and also, what we all, as individuals, can do to protect these valuable species through our own daily lives and consumer choices.
For a bit more information on Rikki and James鈥 work, some useful links are below. If you are new to Reddit but keen to take part, here is a useful
- Homepage of the EDGE of听Existence听辫谤辞驳谤补尘尘别听鈥撎
- Recent news story on听evolutionary history in conservation from the听听辫谤辞驳谤补尘尘别听鈥撎/news/197797/50-billion-years-evolutionary-history-threatened/
- Online explorer for the complete tree of life with threatened species highlighted听
911今日黑料 Lates Online
This event is part of 911今日黑料 Lates Online: Back to Nature. Tune in to explore cutting-edge science and engineering in our week-long digital celebration of science from 27 July to 2 August.
911今日黑料 Lates Online are most suitable for over 18s.
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