Has the Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived?

Not that this article doesn't bring up an important issue, but there is a lot of somewhat baseless assuming and projecting here.

there is a lot of somewhat baseless assuming and projecting here.

No surprise. This is just a beginning to bolster something else later.

This has always been known among biologists. The current extinction rate is much higher than other mass extinctions; climate change was responsible for many of them and therefore mass extinctions took millions of years to play out. Considering the number of species wiped out since the last ice age alone, we are well within the definition of mass extinction.

I would criticize the authors' choice of mammals, however. Mammals are among the most vulnerable to human activities, like hunting, habitat fragmentation, and invasive species. Australia and North America have very few of the mammal species they once had before man. On the other hand, mammals are more resistant to natural mass extinctions, considering they can accept a higher range of environmental conditions than other animal classes and phyla (they did survive the dinosaurs, after all).

Tigers are being replaced by cats.

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

What species are you, meatbag?

Australia and North America have very few of the mammal species they once had before man.

Although it has been surmised that humans had a hand in the extinction of megafauna in North America, this is far from settled.
It is also important to note that while a few subspecies may have become extinct (eastern elk and eastern woodland bison), no complete mammal species have gone extinct since Europeans settled N.A., and those who were previously reduced, are increasing in numbers, and some dramatically.
In fact, mammal species would seem to have increased in N.A., thanks to introduction of cattle, hogs, horses, cats, and other domestic species.

That is because NA did not have domesticatable large mammals and all were killed off....

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

Absolutely. Eliminate the one and only species that actively and knowingly participates in its own undoing and everything else will fall into place. From an evolutionary standpoint our "intelligence" has yet to prove it has any real survival value.

There are still plenty of non-mammalian species that ARE extinct or very nearly so, numbered among them the Passenger Pigeon of late ill-fortune, the ivory-billed woodpecker, and for mammals, there's the Southern Red Wolf, the Southern Panther/Cougar -these are examples just off the top of my head. The NA biosphere isn't "doing just fine, thanks", and to try to portray it so is to lie.

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

Generally, I think I'd rather be trapped with a room full of Global Warming Alarmists than with a single Eliminationist.

And yes, this is because I'm selfish.

However, since this "6th extinction" will likely leave enough still alive for my offspring to eat, I'm just not going to worry about it.

And by the way... "other species can live at peace"??? Really? Have you spent ANY time with Nature at all? I mean, without rose-colored glasses over squinting-in-anger eyes?

the one and only species that actively and knowingly participates in its own undoing (snip)

You apparently know nothing of herd management in the wild, nor the broad spectrum of extinction scenarios (which includes resource depletion), nor the concept of "hot" viruses. But thanks for the heads-up with the nickname. Gracious of you.

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

I'm hoping the next extinct species will be the fundamentalist religious types and the ignorant people like you, then the remaining humans can actually get along with long term plans to make the planet a wonderful place to live for EVERYONE.

You do know other species also eat each other(?), and they're not pretty to watch while they rip their prey limb from limb.

MorituriMax,
Please, please, let's not go lumping ignorant fundamentalist religious types like myself in with the Eliminationists!

Don't you detect a bit of a conflict between your "remaining humans can actually get along..." with "other species also eat each other" statements?

If you eliminated humanity down to the last two people, and if they were anywhere near each other, they'd eventually fight over something. Probably something stupid, like "the comfy chair". No reason to eliminate them though...

By the way, you are aware, aren't you, that "Morituri" itself is from a little old eliminationistic (is that even a word???) i.e. "genocidal" resource war recorded in the Irish "Book of Invasions"? I just thought that ironic...

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

I'm an orc! :)

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

What species are you, meatbag?

Sadly, the same species as you, a crass uneducated human who, because he lacks arguments, resorts to name calling.

I'd like to see how this kind of research pans out for other animal groups. I'm sure mammals are gonna take a hard hit, but my money's on insects doing great. Amphibians will probably not do too well either, but I think reptiles could have another golden age.

Another typical climate change alarmist article, in 1 century our biotechnology will be so advanced I doubt there will be anything left on this planet that hasn't been genetically manipulated to some degree or another.

epsi00

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

Unfortunately other species do not 'live at peace'. They fight it out and only the strongest survive. We were the result of species at peace, as were the previous 5 mass extinctions. You see, in the real world, if you don't have a will to live then you're just fuel for something else that does. Currently you're freeloading on your species will to live, while proclaiming that species deserves to become extinct. One could almost equate you to a 'cancer of your species'.

