Study: 6th mass extinction already underway -- and we're the cause

[Socialist]

We are the first apex species capable of understanding the damage we are causing.. it's a shame so many people don't care.

The Earth's sixth mass extinction is already underway — and humans are the driving force behind it, according to a new study.

"Recent extinction rates are unprecedented in human history and highly unusual in Earth's history," according to a study published Friday in the journalScience Advances. "Our global society has started to destroy species of other organisms at an accelerating rate, initiating a mass extinction episode unparalleled for 65 million years."

Researchers used "extremely conservative assumptions" to determine extinction rates that prevailed in the past five annihilation events. Still, they found the average rate of vertebrate species lost over the past century was up to 114 times higher than normal.


USA TODAY

13 species we might have to say goodbye to in 2015


For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The previous five mass extinctions happened well before mankind walked the Earth, and are believed to have been mainly caused by natural disasters, such as asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions.

The last mass extinction happened some 65 million years ago, killing off the dinosaurs. Overall, each mass extinction event has rid the planet of up to 96% of its species each time.

An elephant splashes at sunset in the waters of the Chobe river in Botswana Chobe National Park, in the northeastern part of the country on March 20, 2015. African elephants could be extinct in the wild within a few decades, experts warn. (Photo: Chris Jek, AFP/Getty Images)


In the past few decades, several animal species have been labeled extinct, including the Chinese paddlefish, Yangtze River dolphin, Pyrenean ibex and western black rhinoceros.

Study 6th mass extinction already underway -- and we re the cause

 

[Mr. H.]

*cough*

 

[Socialist]

*cough*

Ah, I can tell you didn't bother to read the study, let alone make an attempt to care.
"For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

 

[Moonglow]

The elusive Eastern cougar is now on the extinct list....

 

[Socialist]

The elusive Eastern cougar is now on the extinct list....

 

[Slyhunter]

*cough*

Ah, I can tell you didn't bother to read the study, let alone make an attempt to care.
"For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The old die to make room for the new to be born.
It's just the way it is.

 

[Socialist]

*cough*

Ah, I can tell you didn't bother to read the study, let alone make an attempt to care.
"For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The old die to make room for the new to be born.
It's just the way it is.

We're contributing to the extinction of these species, and we have the power to save them, don't give me your idiocy.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

We are the first apex species capable of understanding the damage we are causing.. it's a shame so many people don't care.

The Earth's sixth mass extinction is already underway — and humans are the driving force behind it, according to a new study.

"Recent extinction rates are unprecedented in human history and highly unusual in Earth's history," according to a study published Friday in the journalScience Advances. "Our global society has started to destroy species of other organisms at an accelerating rate, initiating a mass extinction episode unparalleled for 65 million years."

Researchers used "extremely conservative assumptions" to determine extinction rates that prevailed in the past five annihilation events. Still, they found the average rate of vertebrate species lost over the past century was up to 114 times higher than normal.


USA TODAY

13 species we might have to say goodbye to in 2015


For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The previous five mass extinctions happened well before mankind walked the Earth, and are believed to have been mainly caused by natural disasters, such as asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions.

The last mass extinction happened some 65 million years ago, killing off the dinosaurs. Overall, each mass extinction event has rid the planet of up to 96% of its species each time.

An elephant splashes at sunset in the waters of the Chobe river in Botswana Chobe National Park, in the northeastern part of the country on March 20, 2015. African elephants could be extinct in the wild within a few decades, experts warn. (Photo: Chris Jek, AFP/Getty Images)


In the past few decades, several animal species have been labeled extinct, including the Chinese paddlefish, Yangtze River dolphin, Pyrenean ibex and western black rhinoceros.

Study 6th mass extinction already underway -- and we re the cause

That's hilarious!

Oh, wait; you're serious?

 

[Socialist]

We are the first apex species capable of understanding the damage we are causing.. it's a shame so many people don't care.

The Earth's sixth mass extinction is already underway — and humans are the driving force behind it, according to a new study.

"Recent extinction rates are unprecedented in human history and highly unusual in Earth's history," according to a study published Friday in the journalScience Advances. "Our global society has started to destroy species of other organisms at an accelerating rate, initiating a mass extinction episode unparalleled for 65 million years."

Researchers used "extremely conservative assumptions" to determine extinction rates that prevailed in the past five annihilation events. Still, they found the average rate of vertebrate species lost over the past century was up to 114 times higher than normal.


USA TODAY

13 species we might have to say goodbye to in 2015


For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The previous five mass extinctions happened well before mankind walked the Earth, and are believed to have been mainly caused by natural disasters, such as asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions.

The last mass extinction happened some 65 million years ago, killing off the dinosaurs. Overall, each mass extinction event has rid the planet of up to 96% of its species each time.

An elephant splashes at sunset in the waters of the Chobe river in Botswana Chobe National Park, in the northeastern part of the country on March 20, 2015. African elephants could be extinct in the wild within a few decades, experts warn. (Photo: Chris Jek, AFP/Getty Images)


In the past few decades, several animal species have been labeled extinct, including the Chinese paddlefish, Yangtze River dolphin, Pyrenean ibex and western black rhinoceros.

Study 6th mass extinction already underway -- and we re the cause

That's hilarious!

Oh, wait; you're serious?

Did you even bother to read the study? Of course you didn't, and even without the study, it's quite easy to figure out that species have been rapidly going extinct and drastically depleting in numbers/losing their habitats due to humans, whether it be the effects of climate change, deforestation, hunting, a loss of food sources...

