Smith 1
Doreen Smith
Geog-1700-Timmins
October 24, 2012
Mass Extinction
The definition of extinction is “the end of an organism or a group of organisms. The
moment of extinction is considered to be the death of the last member of the species.”
(Wikipedia) Extinction is described as
the loss of a large number of plants
and animals compared to the number
of new species being added. Some
species may decline to a point where
they are so few and far between that
they are unable to reproduce and
(Updates)
continue a new generation. Some
may become so weak they cannot survive even the smallest disasters like extreme
weather conditions, freezing, or drought. (Whitty)
When a species numbers reach fewer than 50, the group will have chance
fluctuations until the death of that species. (Whitty) They reach a point in the decline
where they cannot be saved no matter what society does. The entire inherent legacy
that was on the earth is now gone forever, never to be a part of the future.
Extinction is a natural phenomenon, has happened in the past, and all signs point
to the fact it will happen in the future. However, what we are looking at today is not like
the past mass extinctions caused by natural phenomenon, such as asteroids, volcanic
Smith 2
eruptions, and natural climate shifts. (Center for Biological Diversity) Our human
population mainly causes this mass extinction.
(NASA)
Today we live in a world that is forever expanding. The growth of humankind has
extended into the forests, deserts, mountains, rainforest, and oceans. We are
developing lands for commercial and private use, many times resulting in the pollution
of our rivers, streams, and air. As we move further into the forests, we are cutting down
the trees to make way for paved roads, homes, and factories. We need areas to grow
fruits and vegetables and places for livestock. We are the threat through overgrazing,
clearing land for agriculture, industrial growth, urban growth, logging in forests, building
dams, flooding, and the ever-changing technology we see as promoting better practices
for the way we live. We expect so much and many times we are not aware of the affect
we are having on the areas around us. Society is moving in every direction, populating
Smith 3
the land everywhere we go. All the arrows point back to us as the main cause of current
extinctions.
The signs of mass extinction are easily seen all around us. Habitats are being
disrupted and often times lost. Since every ecosystem is interconnected, we will see the
snowball effect in future generations as the ecosystems unravel.
I have a cousin in Alaska who works on the North Slope in the oil field. Below is a
picture of the offshore oil-drilling site. It is on a man-made island. This is a good
example of how we have expanded our need further into the ocean by using technology
allowing us to build an entire island. A large percentage of the oil produced every day in
Alaska comes from the North Slope area. The Oil drilling companies who build the
islands perform
research about the
areas plants and
animals before they
start building the
island. The site is
monitored and the
Photo courtesy of my cousin, Alan Applehans.
companies take
great care to clean
up and reclaim the area they use. Despite this, the question still remains, what exactly is
the impact on the habitats and enviromnent? Is the the high demand for oil worth the
risk it might be posing to ecosystems, and are we willing to take this risk? These are
only a few of the many questions the human population needs to address.
Smith 4
Due to growth in the human population and activities, we are causing stress
on the earth’s ecosystems, resulting in the destruction of different species
throughout the world. We are transforming the landscape, over exploiting
our resources, and exploiting species of all kinds.
This photo shows headlines from different newspapers. Our world is in
a state of constant change
and growth. Many factors
affect different species and
their ecosystems. Some of
these include global
warming, climate change,
natural disasters, and the
human factor, which stands
(Chestnutt)
above the rest.
Each individual can change their habits and become better stewards of
the earth and all the species inhabiting it. We can learn about endangered
species where we live and share what we have learned with our family and
friends. We can participate in local and state programs encouraging people
to conserve rather than use. Additionally, we can visit places where the lands
and animals are protected. Get involved with local organizations. Become educated
Smith 5
about the programs your community supports. Be sure you are a part of the answer not
one who just adds to the problem.
We as a human race can do much to help this situation. We can reduce our
water usage. We can minimize the use of pesticides and herbicides in our gardens and
yards. We can plant native plants in our yards and gardens.
We can recycle and buy reusable products. It is even possible to recycle cell phones
and electronics. We need to be proactive and protect our environment. Many towns and
communities have adopted programs to promote environmental awareness.
The community I live in just delivered recycling cans throughout the community.
