The Anthropocene

[Crick]

I don't think I'm the only one that finds them creepy as all fuck.

 

[abu afak]

The Holocene extinction, or Anthropocene extinction,[3][4] is the ongoing extinction event caused by humans during the Holocene epoch. These extinctions span numerous families of plants[5][6][7] and animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, and affecting not just terrestrial species but also large sectors of marine life.[8] With widespread degradation of biodiversity hotspots, such as coral reefs and rainforests, as well as other areas, the vast majority of these extinctions are thought to be undocumented, as the species are undiscovered at the time of their extinction, which goes unrecorded.

The current rate of extinction of species is estimated at 100 to 1,000 times higher than natural background extinction rates[9][10][11][12][13] and is increasing.[14] During the past 100–200 years, biodiversity loss and species extinction have accelerated,[10] to the point that most conservation biologists now believe that human activity has either produced a period of mass extinction,[15][16] or is on the cusp of doing so.[17][18] As such, after the "Big Five" mass extinctions, the Holocene extinction event has also been referred to as the sixth mass extinction or sixth extinction;[19][20][21] given the recent recognition of the Capitanian mass extinction, the term seventh mass extinction has also been proposed for the Holocene extinction event.[22][23]
[.......]

Holocene extinction - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

`

 

[ding]

The Holocene extinction, or Anthropocene extinction,[3][4] is the ongoing extinction event caused by humans during the Holocene epoch. These extinctions span numerous families of plants[5][6][7] and animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, and affecting not just terrestrial species but also large sectors of marine life.[8] With widespread degradation of biodiversity hotspots, such as coral reefs and rainforests, as well as other areas, the vast majority of these extinctions are thought to be undocumented, as the species are undiscovered at the time of their extinction, which goes unrecorded.

The current rate of extinction of species is estimated at 100 to 1,000 times higher than natural background extinction rates[9][10][11][12][13] and is increasing.[14] During the past 100–200 years, biodiversity loss and species extinction have accelerated,[10] to the point that most conservation biologists now believe that human activity has either produced a period of mass extinction,[15][16] or is on the cusp of doing so.[17][18] As such, after the "Big Five" mass extinctions, the Holocene extinction event has also been referred to as the sixth mass extinction or sixth extinction;[19][20][21] given the recent recognition of the Capitanian mass extinction, the term seventh mass extinction has also been proposed for the Holocene extinction event.[22][23]
[.......]

Holocene extinction - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

`

So normal Darwinian behavior? Or will you be arguing against evolution today?

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

So normal Darwinian behavior? Or will you be arguing against evolution today?

The dumbest post of the thread. Easily.

Darwinism isn't an ethical guide, numbnuts.

 

[ding]

The dumbest post of the thread. Easily.

Darwinism isn't an ethical guide, numbnuts.

I never said it was. I'm surprised you couldn't understand species going extinct is classic Darwinism. And I'm the numbnut?

But I think I see your problem, you are so emotional about everything that you can't be objective about anything.

 

[ding]

The dumbest post of the thread. Easily.

Darwinism isn't an ethical guide, numbnuts.

It's amazing that someone who claims to be so knowledgeable about science and evolution - such as yourself - doesn't know this.

"...The extinction of species (and larger groups) is closely tied to the process of natural selection and is thus a major component of progressive evolution. In some passages of the Origin, Darwin seems to have seen extinction as part of natural selection; in others, as an inevitable outcome..."

The Role of Extinction in Evolution - Tempo And Mode In Evolution - NCBI Bookshelf

 

[Crick]

So normal Darwinian behavior? Or will you be arguing against evolution today?

What is Darwinian behavior? It is certainly not an extinction rate 10,000 times as high as the background.

 

[ding]

What is Darwinian behavior? It is certainly not an extinction rate 10,000 times as high as the background.

Why isn't it?

"...In his final summary of the Origin (pp. 489–490), Darwin listed the fundamental components (''laws") of the evolutionary process: reproduction, inheritance, variability, struggle for life, and natural selection , with its "consequences" divergence of character and the extinction of less-improved forms..."

