By: Mary A. Rodrigues

The Accelerating

Loss of Species:

The Sixth Extinction

Mass Extinctions

A Mass Extinction is: When at least half of all species (including animals and

plants) die within a relatively short time. We know these extinctions occurred

Through the fossil record Fossils of plants and animals in early layers are suddenly

not present in later rock layers Scientists believe that 99% of all plant and animal species that have

ever lived are now extinct

The First Five Extinctions

1st (Ordivician-Silurian) Extinction: 440 mya Caused by: sudden global cooliing Extinction of marine organisms

2nd (Denovian) Extinction: 370 mya Caused by: possible climate change Extinction of tropical marine species

3rd (Permian-Triassic) Extinction: 245 mya Caused by: climate change, plate tectonic movements,

possible comet or meteor impact. largest mass extinction (so far) Killed a range of species, including vertebrates Only 10% of species survived

4th (Triassic-Jurrasic) Extinction: 210 mya Unknown cause Extinction of land vertebrates

5th (Cretaceous-Tertiary) Extinction: 65 mya Caused by: collision of comet

or meteor and/or volcanic eruption

Extinction of dinosaurs, marine life, and many other plant and animal species

50-75% of animals extinct Global temperature decreased Rise of the primates

How is the Sixth Extinction Different?

The sixth extinction is happening today All other mass extinctions were caused by

natural disasters, the sixth extinction is being caused by modern humans

When did the Sixth Extinction begin? When modern homo sapiens

began to radiate to different parts of the world.

Only in places where early hominids lived, (Africa, Europe and Asia) did native plant and animal species survive in the beginning.

Some paleoanthropologists believe that the Neanderthals became extinct due to warfare or competition from modern humans.

Quickly after the arrival of modern humans, native species began to disappear.

North America – 12,500 years ago

Butchering killed off mammoths, mastodons, ancient buffalos

Caribbean – 8,000 years ago Lost all larger native

species Madagascar – 2,000 years

ago Lost larger lemurs, elephant

birds, a species of hippo, etc.

How are modern humans causing the Sixth Extinction?

1. Pollution

2. Warfare

3. Exploitation of

Species

4. Overpopulation

5. Unnatural Rates of Consumption

6-Agriculture“Single most profound ecological change in the entire 3.5 billion history of life”(Eldredge,N.)

- Pre-agricultural humans lived in niches in ecosystem and

worked with nature.

-Agriculture was invented 10,000-12,000 years ago in the Middle East

- Agricultural humans live outside the natural ecosystem.

-Accelerated rates of extinction Humans do not have to rely on other species for survival Humans do not have to rely on ecosystem’s carrying

capacity (how many species a local habitat can sustain)

Agriculture (continued)

Results in:

Modern Humans living outside the natural

eco-system

Treating native plants as weeds

Treating native animals/insects as pests

The Sixth Extinction: Specifics

30,000 species are lost annually (3 species an hour)

Up to 1/5 of all living species could become extinct within 30 years

Nearly all loss is due to human activity Mostly through the destruction of plant and animal

habitats

What can we do to help?-get informed-get involved

http://www.well.com/~davidu/extinction.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_extinction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixth_extinction http://images.google.com http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/dinosaurs/

extinction/mass.php Park, M. (2002). Biological anthropology. 3rd edition.

Boston:McGraw-Hill.

The Great Apes:

Their Battle Against Extinction

By: Angela Rodrigues

What is the Status of the Great Apes?

Chimpanzees: 150, 000

Bonobos: 50,000-100,000

Gorillas: 130,000 (wild), 350 (captive)

Orangutans:12,000-15,000 remaining in Borneo

Chimps, Bonobos, and Gorilla Distribution: Africa

Orangutan Distribution: Asia

Chimpanzees/Bonobos: Status: Endangered

1. Habitat Loss: Human population increase;

Africa has highest growth rate in world!

2. Biomedical Research: Used as “models” for human

diseases; 99% similar DNA

3. Disease: HIV Ebola

4. Hunting: Bushmeat Trade

Fact: The only true threat to Great Apes are humans

Gorillas: Gorilla gorillaStatus: Critically Endangered

1. Habitat Loss: Deforestation-Competition for

natural resources

2. Disease: Ebola

3. Poaching: Not for food Traps for other animals

Threats:

Orangutan: Pongo pygmaeusStatus: Critically Endangered

1. Habitat Loss: Palm Oil Plantations:

“Slash and Burn”-a process of clearing areas for agriculture by setting it on fire.

Logging: 80% is done illegally

2. Pet Trade Infant’s mother killed to obtain baby. 4-5 orangutans die for every baby

reaching the market

3. Poaching Bushmeat

Bushmeat Trade: #1 Threat

Over 1 million metric tons of bushmeat are distributed per year in Africa—not all are Great Apes, however.

No longer is this done just by poor locals needing food/income; it is becoming a commercial business

40-60% of Africans rely on bushmeat for source of protein Not just a Great Ape problem; many endangered animals, such as

leopards and elephants, are also killed yearly.

What Does Their Future Hold?

Some Statistics:

For every 20,000 humans, there is one chimpanzee

It is estimated that apes may become extinct within the next generation

Some estimates even say that some species may be extinct as soon as 5-10 years!

The bottom line: People need to be educated about the seriousness of the Great Ape Extinction

We started this extinction: it is up to us to end it.

If we don’t help, who will?

References:

1. Great Apes in Peril (2001). BBC World News. Retrieved May 1, 2006, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1341609.stm

2. The BushMeat Trade (2005). Retrieved May 1, 2006, from http://www.rainforestlive.org.uk

3. Chimpanzee Conservation (2006). The Jane Goodall Institute. Retrieved April 27, 2006, from http://www.janegoodall.org/default.asp

4. Primate Info Net (2005). Retrieved April 26, 2006, from University of Wisconsin-Madison: http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/about.html

5. Orangutan Conservancy (2006). Retrieved April 26, 2006, from http://www.orangutan.com/orangutans_threats.html

6. Great Ape Project (2006). Retrieved May 1, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org from Wikipedia.

7. Threats to Gorillas (n.d.). Retrieved May 26, 2006, from http://www.mountaingorillas.org/gorillas/gorillas_threats.htm

8. Park, M. (2005). Biological Anthropology (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.