Bird family tree predicts more extinctions

A new phylogenetic map, or more simply understood as a bird family tree that features such common British birds as the Greenfinch and the Blackbird, claims that such common, all-garden birds are slipping towards extinction.

A scientist by the name of Gavin Thomas believes that according to his findings the population of birds that are closely related by species have a tendency to decline at a very similar rate.

These birds are considered to be a warning of impending large scale declines in British bird populations.

If his theory is proved to be correct then it would seem that a decline in a relatively common species will indicate the decline in a rarer but genetically related bird.

A minimum of 20% of all British bird species are on the so called ‘red list’ which relates to endangered varieties of birds, those numbers are now predicted to increase when the list is reviewed in a few months.

This is according to the RSPB (Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds).

The new RSPB red list could feature as many as fifty or more varieties of birds, including many much loved but rarely seen species such as Woodpeckers and the once common Lapwing.

Mr Thomas is a scientist studying biology at London’s Imperial College; he has studied, lengthily, genetic research to create this ‘family tree’ for British birdlife.

It indicates that in excess of 90% of our birds are related in one way or another, and therefore presumably share common genetic factors that would make then liable to thrive or decline at similar rates in different conditions.

Birds that for example shared similar diets could be similarly threatened by changes in habitat, such as destruction of hedgerows or pesticides.

Using his family tree Mr. Thomas believes he is able to make accurate predictions about future population traits by looking, for example, at birds that are related to other birds that are already on the red list, and can see correlations that will negatively effect that bird’s population.

The Linnet is an officially endangered species that is closely related to the more common Greenfinch, which he considers makes it possible for Greenfinch numbers to head in the same direction as the Linnet.

The RSPB consider the findings to be an accurate assessment and a useful, if disappointing, predictive tool.