610 bird species have gone extinct worldwide in the last 130,000 years

(Patria) - The dodo, a well-known flightless bird that lived on the Indian island of Mauritius, has become a symbol of extinction caused by human activity.

It was discovered by Dutch sailors in 1598, but within less than 80 years, hunting, habitat destruction, and the introduction of new species led to its disappearance, reports N1.

Research shows that the dodo is not an isolated case - 610 bird species have gone extinct in the last 130,000 years, coinciding with the spread of the human species - Homo sapiens.

This bird extinction has accelerated in recent decades. One recent example is the Hawaiian songbird, Kauaʻi ʻōʻō, which was declared extinct last year.

The ecological consequences of these extinctions are serious. According to ecologist Tom Matthews from the University of Birmingham, birds perform key functions in ecosystems, such as seed dispersal, insect control, and pollination.

The loss of species leads to the loss of these functions, which can trigger chain extinctions of other organisms.

Matthews specifically highlights examples from Mauritius and Hawaii, where almost all fruit-eating birds have gone extinct.

Such birds, like the dodo and Kauaʻi ʻōʻō, played an important role in the dispersal of plant seeds, and their disappearance has endangered many tree species.

Most extinctions occurred on islands, where isolation and small areas further exacerbated the situation.

The introduction of predators such as rats and cats had a devastating impact, especially on flightless birds that could not escape.

Bird hunting was a major cause of extinction in the past and continues to be a problem, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Specific factors have caused extinctions in certain regions. For example, avian malaria, introduced by humans, caused mass extinctions in Hawaii, especially among endemic species.

Matthews points out that climate change caused by human activities will be a significant factor in future extinctions.

Researchers predict the extinction of over 1,000 bird species in the next two centuries, noting that the figure of 610 is likely already an underestimate due to a lack of data from some areas.

Lost bird species represent billions of years of evolution, and each loss is like cutting a branch from the tree of life, reports Reuters.