Misanthrope

Absolutely. Eliminate [...] any real survival value.

Because you have to fight every day to survive right? You've grown accustom to the protection that your species provides for you, and have no real understanding of the harsh reality that exists beyond that protection.

Watch who you're calling "human", epsi00!

Although frankly, why I'd bother arguing with something that's 70% water is beyond my understanding. I must be getting way too ancient... this newfangled interweb tubething...

---

You know normally, when someone asks what species you are, it is understood that's it is a "rhetorical question", and you really aren't supposed to answer. But thanks for clearing that up for those of us who might have not been 100% sure.

---

“Ray, if someone asks if you're a god, you say YES!” - Dr. Peter Venkman

(just to bring it back around to the whole "mass extinction" topic, you know...)

Unfortunately other species do not 'live at peace'. They fight it out and only the strongest survive. We were the result of species at peace, as were the previous 5 mass extinctions.

What kind of f--ing ignorant statement is that? How the hell do you know? Were you around, during the last 5 mass extinctions?

to LivaN

epsi00

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

Unfortunately other species do not 'live at peace'. They fight it out and only the strongest survive. We were the result of species at peace, as were the previous 5 mass extinctions. You see, in the real world, if you don't have a will to live then you're just fuel for something else that does. Currently you're freeloading on your species will to live, while proclaiming that species deserves to become extinct. One could almost equate you to a 'cancer of your species'.

Other species do fight it out but you will never see a lion killing 10 antelopes just because he can and stashing them somewhere for lean days. He will kill only when he is hungry and/or when he has little ones to feed.

The same lion will never buy himself a private jet or park 3 to 5 cars or have a whole collection of fancy cars while other lions are starving.

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

Or at least enviro-extremists who's idea of a good day is 7 billion people dead.

Not even sure Hitler was that off his nut.

Other species do fight it out but you will never see a lion killing 10 antelopes just because he can and stashing them somewhere for lean days. He will kill only when he is hungry and/or when he has little ones to feed.

I don't know about lions but I have SEEN wolves kill three Elk for fun (I'm assuming) and leave ALL the meat on the field. I've seen video of killer whales using seals like ping-pong balls...

I think you need a healthy dose of perspective and actual facts.

The same lion will never buy himself a private jet or park 3 to 5 cars or have a whole collection of fancy cars while other lions are starving

No, but he will kill rival males and let his kids starve so he can survive...

Our species can be summarized in few words ( in french )

L'intelligence au service du mal

and this is my final answer to those who think we are noble, or better than our cousins the animals or whatever else they may write on this thread.

Other species do fight it out but you will never see a lion killing 10 antelopes just because he can and stashing them somewhere for lean days. He will kill only when he is hungry and/or when he has little ones to feed.

I don't know about lions but I have SEEN wolves kill three Elk for fun (I'm assuming) and leave ALL the meat on the field. I've seen video of killer whales using seals like ping-pong balls...

I think you need a healthy dose of perspective and actual facts.

More animals are killed by Humans than Humans are killed by animals. I think it is you, sir, who needs a new perspective.

I also think that everyone is being a little hard on epsi00. And, to be fair, no other species of animal has screwed up the Earth as much as what Humans have done (and that's a fact). I'm not trying to be a misanthrope or anything here. But some people are just unwilling to accept reality.

does it really matter.. The sun will go nova in a couple billion years and all of this will be mote. lets go blame the sun for what it will do to us and all the cute furry creatures out there.

More animals are killed by Humans than Humans are killed by animals. I think it is you, sir, who needs a new perspective.

And nature views this how? Are you attempting to insert your morality into a system that is by definition amoral? Get a grip.

I also think that everyone is being a little hard on epsi00. And, to be fair, no other species of animal has screwed up the Earth as much as what Humans have done (and that's a fact).

Screwed up by WHO'S standards? Yours? Natures?

Nature has ONE standard...success...period. Nature doesn't care how many animals we slaughter or how many go extinct. YOU might, but don't pretend you speak for nature or have some objective stance on how things OUGHT to be, because you DON'T.

