https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220923090901.htm > Several hundred species of animals and plants have gone extinct in the industrialized age and human activity has impacted or shrunk half of Earth's ecosystems, affecting millions of species. The partial loss of geographic range diminishes population size and can geographically prevent populations of the same species from interacting with each other. This has serious implications for an animal or plant's genetic richness and their ability to meet the coming challenges of climate change. > "When you take away or fundamentally alter swaths of a species' habitat, you restrict the genetic richness available to help those plants and animals adapt to shifting conditions," explained Exposito-Alonso, who holds one of Carnegie's Staff Associate positions -- which recognizes early career excellence -- and is also an Assistant Professor, by courtesy, at Stanford University.