Since 1500, over 320 terrestrial vertebrates have gone extinct and the populations of remaining species have declined by an average of 25 percent. This decline is also seen in invertebrate animal life. The lead researcher, Rodolfo Dirzo, attributes this current die-off to human activity, resulting in what he calls an "Anthropocene defaunation" era. Globally, 16 to 33 percent of vertebrate species are threatened or endangered, with large animals facing the highest decline rate. This has led to an increase in rodents and disease-carrying ectoparasites in areas with high human population density. Invertebrate animals like beetles, butterflies, spiders, and worms have also decreased by 45 percent in the past 35 years due to habitat loss and climate disruption. These losses could have negative impacts on our daily lives. Dirzo recommended that promptly decreasing rates of habitat destruction and overexploitation would be beneficial, but these strategies must be customized to specific regions and circumstances. He pointed out that extinction is not just the disappearance of a species but also the loss of important ecosystem functions that animals contribute to. This information was shared in an article published in the journal Science.