... or better than our cousins the animals or whatever else they may write on this thread.

We ARE better. Better at thinking, and better at surviving (which is relevant to this thread).

And, to be fair, no other species of animal(snip)...(and that's a fact).

That's not a fact. That's an opinion, and a very species-centric one at that. And IMHO mistaken.

Considering all of the animal species that have ever gone extinct, do you think mankind is the ONLY one that has caused the demise of another? Isn't the problem with invasive species (man-introduced or not) is that they wipe out extant populations?

Imagine that you're some variant of prairie rodent, trying to make due in a part of Africa where the blasted elephants have - again! - torn down all the good covering vegetation. Here comes the hawk! Darn those elephants! They sure have screwed up the Earth, and that's a fact! Squeek!

Screwed up by WHO'S standards? Yours? Natures?

I wasn't aware that there was a standard. But clearly, you and I have very different definitions. Therefore, we must agree to disagree.

Nature doesn't care how many animals we slaughter or how many go extinct. YOU might, but don't pretend you speak for nature or have some objective stance on how things OUGHT to be, because you DON'T.

I might not speak for nature, but apparently you do when you say that it DOESN'T care. Maybe when a couple of million species of animals (or plants) go extinct and everything else starts dying (due to the ecosystem's balance being thrown out of whack), then maybe, just maybe nature will start caring then. But I suppose it's all a matter of "success". And maybe when we've finally succeeded, then it will be our own undoing.

...then maybe, just maybe nature will start caring then.

How? "Nature" is what is. "Nature" itself is a human conceptual abstraction. Do you think a carbon atom "cares" if it is part of a diamond, a CO2 molecule, a sugar cube, or a pencil lead? If all life on Earth was destroyed, Nature wouldn't care - because Nature CAN'T care. This thing we call Nature has no ability to reason, weigh, measure, evaluate, or value. And since that which can't care, doesn't care, Modernmystic is correct (and not "speaking for Nature") in saying that Nature doesn't care.

Certainly there are things IN Nature that care - namely us, people with minds who have the capacity for reason, a desire for things to be certain ways, and the will to impose our desires upon our surroundings - traits shared to a lesser degree by many (most? all?) animals.

But the part is not the whole. Nature doesn't care.

To modernmystic

Nature has ONE standard...success...period. Nature doesn't care how many animals we slaughter or how many go extinct. YOU might, but don't pretend you speak for nature or have some objective stance on how things OUGHT to be, because you DON'T.

And of course you DO, because you know nature better than the rest of us. So you can speak on behalf of nature but at the same time deny others the same right.

What arguments do you have? what is the scientific basis of your statements? Making a statement is easy. any idiot can do that. supporting a statement with facts is a bit harder so not any idiot can do that.

Making a statement is easy. any idiot can do that.

You should know.

The facts behind my statement are blatantly self evident. Nature rewards success with survival and you get to pass on your genes, if you fail you die and so do your genes. Ever hear of a fella by the name of Darwin? Ever read a book beyond the level of Dr. Seuss?

You should...

I wasn't aware that there was a standard. But clearly, you and I have very different definitions. Therefore, we must agree to disagree.

Then on what basis do you assert that humans have "screwed up the planet"? A statement like that presupposes a standard of some kind. Are you re-canting, or are you trying to weasel out of your own argument?

I might not speak for nature, but apparently you do when you say that it DOESN'T care.

Like was previously said, it not only doesn't care, it CAN'T. It doesn't hold values, or make judgments. Objectively it's a set of chemicals cycling via the laws of thermodynamics. Not exactly a machine of morality.

But I suppose it's all a matter of "success". And maybe when we've finally succeeded, then it will be our own undoing

Human beings don't need the biosphere of this planet to survive, or at least very very shortly we won't. If it's going to survive the biosphere needs us though, or in about 500 million years it will be ash.

The facts behind my statement are blatantly self evident.

and a^n + b^n = c^n is also self evident to you, right. Maybe now you should switch field and help mathematicians with all the " yet to be solved problems " they have been working on for centuries. Maybe even The Riemann hypothesis is self evident to you.

Ever hear of a fella by the name of Darwin? Ever read a book beyond the level of Dr. Seuss?

too bad you did not live in Darwin time, you would have come up with the idea of evolution itself. Now you can only explain with your self evident statements.

