Forgotten species will go extinct twice

Species go extinct twice—the first when the last individual stops breathing, and the second when the collective memory of the species disappears

[From a quote by Banksy and Owen Aaron]

A new study, published today in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, by researchers from the University of Oxford's Department of Zoology, explores the phenomenon of social extinction

Social extinction is when a species disappears from our collective memory and attention

Whether a species goes socially extinct depends on many factors, an international and interdisciplinary team of scientists has found

Dr Diogo Verissimo, a researcher in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford and co-author of the study, said:

"Social extinction occurs not only in species that have gone extinct, but also in those that still live around us, often due to social or cultural changes, such as urbanization or digitization of society, that fundamentally alter us relationship with nature and lead to the loss of collective memory

An example given by the researchers is that modern medicine in Europe replaced traditional herbal medicine

As more and more species become threatened or become extinct, they also become isolated from humans

For example, studies between communities in southwestern China and indigenous peoples in Bolivia have shown that local knowledge and memory of extinct bird species have been lost

However, the opposite can also happen

"However, our knowledge and memory of these species shift gradually, often becoming inaccurate, stylized or simplified, and disconnected from the actual species

For example, after the Spix's macaw went extinct in the wild, children in the local community mistakenly believed that the species lived in Rio de Janeiro because it was featured in the animated film Rio de Janeiro

"It's important to note that most species don't actually become socially extinct, just because they didn't have a social presence in the first place," said the study's lead author, Dr Ivan Jari?, a researcher at the Czech Academy of Sciences' Biological Centre

"This is common in uncharismatic, tiny, mysterious or inaccessible species, especially invertebrates, plants, fungi and microbes - many of which have not been formally described by scientists or known to humans

Study co-author Dr Josh Firth, a research fellow at Oxford University's Department of Zoology, said:

"Social extinction affects conservation efforts aimed at protecting biodiversity because it reduces our expectations of the environment and our perception of the state of nature, such as what is standard or relatively healthy

Further research will now assess how social extinction is creating misperceptions about the magnitude of biodiversity threats and true extinction rates, and undermining public support for conservation and restoration efforts, such as the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver to the UK

"Social extinction reduces our willingness to pursue ambitious conservation goals