The Role of Extinction in Evolution - Tempo And Mode In Evolution - NCBI Bookshelf

 

[Crick]

Why isn't it?

"...In his final summary of the Origin (pp. 489–490), Darwin listed the fundamental components (''laws") of the evolutionary process: reproduction, inheritance, variability, struggle for life, and natural selection , with its "consequences" divergence of character and the extinction of less-improved forms..."

The Role of Extinction in Evolution - Tempo And Mode In Evolution - NCBI Bookshelf

In other words, you don't care that humans are causing the sixth great extinction? They were just species that couldn't keep up with us, eh?

 

[ding]

In other words, you don't care that humans are causing the sixth great extinction? They were just species that couldn't keep up with us, eh?

It would be naïve to not believe that any species which dominated the "landscape" wouldn't have an impact on other species. It's literally the natural order. Happens all the time throughout history.

 

[ding]

In other words, you don't care that humans are causing the sixth great extinction? They were just species that couldn't keep up with us, eh?

The role of mass extinction in evolution

evolution.berkeley.edu

 

[abu afak]

The role of mass extinction in evolution

evolution.berkeley.edu

You are missing the Whole point, or Dishonestly trying to deflect it.
Just as with AGW/Climate HUMANS are doing it and doing it 100++ times Faster.
What a coincidence!

`

 

[ding]

You are missing the Whole point, or Dishonestly trying to deflect it.
Just as with AGW/Climate HUMANS are doing it and doing it 100++ times Faster.
What a coincidence!

`

No, I am actually placing it in the proper context. Extinctions, like climate changes, are a natural part of our planet's history.

 

[Crick]

The role of mass extinction in evolution

evolution.berkeley.edu

From "Origin of Species..." by Darwin and "The Sixth Extinction" by Elizabeth Kolbert

"It may be said that natural selection is daily and hourly scrutinizing, throughout the world, every variation, even the slightest; rejecting that which is bad, preserving and adding up all that is good,; silently and insensibly working, whenever and wherever opportunity offers.
​

Natural selection eliminated the need for any creative miracles. Given enough time for "every variation, even the slightest" to accumulate, new species would emerge from the old.

Darwin's theory of how species originated doubled as a theory of how they vanished. Extinction and evolution were to each other as the warp and weft of life's fabric, or, if you prefer, two sides of the same coin."The appearance of new forms and the disappearance of old forms" were, Darwin wrote "bound together". Driving both was the "struggle for existence," which rewarded the fit and eliminated the less so.

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The extinctions taking place in the anthropocene are not the fit replacing the less suited. They are simply species after species after species, regardless of their fitness wrt the environments in which they had thrived, dying away from a variety of unremitting, external causes; virtually every one traceable to the relentless activities of humans.

 

[ding]

From "Origin of Species..." by Darwin and "The Sixth Extinction" by Elizabeth Kolbert

"It may be said that natural selection is daily and hourly scrutinizing, throughout the world, every variation, even the slightest; rejecting that which is bad, preserving and adding up all that is good,; silently and insensibly working, whenever and wherever opportunity offers.​

​

Natural selection eliminated the need for any creative miracles. Given enough time for "every variation, even the slightest" to accumulate, new species would emerge from the old.

Darwin's theory of how species originated doubled as a theory of how they vanished. Extinction and evolution were to each other as the warp and weft of life's fabric, or, if you prefer, two sides of the same coin."The appearance of new forms and the disappearance of old forms" were, Darwin wrote "bound together". Driving both was the "struggle for existence," which rewarded the fit and eliminated the less so.

---

---

The extinctions taking place in the anthropocene are not the fit replacing the less suited. They are simply species after species after species, regardless of their fitness wrt the environments in which they had thrived, dying away from a variety of unremitting, external causes; virtually every one traceable to the relentless activities of humans.

Extinctions happen for logical reasons, just like evolution happens for logical reasons. It's not magic. It doesn't happen for random reasons. You can't have your cake and eat it to.

