Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mass Extinction Threat: Earth on Verge of Huge Reset Button?
Live Science ^ | September 2, 2010 | Jeremy Hsu

Posted on 09/02/2010 12:15:59 PM PDT by decimon

Mass extinctions have served as huge reset buttons that dramatically changed the diversity of species found in oceans all over the world, according to a comprehensive study of fossil records. The findings suggest humans will live in a very different future if they drive animals to extinction, because the loss of each species can alter entire ecosystems.

Some scientists have speculated that effects of humans - from hunting to climate change - are fueling another great mass extinction. A few go so far as to say we are entering a new geologic epoch, leaving the 10,000-year-old Holocene Epoch behind and entering the Anthropocene Epoch, marked by major changes to global temperatures and ocean chemistry, increased sediment erosion, and changes in biology that range from altered flowering times to shifts in migration patterns of birds and mammals and potential die-offs of tiny organisms that support the entire marine food chain.

Scientists had once thought species diversity could help buffer a group of animals from such die-offs, either keeping them from heading toward extinction or helping them to bounce back. But having many diverse species also proved no guarantee of future success for any one group of animals, given that mass extinctions more or less wiped the slate clean, according to studies such as the latest one.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: History; Society
KEYWORDS: catastrophism; doomsdaycult; globalwarmingscare; junkscience; pseudoscience
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

1 posted on 09/02/2010 12:16:01 PM PDT by decimon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: decimon

Or not.


2 posted on 09/02/2010 12:16:43 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: steelyourfaith; SunkenCiv

Anthropo scene ping.


3 posted on 09/02/2010 12:16:47 PM PDT by decimon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

Creating unwarranted anxiety so as to prepare people to accept stupid political agendas.


4 posted on 09/02/2010 12:17:13 PM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged (Annoying liberals is my goal. I will not be silenced.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

who published this... the same people who blew up both oil rigs????


5 posted on 09/02/2010 12:18:28 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leftism is Mentally Deranged

Have I got time to get a pizza and get laid?


6 posted on 09/02/2010 12:18:39 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Leftism is Mentally Deranged
Creating unwarranted anxiety...

If that still works. There's a saturation point for everything.

7 posted on 09/02/2010 12:18:51 PM PDT by decimon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: decimon

I’d be worried more about a massive solar storm quite frankly. This is all B.S.


8 posted on 09/02/2010 12:19:23 PM PDT by Peter from Rutland
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

My guess is that addressing this problem will require massive new taxes and draconian government control of the entire world economy.

Just a guess.


9 posted on 09/02/2010 12:19:47 PM PDT by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

Another Discovery Channel threat?


10 posted on 09/02/2010 12:20:18 PM PDT by Gadsden1st
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

“But having many diverse species also proved no guarantee of future success for any one group of animals, given that mass extinctions more or less wiped the slate clean, according to studies such as the latest one.”

Kind of like diversity in America.


11 posted on 09/02/2010 12:20:18 PM PDT by poobear ("The greatest tyrannies are always perpetrated in the name of the noblest causes." -- Thomas Paine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

12 posted on 09/02/2010 12:20:30 PM PDT by tx_eggman (Liberalism is only possible in that moment when a man chooses Barabas over Christ.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

The Anthropocene epoch- where we become less intelligent than monkeys with self-destructive philosophies that enable our own extinction. AKA-AGW.


13 posted on 09/02/2010 12:21:08 PM PDT by Brett66 (Where government advances, and it advances relentlessly , freedom is imperiled -Janice Rogers Brown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

It’s 12/21/2012 all over again!


14 posted on 09/02/2010 12:21:08 PM PDT by WakeUpAndVote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon

Notice the excessive use, in the article, of “if”, “could”, “may”. Sounds like the speculative rambling of the religion of climate change and its new age goracle fear mongers.


15 posted on 09/02/2010 12:21:39 PM PDT by CharlesMartelsGhost
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gadsden1st

First, kill all the children.
Second, don’t have any more.


16 posted on 09/02/2010 12:21:52 PM PDT by DManA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: decimon

17 posted on 09/02/2010 12:22:10 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leftism is Mentally Deranged

Bingo.


18 posted on 09/02/2010 12:22:23 PM PDT by rurgan (1 gov regulation on banks is now causing a recession by limiting lending to business)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DManA

In 50 years or so, “problem” solved.


19 posted on 09/02/2010 12:23:03 PM PDT by DManA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: decimon

Mass extinction of donkeys on Tuesday, November 2, 2010!


20 posted on 09/02/2010 12:23:30 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (Obama makes me miss Jimmah Cahtah!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson