Using Math to Predict Future Extinctions "Our study provides a
theoretical basis for management efforts that would aim to
mitigate extinction cascades in food web networks. There is
evidence that a significant fraction of all extinctions are
caused not by a primary perturbation but instead by the
propagation of a cascade," said Motter. Extinction cascades are
often observed following the loss of a key species within an
ecosystem. As the system changes to compensate for the loss,
availability of food, territory and other resources to each of
the remaining members can fluctuate wildly, creating a boom-or-
bust environment that can lead to even more extinctions.
According to the study, more than 70 percent of these
extinctions are preventable, assuming that the system can be
brought into balance using only available resources--no new
factors may be introduced. Motter explained further, "We find
that extinction cascades can often be mitigated by suppressing--
rather than enhancing--the populations of specific speci