What is mass extinction and are we facing a sixth one?
Extinction is a part of life, and animals and plants disappear all the time. About 98 percent of all the organisms that have ever existed on our planet are now extinct.
When a species goes extinct, its role in the ecosystem is usually filled by new species, or other existing ones. Earth’s ‘normal’ extinction rate is often thought to be somewhere between 0.1 and 1 species per 10,000 species per 100 years. This is known as the background rate of extinction.
A mass extinction event is when species vanish much faster than they are replaced. This is usually defined as about 75 percent of the world’s species being lost in a ‘short’ amount of geological time – less than 2.8 million years.
Katie Collins, Curator of Benthic molluscs at the Museum says, ‘It’s difficult to identify when a mass extinction may have started and ended. However, there are five big events that we know of, where extinction was much higher than normal background rate, and these are often used to decide whether we are going through a sixth one now.’
How many mass extinctions have there been?
Five great mass extinctions have changed the face of life on Earth. We know what caused some of them, but others remain a mystery.
- The Ordovician-Silurian mass extinction occurred 443 million years ago and wiped out approximately 85 percent of all species. Scientists think it was caused by temperatures plummeting and huge glaciers forming, which caused sea levels to drop dramatically. This was followed by a period of rapid warming. Many small marine creatures died out.
- The Devonian mass extinction event took place 374 million years ago and killed about three-quarters of the world’s species, most of which were marine invertebrates that lived at the bottom of the sea. This was a period of many environmental changes, including global warming and cooling, a rise and fall of sea levels and a reduction in oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. We don’t know exactly what triggered the extinction event.
- The Permian mass extinction, which happened 250 million years ago, was the largest and most devastating event of the five. Also known as the Great Dying, it eradicated more than 95 percent of all species, including most of the vertebrates which had begun to evolve by this time. Some scientists think Earth was hit by a large asteroid which filled the air with dust particles that blocked out the Sun and caused acid rain. Others think there was a large volcanic explosion which increased carbon dioxide and made the oceans toxic.
- The Triassic mass extinction event took place 200 million years ago, eliminating about 80 percent of Earth’s species, including many types of dinosaurs. This was probably caused by colossal geological activity that increased global temperatures and carbon dioxide levels.
- The Cretaceous mass extinction event occurred 65 million years ago, killing 78 percent of all species, including the remaining non-avian dinosaurs. This was most likely caused by an asteroid hitting the Earth in what is now Mexico, potentially compounded by ongoing flood volcanism in what is now India.
What causes mass extinctions?
Past mass extinctions were caused by extreme temperature changes, rising or falling sea levels and catastrophic, one-off events like a huge volcano erupting or an asteroid hitting Earth.
We know about them because we can see how life has changed in the fossil record. For instance, a large part of Katie’s work includes exploring extinction through fossils such as bivalves.
Katie says, ‘Bivalves have been around for 500 million years, making them one of the oldest groups of fossils we can study and still see how they live and survive today. We get some really good continuous data from them all around the world.’
While fossils can tell us a lot about how life used to be on Earth, there are still many questions that remain unanswered.
‘The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction is the youngest mass extinction event, and probably the most studied,’ Katie adds. ‘We should understand the Cretaceous event pretty well, but many aspects of it, including the lead-in, the cause and the recovery, are all still areas of active research.’
Are we living through the sixth mass extinction?
We are experiencing some changes to our climate. Research, including some led by the Museum, shows humans may be one of the causes of these changes. Since the Industrial Revolution, we have been putting pressure on nature by using its resources without supporting recovery.
For example, land use change is continuing to destroy swathes of natural landscapes. Humans have already transformed over 70 percent of land surfaces and are using about three-quarters of freshwater resources.
Agriculture is also a leading cause of soil degradation, deforestation, pollution and biodiversity loss. It is diminishing wild spaces and driving out countless species from their natural habitats, forcing them to clash with humans for resources or leaving them vulnerable.
Katie adds, ‘Many large animals are culled because they are seen as a risk to humans. People will hunt predatory birds disproportionally as they consider them a threat to farming, although they mostly eat rabbits.
‘A lot of wolves have been removed in North America because they’re seen as predators of livestock and that’s caused a trophic ecological cascade.’
Invasive species, many of which are introduced by humans, are also threatening ecosystems all over the world. Introduced species compete with local species for resources and often diminish the quality of biodiversity in the area, sometimes causing extinction. These are just some of the devastating changes caused by humans.