Other areas have central recycling drop bins. There are many organizations today who
promote environmental awareness such as Earth Watch, Conservation International,
and The Center for a Livable Future to name a few.
(RYS)
Above you can see the charted increase of species extinctions since the 1800’s.
There are studies about the past five great extinction events and how they have had
Smith 6
such a vital impact upon the earth. The last mass extinction was 65 million years ago. It
is suggested a meteor hit the earth causing the extinction of dinosaurs along with many
plant species. Are we, in fact, in the middle of the 6th mass extinction? Are we going to
become part of the extinction studies? Are we going to become part of the statistics or
will we be able to make the necessary changes for this situation to turn around. In the
beginning of this paper I defined extinction. We need to stop, think about what is
happening to our world, do the research, and be willing to make the necessary changes.
We are a population of users. Everything is fast, disposable, and often we do not
put much thought into where those products are coming from and where they go when
we are finished with them. We are living in a time where our purchases and actions
have a direct impact on habitats, climates, and the earth’s recourses. We may not be to
late. We need to make a choice to change our ways. We must begin looking at the earth
through different eyes and realizing it is not an infinite source of expendable resources.
We need to decide if we are going to modify our behavior toward the global ecosystem,
which we are very much a part. Otherwise, we will continue to stand by and watch as
more and more species become extinct, never to be seen, or shared again.
I watched a few videos on mass extinction but really liked this one. This video is
well done and covers many of the areas I have talked about in my report. Please take a
few minutes to watch. It is referenced on my Yola page where you will find an active link
to the video. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHMY_A2Fuhg , Video “Mass Extinction Event”)
Smith 7
(Extras)
Reflection
I chose this topic because it is an area I am concerned about. I can see the
changes in the world from when I was a small child to our present time. I want my
grandchildren and great grandchildren to have the chance to see animals living in the
wild. I want them to be able to walk into a field covered in wild flowers and play in a
mountain stream. I want them to sit by a lake and enjoy the sunset. I worry they may
never know those things so many take for granted. We live at such a fast pace and take
so much for granted. When we finally slow down enough and notice of the changes, it
may be too late. I read many articles on the 6th mass extinction and it makes me so sad
this is where we may be heading. Many of the articles I read said we still have time to
make changes and stop moving toward a mass extinction. I hope we as a human race
will take notice now and make the necessary changes so the next generation, and
generations after, will be able to enjoy the earth I knew as a child.
Smith 8
Cited Works
1. University of California-Santa Barbara.”Earth In Midst Of Sixth Mass Extinction: 50% Of All Species
Disappearing.” ScienceDaily, 21 Oct. 2008. Web. 11 Oct. 2012 (Science Daily )
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081020171454.htm
2. Whitty, Julia. "Animal Extinction-the greatest threat to mankind." The Independent. The
Independent, 2007. Web. 22 Oct 2012. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/animalextinction--the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-397939.html
3. Morell, Virginia. "National Geographic." The Sixth Extinction. National Geographic Magazine, n.d.
Web. 11 Oct 2012
4. Pappas, Stephanie. "CBS News." Humans causing mass extinction of Earth's species.
LiveScience.Com, 2011. Web. 11Oct 2012.
5. "Center for Biological Diversity." The Extinction Crisis. The Center for Biological Diversity. Web. 11
(Center for Biological Diversity) Oct 2012.
<http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/
index.html>.
6.
"Extinction Event." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia. Web. 11 Oct 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_event>.
7. Posted by War News Updates, . Mass Extinction Threat: Earth On Verge of Huge Reset Button?.
2010. Cool Science NewsWeb. 11 Oct 2012.
8. Posted by RYS, . EXTINCTION IS FOREVER. 2010. PREDATOR HAVENWeb. 11 Oct 2012.
9. Chestnutt, Ariel. Newspaper Headlines. 2012. Nourish the PlanetWeb. 11 Oct 2012. <
10. NASA, . Photo of the earth at night. 2012. Geology.ComWeb. 11 (NASA) Oct 2012.
<http://geology.com/articles/satellite-photo-earth-at-night.shtml>.
11. Free Extras, . Earth from space. 2012. freeextras.comWeb. 22 Oct 2012