Diverse animals across the globe are slipping away and dying as Earth enters its sixth mass extinction, a new study finds. Over the last century, species of vertebrates are dying out up to 114 times faster than they would have without human activity, said the researchers, who used the most conservative estimates to assess extinction rates. That means the number of species that went extinct in the past 100 years would have taken 11,400 years to go extinct under natural extinction rates, the researchers said. Much of the extinction is due to human activities that lead to pollution, habitat loss, the introduction of invasive species and increased carbon emissions that drive climate change and ocean acidification, the researchers said. http://www.livescience.com/51281-sixth-mass-extinction-is-here.html In 80 years the earth's population will rise to 11 billion people in large part because of increasing birth rates of sub-Sahara Africa. If much of the extinction is due to human activities we and the earth's wildlife are screwed. Besides those that have already gone extinct, some of the most magnificent animals on the planet are going extinct. Lions: Are extinct in 25 African nations. There are only 15,000 lions left in the world. American trophy hunters kill 600 lions/year, mostly large males. Leopards: There are 250,000 leopards left. They are extinct in 40% of their original habitat in Africa, and 50% in Asia. There are 5000 leopards killed/year. Orangutans: 50,000 left. No viable populations will be left within 10 years due to loss of habitat. Elephants: There are 300,000 left, and 40,000/year are killed mostly for their horns which some cultures still use for 'medicinal' purposes, and for carving jewelry and ornaments. Rhino: There are only 4 White Rhinos left, none of them males. There are only 30,000 Rhinos of other species left; and one is killed every hour for its horn which is thought by some to cure cancer. Lemurs: 10 to 20 species of Lemur already extinct due to loss of habitat and hunting. Sharks: 100 million are killed each year for nothing but their fins. The are cut off, and the shark left to die a painful death. Polar Bears: 20 to 25 thousand left. Their upcoming extinction is due to hunting, Arctic pollution, and melting glaciers. By the time the world's population reaches 11 billion in 80 years, the animals listed above, and many others will be extinct. Buy hey, who needs wild life when we have ugly people to look at.
I think humans are here to stay, there are only a few events that could really wipe humans off the planet... Humans are just too smart and are capable of adapting too well.
Also, it's not at all unusual that species go extinct - that is nature... I mean if every species survived this planet would be a mess...
Do you ever stop to think that species never really went extinct, only what they looked like changed over time.
One of those events that could really wipe out humans, or at least billions of humans, is the mass extinction occuring in the oceans today. Sure, a few humans (relatively speaking) could survive because we can adapt but for the most part humans will die if we continue to kill the oceans like we seem intent upon doing with pollution, over-harvesting, acidification, and global warming.
Some species went extinct and others survived with minor changes. You seem to think it's an either/or scenario and it isn't.
NO, just no - that is wrong... Climate change poses absolutely ZERO threat to most people - as a matter of fact it would improve many areas... It would take a thesis for me to explain it all but you're wrong.. One point I do however want to point out is that humans only occupy a fraction of the Earths surface and like 70% of the Earth is water anyway... Indeed there are parts of our oceans that are severely polluted and that is just nasty but at the same time it's like pissing in Lake Michigan and claiming the lake is now polluted..... There is way too much overreaction when it comes to pollution and climate change - oh and man has nothing to do with climate change.
Like what species? crocodiles really haven't changed, and species that have been around for millions of years merely adapted - they didn't evolve.. A lot of species just got smaller.
I guess if we do not go extinct, we should see new life evolve, that is resistant to human beings? Humans are the only species that (*)(*)(*)(*) in their own beds. That is what eventually came from being self aware. So is self awareness an evolutionary mistake? Given the damage it has caused the very environment it must have in order to continue on, as a species? We may very well be paradoxical, among other things.
bacteria will over populate based on the food supply, humans can change based on what they see happening, because we can though doesn't mean we will
I doubt you will watch this video but it would give you a better perspective to your opinions... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH1s9GCqPKo
Mass extinction=natural selection. Personally, I am glad those dinosaurs went away. Maybe they will come back when things warm up again. Until then, #YOLO!!!
I have seen the nasty (*)(*)(*)(*) - all the garbage dumped into the oceans - I don't like it....... I'm an outdoors guy. At the same time tho I do realize how big the Earth is and how vast the ocean is... People - yes people - get stuck out at sea for upwards of 18 months... Heck recently one dude from (I think Mexico) ended up in the Philippines - only after 16 months... That goes to show how big the ocean is.. My point is the ocean gets diluted given its mass..
We may see what is happening but our own bodies bacteria load is 10 times greater than our own cells which is why we won't or can't change our behavior.
What kind of bubble do you live in to think we do not have major problems with us polluting the earth?
I'm not the one living in a bubble and ironically, it's clear you believe we actually DO physically live in a bubble.. There is no major problem... Yes, in certain areas pollution is a major problem but generally it's not. Like I said, our pollution problem is like dumping a bucket of water into a lake, while I realize the lake wont rise, people like you will claim a great flood is coming...
Earthlings actually do live in a bubble...the bubble created by the atmosphere which surrounds Earth. Once we are outside of this bubble we are in trouble...
This Earth has limited territory and fragile atmosphere...it is foolish to believe any one population of animals will not effect others when it begins to take over land. Equally ignorant would be the belief that injecting large amounts of gasses into a finite atmosphere will not have effects...regardless the damage has been done and cannot be reversed by Mankind. It is time to pay the piper...in a century or so, and I will be long dead.
You do realize we DON'T live in a bubble?, our atmosphere leaks into space... It's not like we're breathing the same air the dinosaurs did... Geez.
The atmosphere IS NOT finite... If the atmosphere was finite life would have never been able to exist in the first place... If the atmosphere was finite we would have been Venus by now. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-planets-lose-their-atmospheres/
I am forced to assume you do not know what Finite actually means...the alternative is far less flattering. Hint* the opposite of infinite.
Individual atoms have been on Earth for a long time...very little nitrogen, oxygen or carbon escapes our atmosphere...so...and GEEZ...every breath you take is composed of atoms that have been around forever on Earth. We won't be breathing the exact exhale from dinosaurs but we're breathing lots of the same stuff.
Of course the atmosphere is finite. If it were infinite, space wouldn't even exist. Runaway greenhouse effects are by no means entailed by a finite atmosphere.