 

[ScienceRocks]

We could bring all these animals back with cloning. Why not double our national forest and put them in them??

 

[Mr. H.]

*cough*

Ah, I can tell you didn't bother to read the study, let alone make an attempt to care.
"For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The old die to make room for the new to be born.
It's just the way it is.

We're contributing to the extinction of these species, and we have the power to save them, don't give me your idiocy.

And what might you propose by way of "saving them".

 

[S.J.]

I wish liberals were extinct.

 

[Mr. H.]

...and even without the study, it's quite easy to figure out...

Well, which is it? We should read it, or we don't need to read it?

 

[ScienceRocks]

I wish liberals were extinct.

If this is anything like the last 5 mass extinctions...Well, you could get your wish. Most left over 75 pounds died out in most of them.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

On the one hand Progs believe that people are so stupid and helpless, they need government to tell them what to eat and how to live; on the other we're so powerful we're destroying the PLANET! And our only hope is -- right! Mo' N Bigga Gubbamint!!

 

[ScienceRocks]

It will be a very bad day for us if this extinction event moves up this list
BBC Nature - Big Five mass extinction events

Ordovician-Silurian mass extinction
The third largest extinction in Earth's history, the Ordovician-Silurian mass extinction had two peak dying times separated by hundreds of thousands of years. During the Ordovician, most life was in the sea, so it was sea creatures such as trilobites, brachiopods and graptolites that were drastically reduced in number.
Late Devonian mass extinction
Three quarters of all species on Earth died out in the Late Devonian mass extinction, though it may have been a series of extinctions over several million years, rather than a single event. Life in the shallow seas were the worst affected, and reefs took a hammering, not returning to their former glory until new types of coral evolved over 100 million years later.
Permian mass extinction
The Permian mass extinction has been nicknamed The Great Dying, since a staggering 96% of species died out. All life on Earth today is descended from the 4% of species that survived.
Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction
During the final 18 million years of the Triassic period, there were two or three phases of extinction whose combined effects created the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction event. Climate change, flood basalt eruptions and an asteroid impact have all been blamed for this loss of life.
Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction
The Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction - also known as the K/T extinction - is famed for the death of the dinosaurs. However, many other organisms perished at the end of the Cretaceous including the ammonites, many flowering plants and the last of the pterosaurs.

 

[DarkFury]

*cough*

Ah, I can tell you didn't bother to read the study, let alone make an attempt to care.
"For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The old die to make room for the new to be born.
It's just the way it is.

We're contributing to the extinction of these species, and we have the power to save them, don't give me your idiocy.

YOUR ego is bigger then FACT.

 

[DarkFury]

On the one hand Progs believe that people are so stupid and helpless, they need government to tell them what to eat and how to live; on the other we're so powerful we're destroying the PLANET! And our only hope is -- right! Mo' N Bigga Gubbamint!!

What has a socialist government EVER saved?
NOTHING!

 

[Slyhunter]

*cough*

Ah, I can tell you didn't bother to read the study, let alone make an attempt to care.
"For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The old die to make room for the new to be born.
It's just the way it is.

We're contributing to the extinction of these species, and we have the power to save them, don't give me your idiocy.

Just because you have the power doesn't mean you should use it.
Nature insists that the old forms die to be replaced with new improved species. That is the way things work. It's called evolution. You aren't against evolution are you?

 

[Slyhunter]

We are the first apex species capable of understanding the damage we are causing.. it's a shame so many people don't care.

The Earth's sixth mass extinction is already underway — and humans are the driving force behind it, according to a new study.

"Recent extinction rates are unprecedented in human history and highly unusual in Earth's history," according to a study published Friday in the journalScience Advances. "Our global society has started to destroy species of other organisms at an accelerating rate, initiating a mass extinction episode unparalleled for 65 million years."

Researchers used "extremely conservative assumptions" to determine extinction rates that prevailed in the past five annihilation events. Still, they found the average rate of vertebrate species lost over the past century was up to 114 times higher than normal.


USA TODAY

13 species we might have to say goodbye to in 2015


For example, about 477 vertebrate species have gone extinct since 1900, according to the study. Based on previous extinctions, only nine species would have been expected to die off in the same time frame had it not been for mankind's involvement.

"The number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken ... between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear," the study reported. "These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already underway."

The previous five mass extinctions happened well before mankind walked the Earth, and are believed to have been mainly caused by natural disasters, such as asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions.

The last mass extinction happened some 65 million years ago, killing off the dinosaurs. Overall, each mass extinction event has rid the planet of up to 96% of its species each time.

An elephant splashes at sunset in the waters of the Chobe river in Botswana Chobe National Park, in the northeastern part of the country on March 20, 2015. African elephants could be extinct in the wild within a few decades, experts warn. (Photo: Chris Jek, AFP/Getty Images)


In the past few decades, several animal species have been labeled extinct, including the Chinese paddlefish, Yangtze River dolphin, Pyrenean ibex and western black rhinoceros.

Study 6th mass extinction already underway -- and we re the cause

That's hilarious!

Oh, wait; you're serious?

Did you even bother to read the study? Of course you didn't, and even without the study, it's quite easy to figure out that species have been rapidly going extinct and drastically depleting in numbers/losing their habitats due to humans, whether it be the effects of climate change, deforestation, hunting, a loss of food sources...

So.