As to Dr Seuss, I let the millions of kids and adults who enjoyed reading him, myself included, respond to you. In his own field, he is a giant and it is self evident to me that you are not, in any field.


You should...

I'm sorry epsi is there a point somewhere in that morass of idiobabble and ad-hom? If there was it was clear as coal. If you have a point to make, then make it. If you want to insult people and extol the virtues of Dr. Seuss there's better venues...

@Modernmystic -- I can understand what you mean when you say that nature doesn't care (I didn't mean it in a literal sense, by the way). But let's not kid ourselves that there won't be any consequences as a result of another mass extinction (we simply don't know that). Nor should we assume such a thing too early. Either way, you said this earlier, and I just can't seem to understand how you arrived at this conclusion:

Human beings don't need the biosphere of this planet to survive, or at least very very shortly we won't.

How do you know that this even true? Are you saying that if we destroyed the biosphere of this planet, that we won't perish along with it? Do you at least agree that we need certain PARTS of the biosphere? We are biological, after all. It just seems to baffle me. Unless you're working on something to turn Human beings into immortal cyborgs, then I guess we're stuck with the Earth, the biosphere, and our biological requirements.I can't understand your reasoning

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

What he really meant was the less than human portion of our species that is responsible for this problem. They are the greedy, the skeptics, the over-populaters, the religious, the uncaring, the unknowing, the people that use the term tree hugger, the new republicans (the old republican party understood conservation), the fishing industry, developers, poachers, etc. The despoilers and their enablers are a significant portion of us. Yes, I think it is already too late to stop this because all these people can't be stopped.

MM: no, nature doesn't care what we do or how many species we drive extinct, and it doesn't care if in so doing we drive ourselves extinct. You are the kind of person I am describing above. An arrogant fool who thinks we have some kind of divine mandate to survive anything we do.

Human beings don't need the biosphere of this planet to survive, or at least very very shortly we won't. If it's going to survive the biosphere needs us though, or in about 500 million years it will be ash.

You are assuming we have the technology, that can compensate for the loss of trillions of living organisms? How naive is that? If the biosphere dies, so do we, common sense.

If there have been 5 other mass extinctions and we're still able to survive and thrive on the planet, then.. uh... they must not be that big a deal to our continuing survival, especially since now we have more advanced technology to help us through future extinctions.

Eventually we'll build our own biospheres and planets, screw "nature." "Nature" hasn't done anything for us anyway, we're only here because we've been able to adapt to anything "she" throws at us. The species that can't hack it, well they had their chance.

If there have been 5 other mass extinctions and we're still able to survive and thrive on the planet, then.. uh... they must not be that big a deal to our continuing survival, especially since now we have more advanced technology to help us through future extinctions.

The depth and breadth of the ignorance revealed in these statements is truly amazing. "We" didn't survive those mass extinctions, because "we" weren't around. The last mass extinction was ~65 million years ago. Our ancestors that survived that were tiny furry creatures; nocturnal, I think.

And it was a VERY BIG DEAL to them and us. We are the result of the survivors.

I guess, to you, individuals don't matter. Have many friends? Care if they survive or not?

[We] are not beautiful and unique snowflakes. [We] are the same decaying organic matter as everything else. - Palahniuk

That said, there is no objective morality to govern whether we deserve to survive or not. Human survival is not a moral issue, it's a pragmatic one, because survival of our INDIVIDUAL genes is every person's highest priority, whether they realize it or not. Morals were selected in intelligent animals because it lowered the risks involved in reproduction, among other benefits. We must protect biodiversity for the same reason, survival of each of our genomes. It just happens to be the case at this time that human and inter-species cooperation is essential for this end.

The feelings every individual animal has that motivate survival are simple. If you had to choose between the survival of your child and a stranger's, how many milliseconds would it take you to decide?

We only cooperate because it is in our self interest to do so.

.. ignorance revealed in these statements is truly amazing. "We" didn't survive ..

Sorry, my comments were meant for someone smart enough to realize that yes, I know "I" personally wasn't around 65 million years ago.

And really, all of those previous extinctions didn't wipe out species as "bad" as we are to the environment. Or did the dinosaurs do to the environment what we are being accused of doing?