But are you seriously trying to make a moral argument. Atheism is all about the satisfaction of material needs and animal impulses. Pain and pleasure. There is no higher purpose per atheism. We live and they die is not only classic Darwinism it's also classic atheism.

 

[Crick]

Extinctions happen for logical reasons, just like evolution happens for logical reasons. It's not magic. It doesn't happen for random reasons. You can't have your cake and eat it to.

I'm not the one asking to have it both ways. Humans driving other species extinct is not natural selection. Species are not disappearing as they are replaced by better adapted species. They are simply dying. It's the K-T impactor and every other mass extinction catastrophe in slow motion. These extinctions have nothing to do with survival of the fittest. We are the unremitting, external agency

But are you seriously trying to make a moral argument.

No. You aren't feeling guilty are you?

Atheism is all about the satisfaction of material needs and animal impulses.

I see your philosophical acumen aligns with your abilities in the general sciences. And why would you bring that up here?

Pain and pleasure. There is no higher purpose per atheism.

You're the expert.

We live and they die is not only classic Darwinism it's also classic atheism.

Are you now rejecting evolutionary theory?

 

[Crick]

It would be naïve to not believe that any species which dominated the "landscape" wouldn't have an impact on other species. It's literally the natural order. Happens all the time throughout history.

It happens all the time? Could you please give us a few examples from history of one species driving multiple other species extinct? Or even one example?

 

[ding]

It happens all the time? Could you please give us a few examples from history of one species driving multiple other species extinct? Or even one example?

Google invasive species.

Invasive Species | National Wildlife Federation

Invasive species are among the leading threats to native wildlife. Learn about how they spread and how they threaten native wildlife in the United States.

www.nwf.org

Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic invasive species may be the most significant threat to the health of the Great Lakes. Scientists estimate the Great Lakes have been invaded by more than 180 species and cost more than $200 million annually in lost revenue and prevention strategies.

www.nature.org

 

[ding]

I'm not the one asking to have it both ways. Humans driving other species extinct is not natural selection. Species are not disappearing as they are replaced by better adapted species. They are simply dying. It's the K-T impactor and every other mass extinction catastrophe in slow motion. These extinctions have nothing to do with survival of the fittest. We are the unremitting, external agency

No. You aren't feeling guilty are you?

I see your philosophical acumen aligns with your abilities in the general sciences. And why would you bring that up here?

You're the expert.

Are you now rejecting evolutionary theory?

More than 99% of all species that ever lived on Earth, amounting to over five billion species, are estimated to have died out, so yeah it is natural selection. Even Darwin said so.

 

[Crick]

Google invasive species.

Invasive Species | National Wildlife Federation

Invasive species are among the leading threats to native wildlife. Learn about how they spread and how they threaten native wildlife in the United States.

www.nwf.org

Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic invasive species may be the most significant threat to the health of the Great Lakes. Scientists estimate the Great Lakes have been invaded by more than 180 species and cost more than $200 million annually in lost revenue and prevention strategies.

www.nature.org

And what do you believe is the enabling factor behind invasive species? What allows them to invade areas to which they would normally never have had access?

From your linked article

How Invasive Species Spread​

Invasive species are primarily spread by human activities, often unintentionally. People, and the goods we use, travel around the world very quickly, and they often carry uninvited species with them. Ships can carry aquatic organisms in their ballast water, while smaller boats may carry them on their propellers. Insects can get into wood, shipping palettes, and crates that are shipped around the world. Some ornamental plants can escape into the wild and become invasive. And some invasive species are intentionally or accidentally released pets. For example, Burmese pythons are becoming a big problem in the Everglades.

In addition, higher average temperatures and changes in rain and snow patterns caused by climate change will enable some invasive plant species—such as garlic mustard, kudzu, and purple loosestrife—to move into new areas. Insect pest infestations will be more severe as pests such as mountain pine beetle are able to take advantage of drought-weakened plants.