All life on Earth is finely interwoven. This delicate balance has been established over millions of years. As one species becomes extinct, many other species are affected, putting a number of ecosystems in danger of collapsing.
Naturally, extinction occurs over hundreds and thousands of years which allows nature to slowly replace what has been lost. But humans have sped up this process to a dangerous rate.
Katie says, ‘The current rate of extinction is between 100 and 1,000 times higher than the pre-human background rate of extinction, which is jaw-dropping. We are definitely going through a sixth mass extinction.’
Never before has a single species been responsible for such destruction on Earth.
Could we stop a sixth mass extinction?
Mass extinctions are a large and complex issue. They can be slow burners, taking millions of years to unfold.
Right now, it seems likely we are experiencing a sixth, and it is undoubtably the result of human actions, including human-induced climate change.
‘The floods and wildfires we’re hearing about in the news now will become regular occurrences in 50 years’ time,’ says Katie. ‘They will test the resilience of our buildings, infrastructures, transatlantic cables, satellites and more.
‘These natural disasters are going to exacerbate existing inequalities, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Research shows that if we change how we use natural resources now, the future could be a positive one for the next generation.
Katie says, ‘If we can work on reducing the negative impact we’ve had on the climate, then other things will also improve, such as the number of species that are currently threatened by habitat loss.
‘We need to work on how we access and use natural resources, including land management. Habitat loss is a huge problem and land use is tied in with that.’
Many believe the changes we need to see now can be achieved fastest by prioritising the protection and preservation of nature over the interests of financial systems.
Katie says, ‘I know there is a lot of emphasis on individual action but most of the climate-altering pollution and fossil fuel burning is the responsibility of a small number of parties.
‘It would be much more effective for individuals to put pressure on policymakers and businesses to reduce emissions and target companies that are major emitters.’
The future of our world hangs on our making what is perhaps the biggest international effort in history to reduce human impacts. We all have an active role to play, which requires deep transformation of our values, attitudes and behaviours.
See more here: nhm.ac.uk
Header image: Chong Chen
Editor’s note: PSI realises the Museum is probably under instruction to promote the ‘climate emergency’, but they are still wrong. In a warmer world, we will get LESS ‘extreme weather’ not more. The increase in floods can be mainly attributed to deliberate EU policies that all but banned proper maintenance of waterways, and allowed building on known flood plains.
The same goes for wildfires, EU regulations drastically reduced or stopped proper forest management, back burning and brush clearance, so an increase in fires was inevitable, and probably by intention.
Greg Wrightstone’s research has shown beyond doubt we are NOT experiencing a mass extinction, the rate of extinctions is LOW, and anyone who claims otherwise is lying.
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clarence
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What a load of nonsense. 5 so called extinctions ranging from 443 million to 65 million years ago? WTF?? And you “know” this how? Fossils? Carbon dating? Absolute nonsense. Next thing you idiots will proclaim is that the earth is a globe or some stupid stuff like that. I just love it when some egg head parrots the line that cave formations take thousands to millions of years to form. Really? Then how come old mine shafts that have been photographed some 100 years ago or so and re-visited today have giant stalagmites hanging in the same place where there were none 100 years ago? Hmmmmm? Where’s the science on that one Walt? “Well we know there were 5 extinctions based on our closed source lies and we just go with that. I mean to an ignorant public stuffed full of mindless believers in lies that couldn’t critical think their way out of a wet paper bag it’s easy. Way to go Principia Bullshittia! Once again you can only selectively see lies. Namely the Scamdemic and “Global Warming” Not a globe and not warming. Other than that you are a bunch of the ball earth is really, really old morons. Congrats!
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clarence
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Oh yeah a few other little tidbits for the booger eating morons out there that read this kind of tripe about how old this ball earth fraud is and the scary extinctions a gazillion years ago:
Germ theory is a hoax. No virus has ever been identified, isolated or purified. Period. Koch’s postulates have never been satisfied. So no Covid, no colds, no flu, no polo, herpes, etc. etc. Just your average toxic fat ass, lazy junk eating slob body going through a natural cleanse by cleaning the bowel through diarrhea, the lymphatic system through mucus discharge and killing toxins through elevated body temperatures. And these idiots take toxic drugs to stop these natural healing processes. Brilliant!
And…..Nukes do not exist. Yes Tiffany Hiroshima and Nagasaki were fire bombed. Bikini Atoll was done with massive amounts of TNT. Open the eyes! Research that shit.
Oh and “Dinosaurs” never existed Larry! All those skeletons you see in the Smithsonian lie filled fun houses are made of plaster. Look it up. All a hoax.