If none of the previous species wiped out by those 5 or more previous extinctions were doing such bad things to the environment, then how exactly am "I" supposed to feel guilty of how we live today? Living clean and in harmony sure didn't help out all the previous recipients of the extinction-level-event of the day did it?

Further, how exactly would we prevent an asteroid from wiping us off the face of the earth by driving green cars and getting all of our energy from solar power? Do the oil deposits somehow act as an anti-asteroid defense?

Oh, and if the Earth can come back from a thousand year nuclear winter and umpteen billions of megatons of asteroid wiping out most of the planets life, then I do think humans can recover from something a few orders of magnitude smaller. Especially since we have something none of those species had, brains and the ability to use them to find solutions.

Human beings don't need the biosphere of this planet to survive, or at least very very shortly we won't. If it's going to survive the biosphere needs us though, or in about 500 million years it will be ash.

It will still exist, but probably not for long after that. Maybe an additional 500 million depending on subterranean water content.

The immediate issue is that the energy production required to sustain ourselves will skyrocket. Having to preserve our food and the various systems that ensure easy health will skyrocket until we adapt, which could be a very slow process considering our propensity to control our environment rather than adapt. Life will get very hard, and a reduction in our intellect could follow, leaving us in a dire state indeed.

We could make underwater cities, safe from radiation... But that automaticly means the biosphere is still alive, just under water.

Soon Jesus Christ will return, and this will lead to a mass extinction of death, desease, sorrow and suffering. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

Soon Jesus Christ will return, and this will lead to a mass extinction of death, desease, sorrow and suffering. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

And this is why religion, when taken to extremes, is harmful.

Soon Jesus Christ will return, and this will lead to a mass extinction of death, desease, sorrow and suffering. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

And this is why religion, when taken to extremes, is harmful.

Amen.

The Tiger was first represented by Demeter on this planet, who rose in her wrathful form as Durga during the War in Heaven/War on Earth. It is her vehicle and very representative, at this time, of the lack of care humans take toward those that should be revered and treasured. Do the religions of Cronos and Eros even acknowledge Durga or Kali? Well news is, they lost the wars. Religions have been abolished in the new cycle and it is time to pull the golden thread and follow the Golden Rule.

And, to be fair, no other species of animal has screwed up the Earth as much as what Humans have done (and that's a fact).

What about all those selfish evil bugs that ruined a perfectly good atmosphere by contaminating it with oxygen? Or by dying in great heaping mounds which littered the landscape with all that limestone? Or made all that icky smelly oil??

Soon Jesus Christ will return, and this will lead to a mass extinction of death, desease, sorrow and suffering. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

Soon the godman and all similar gods will leave this earth, and humanity will again be able to live in peace. It will truly be heaven on earth without religion.

Soon Jesus Christ will return, and this will lead to a mass extinction of death, desease, sorrow and suffering. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

This statement is why religion is a sickness. Many who believe this will try to make it happen if given the opportunity. Motivated by the misinterpreters on TV and in their churches who twist the words of the bible to stoke the masses.

to Moebius

Let's hope that the 6th extinction will rid the earth of the human species so that other species can live at peace.

What he really meant was the less than human portion of our species that is responsible for this problem. They are the greedy, the skeptics, the over-populaters, the religious, the uncaring, the unknowing, the people that use the term tree hugger, the new republicans (the old republican party understood conservation), the fishing industry, developers, poachers, etc. The despoilers and their enablers are a significant portion of us. Yes, I think it is already too late to stop this because all these people can't be stopped.

exactly.
Thanks

Well we should just go back to the good old days when the "Earth" could only support small populations of people who spent all their time just gathering enough food to stay alive. Should we start the lottery that will pick the 10 or 20 million people who deserve to stick around and euthanize the rest?

Hmmm, epsi, moebius?

"Has the Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived?"

Well... we're all still here...

You are assuming we have the technology, that can compensate for the loss of trillions of living organisms? How naive is that? If the biosphere dies, so do we, common sense.

How do you think we live in space for months on end? We can recycle air, we can purify water, and in a few years we'll be able to actually manufacture food from raw materials. There are NO theoretical problems with this. All we'll need is power and a few years of technological advancement and we will have absolutely ZERO need for the biosphere...none, zip, nada.

Read a book on nano-technology...