A total of 1,237 species across the world face human-driven threats to their survival in more than 90 per cent of their habitat, according to new research. A further 395 are affected in their entire area.
The study, which was published in the journal PLOS Biology, states these animals "will almost certainly face extinction," unless effective conservation initiatives intervene.
A total of 5,457 species of birds, mammals and amphibians were studied as part of the new research from a team of scientists working with Australia's University of Queensland and the Wildlife Conservation Society. For each species, threats were mapped in their habitats in order to determine what factors are most effected by causes of biodiversity loss.
This all comes from the same team who found that just five countries are responsible for 70 per cent of the last remaining intact ecosystems. These are Australia, the US, Brazil, Russia and Canada.
The researchers divided the planet up into 30-square-kilometre boxes in order to identify "hotspots", where the species are most affected by common threats to biodiversity — such as agriculture, urbanisation, rail and waterways, and population density — and "coolspots", where critters could find refuge.
They found the impacts could be "extensive" and "severely limiting the area within which species can survive".
Lead author James Allan, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Queensland, said: “These species will decline and possibly die out in the affected parts of their habitat without conservation action. Completely affected species will almost certainly face extinction.”
He adds that the estimates may be conservative, as they don't take into account infectious diseases or climate change impact.
A look at the UAE's most endangered species:
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The sand dune cat (Felis margarita) is a nocturnal creature that lives in shallow burrows and hunts rodents. Research published in 2005 indicated that only 250 remained in Abu Dhabi emirate. Courtesy, Al Ain Zoo -
The Arabian leopard is currently listed as critically endangered. Pawan Singh / The National -
This is the first sighting of the rare Rüppell's fox (Vulpes rueppellii) in 13 years. Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi -
Whale sharks are known as jinbe zame in Japanese, inspiring their newly discovered residents' name.. Getty Images -
Arabian Caracal (Caracal caracal) - IUCN status: least concern - thought to be extinct, the environment agency captured daytime and nighttime footage of the creature for the first time since 1984. Courtesy EAD -
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) - IUCN status: Endangered - The UAE is one of 140 countries where the green turtle is a native species; numbers have fallen worldwide - Two years ago Emirates Wildlife Society – WWF launched Gulf Green Turtle Conservation. Courtesy Paul Velasco/EWS-WWF -
Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) - IUCN status: Vulnerable - Found on islands of the coast of several Gulf states, including the UAE - Threatened by development and oil spills, the species has a total population of less than half a million. Courtesy- Rob Gubiani -
Emirati leaf-toed gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus) - IUCN status: Least concern - Only found in mountainous regions of north-eastern UAE and northern Oman - More recent research suggests it actually consists of three species, one of which is unique to the UAE – making it the country's only endemic vertebrate – and threatened by development. Photo Courtesy: Johannes Els. -
Sea cow (Dugong dugon) - IUCN status: Vulnerable - Locally, boat strikes and fishing net entanglement is a threat, although there are major conservation efforts - The population in UAE waters is thought to be several thousand -
The Crested Porcupine, a rodent thought to be extinct in the UAE, was recorded by camera traps in Abu Dhabi. Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi -
Gulf sand gecko (Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis) - IUCN status: Least concern - Found widely in the Arabian peninsula, especially in the UAE - This species is not endangered but its population is declining, and in the UAE it faces threats from the development of coastal sabkha habitat. Photo courtesy-Salvador Carranza) -
Keyserling's wonder gecko (Teratoscincus keyserlingii) - IUCN status: Not yet evaluated - Although this species is also found in Iran, the UAE population is the only one in Arabia - Heavily threatened by development, it could be driven to extinction locally, although the Mohamed bin Zayed Species. Pritpal Soorae / Environment Agency Abu Dhabi -
Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) - IUCN status: Endangered - Widely distributed, but threatened by fishing for its fins and as accidental bycatch - Numbers have plummeted by four-fifths over the last quarter of a century. Image by © Norbert Wu/Science Faction/Corbis -
Hawksbill turtles, rated as Critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, have begun laying their eggs on a beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari) - IUCN status: Endangered - Restricted to mountainous regions of north-eastern UAE and northern Oman - Worldwide population is probably below 5,000. ANTONIE ROBERTSON / The National -
Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) - IUCN status: Endangered - Often become entangled in fishing nets - A recent census found 701 individuals, so the waters off Abu Dhabi have the world's largest single population. Roland Seitre / Minden -
The semaphore gecko is one of several species we have learned a great deal about in recent years. Getty Images -
The Houbara bustard is classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Courtesy International Fund For Houbara Conservation -
Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) - IUCN status: Vulnerable - Formerly listed as endangered, the UAE's reintroduction programme has helped to increase numbers - The wild population is about 1,200, just over half of which are UAE reintroduced individuals. Mike Young / The National -
Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) - IUCN status: Vulnerable - Found in much of the Middle East in gravelly and stony areas, but numbers have declined - Two sub-species exist in the UAE, where it is threatened by habitat loss -
Green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) - IUCN status: Critically endangered - The largest sawfish, it can reach up to seven metres in length - This coastal species has declined across its range and has become extinct from some countries. AP Photo -
The Arabian tahr has been categorised as an endangered species, with a global population of less than 5,000. Courtesy TDIC -
Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) - IUCN status: Near threatened - Populations have suffered because of fishing - This species was spotted this year off the UAE's east coast
The top five countries most affected by human activity were all found to be in South East Asia, including Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. "We confirm [South East Asia] is overwhelmingly the dominant global hotspot of impacts to species," the study states.
Interestingly, due to its rich biodiversity, the area also has the highest score for "coolspots", along with Liberia, the Amazon rainforest and the Andes mountains in South America, as well as Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