And lastly Cochise, all these fires that turn Suburban neighborhoods into white ash whilst leaving pine trees UN-touched or singed were caused on purpose with Directed Energy and Arson to get the sheeple ready for the Great reset and Agenda 2030. By making home ownership a thing of the past and transition the slaves into stack and pack apartment ghettos.
Plenty more truth where this came from. Wake up Sally.
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clarence
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Did I mention that I can’t stand mindless sheeple nitwits that can’t think for themselves? If not now you know.
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keithMars
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On point Clarence! Agree with all. Just the tip of the iceberg in this upside down clown world. Just the tip!
Not sure what is worse- The evil Synagogue of Satan Kuntz that serve Satan and make this Flat earth a living hell or the mindless twats that are completely incapable of even one original critical thought! Hmmmmm?
Well on second thought at least evil is evil. But no excuse for mindless sheeple morons too terrified to hatch an original thought. So I’m going with the masses of dumb as a box of hammers sheeple as the real reason this flat earth is a hell.
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Ross Johnson
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Yep BS article. Humans have not created climate change. CO2 does not heat the planet. This is Deep State propaganda to justify the culling of humans from the planet.
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Andy
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Sounds to me like some of the commenters on this article are living on a different planet to the one I’m on.
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GGordongoodguy
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Yeah sure Andy now pay attention: Not a planet. See you bought the lies like most. “Sounds like these commenters are living on a different “planet” than me….Herka Derka!” It’s flat. Grow up and think for once. Come on it’s OK.
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Andy
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Don’t speak to me like that. The people who need to grow up are those who think planets are flat. I’m 59 and have probably forgotten more sarcasm than you know.
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GGordongoodguy
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Your age means means nothing other than you should know the truths of the world by now which you clearly don’t. Like I said grow up. Your ignorance is inexcusable, especially at 59. Nobody thinks planets are flat. Just the earth. Planets are wandering stars which can clearly be seen to pulsate through the water covered firmament.
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bobarance
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Here is another biggie since we are on a roll here:
The entire world is ruled by Satan and his sell out International Jewbags and all their shabbos goy and paid off Pedophile minions. Absolute full scale control of anyone in power. There is not even one person from the local school board all the way to any sitting President, Governor, PM, Senator, Judge or anyone at the Executive level in any alphabet agency or any one in the Military above the rank of 07 (Brigadier General) that is not lock, stock and barrel owned and controlled by the Satanic Cabal. Same goes for ALL media. These demons have gained control of all central banking world-wide and thus own and control almost everything. Hollywood, the Music Industry, Popular Culture, major Corporations, all governments and militaries, Education, the drug industry, Medical care……EVERYTHING!! And that is why we have wars, depressions, recessions, “Terrorism”, the Plandemic, unexplained fires, chem-trails, fluoridated water, no cures for anything and mountains of lies. Never going to change, never going to get any better because Satan wants it that way and most of humanity would sell their soul for a hand full of shekels and the rest are much to ignorant to ever realize that they are all owned and dumbed down slaves. It’s called the American Dream…..because you have to be a dumbed down, indoctrinated, popular culture worshiping, mindless, worthless eater to believe it!
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Alex
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Oh the Earth is so delicate! All these dickheads in “government” and Rockefeller / Rothschild think tanks / NGOs always yammering about how everything is going to hell because of humans stinking the place up. Yeah it’s this same scum that stopped recycling, allow factories to belch filth, set up massive corporations and a consumer culture of materialism, greed and waste. They created the paradigm of so called Globalism with Kiwis from New Zealand being flown to New York just in time for a Yuppie lunch and everyone feeling entitled to a $100,000 dollar Ford F-150 gas guzzling my Johnson is small but my truck that is forever financed at least is big, McMansion lusting dimwits. And now….what? That shit’s not working anymore?
They created the mess on earth. They should tax themselves and then die to make sure Depopulation starts off right. Same turds that ordered the Georgia Guidestones built. Same turds as listed in the comments above. Pitchfork time.
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Charlie
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What’s that Katie says that Bi-valves are a great source of knowledge and explain a lot about what happened 400 million years ago? Well hail why didn’t I think of that? Thanks Katie! You cleared it all up for me and the rest of the mindless repeaters out there. I’ll make sure I parrot that shit at the water cooler to impress all my dumb ass friends tomorrow. Get the F@#k outta here!
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Michael Chernoff
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Please visit the following link for further info on the Permian extinction.
The Great Extinction – Why?
MNC
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