Scientists say Earth is headed for its sixth mass extinction

Earth is headed for its sixth mass extinction

http://rt.com/usa/176180-earth-extin...angered-human/

The rapid depletion of Earths biodiversity indicates that the planet is in the early stages of its sixth mass extinction of life since becoming habitable 3.5 billion years ago, according to a new study published in Science.

Human activity, including a doubling of its population in the past 35 years, has driven the decline of animal life on Earth, the researchers concluded.

There has been a 25 percent average decline rate of remaining terrestrial vertebrates, and a 45 percent decline rate in the abundance of invertebrates. These losses will continue to have innumerable impacts on species that depend on the delicate balance of life on Earth for their own survival.

We tend to think about extinction as loss of a species from the face of Earth, and thats very important, but theres a loss of critical ecosystem functioning in which animals play a central role that we need to pay attention to as well, said Rodolfo Dirzo, lead author of the study and a biology professor at Stanford University.

Ironically, we have long considered that defaunation is a cryptic phenomenon, but I think we will end up with a situation that is non-cryptic because of the increasingly obvious consequences to the planet and to human wellbeing.

The Anthropocene defaunation, as some researchers have dubbed this era, is hitting large animals such as elephants, polar bears, and rhinoceroses the hardest, as these megafauna are the subject of some of the highest rates of decline on Earth. This trend matches previous mass die-offs of the Big Five extinction periods.

Megafauna usually have lower population growth rates that need larger habitat areas to maintain their populations, thus they are particularly affected by human growth and desire for their meat mass. Losses among these animals often mean dire impacts for other species that depend on them within an ecosystem.

Past studies have found that the loss of larger animals means rodents decline, as grass and shrubs proliferate and soil compaction decreases, all while the risk of predation also declines, Futurity.org notes. As rodent populations increase, so do the disease-transporting ectoparasites that come with them.

Where human density is high, you get high rates of defaunation, high incidence of rodents, and thus high levels of pathogens, which increases the risks of disease transmission, said Dirzo.

Who would have thought that just defaunation would have all these dramatic consequences? But it can be a vicious circle.

About 16 to 33 percent of all vertebrate species are considered threatened or endangered, the review found.

Invertebrate loss also has far-reaching ripple effects on other species. For example, the continued disappearance of vital honeybee populations across the globe will have bleak consequences for plant pollination, and thus on the worlds food production, as RT has previously reported.

Insects pollinate about 75 percent of the worlds food crops, according to Futurity.

Overall, of the worlds more than 71,000 species, 30 percent of them are threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Based on this assessment - and without drastic economic and political measures to address the current die-off - the sixth mass extinction could be cemented by 2400 A.D., University of California, Berkeley geologist Anthony Barnosky told Harpers magazine.

Solutions to the die-off are complicated, the study posits, as reducing rates of habitat change and overexploitation of lands must come through regional and situational strategies.

"Prevention of further declines will require us to better understand what species are winning and losing in the fight for survival and from studying the winners, apply what we learn to improve conservation projects," said Ben Collen, a lecturer at the University College of London and a co-author of the study. "We also need to develop predictive tools for modelling the impact of changes to the ecosystem so we can prioritize conservation efforts, working with governments globally to create supportive policy to reverse the worrying trends we are seeing."

2029 is the beginning of the end.

I've been tempted to post on this topic, but every time I do I have to stop. It is just such a broad and vast topic, that I never know where to start.

All I know is that we cannot keep doubling the population every few decades. It is simply not going to work out unless we leave the planet and what we are doing environmentally with our obsession with consuming resources and growing economically, is tantamount to absolute insanity.

I sometimes get criticized because I have a go at people who have too many children and cannot afford them, but we don't need to multiply ourselves constantly and more so if we cannot afford it or if prospects for the young will be limited. I look at Japan which has a declining population and see that as a positive thing. Japan is committing economic suicide, but that is because it's central banking system has lost the plot, but the declining population is a natural and good thing. For a country to want lots and lots of children, but ultimately not be able to provide any jobs for them or even know if we will have a job to pay for them ourselves is irresponsibility.

A country should be able to grow a little less and have less children, and focus more on simply maintaining a beautiful country. Stop promising more and more and more, and just focus on the plenty that we have and live within our means. The world is a ponzi scheme in more than finance and we don't need to live like that. The future can be less and so what if government growth targets are not met, they are absurdist post WW2 constructs anyway.

We are the cause of most problems and we fight nature and its attempts to be rid of us, but it will get rid of us eventually one way or the other we are vermin to it.

if you took any moment in time across the whole of history 30% of all species would be endangered

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by erics44

if you took any moment in time across the whole of history 30% of all species would be endangered

---

The old saying that statistics only prove that there are more statistics just doesn't cut it in this case. This model is not rocket science and has been predicted for years. We discussed it in university 35 years ago. I'm sure others did when the industrial revolution started. Difference her is, we are "the beginning of the end" that others predicted. That is, we are starting to feel the effects caused by 250 years of geographical rape. Its cause and effect, simple as that. We were bound to be the victims of our own success. No other species comes close or ever has. we are just startig to see the consequences of acting as if no generations will follow.

The oceans on a hole are about 70% fished out. And that's not just the creatures people eat. We are a species that kills sharks for there dorsal fin. Nobody ever thought that the Cod would collapse on our east coast. After all Columbus said you could walk on their backs and circle the continent. It still has not recovered and likely wont because now the environment is no longer there. Its been changed because of their absence.

The coho salmon is next. There has been no fishing here allowed for close to ten years and now even the sustenance camps along the Yukon river have stooped. Alaska has closed shop. Factory fishing will cause their extinction in my lifetime. I believe that the children of today will see the end of fish as a food choice in theirs. One does not even have to bring up pollution really. We will eat them all before chemicals ever cause their demise. Try to imagine a dead ocean. Its inevitable just as it is for those species on land aside from cattle etc but they could go also if we continue to kill the soil.

Are there any lions left on continental Africa? How about the Cheetah? That animal has been so decimated over the last two decades and forced to inbreed that they can no longer catch their prey.
How's that pachyderm population doing? And the black Rhino? At the beginning of the 20th century there was an estimated 1 million roaming the African savannas. In 2001 there were about 2 thousand and one subspecies was extinct.

The Indian tiger will be extinct in my lifetime and most likely sloth bear and leopard. In my own country we have all these sell out Guides and outfitters that take rich tourists from Europe and the states to kill the wildlife usually for trophies. Why? Because they have killed everything in their own country. The grizzly bear being pushed so hard that its been seen feeding on whale carcasses in our far north along side polar bears. Polar bears on the other hand being forced south having been seen in the bottom half of the NWT. That just reminded me of something. About ten years ago someone from the lower 48 paid 100 grand to go on a polar bear hunt. Like shooting a cow in the field. He spotted one, thought it looked odd through his scope but killed it anyway. Turns out it was a "growler" which is half polar bear and half grizzly. The only one known and really a new species brought on by nature trying to adapt and survive. We snuff it out of existence before it can take a baby step.

What we have here is a total disconnect and sadly this report is not surprising to me at all.

As long as it happens after I'm gone I could give a fuck less honestly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Beanflicker

As long as it happens after I'm gone I could give a fuck less honestly.

---

It's one attitude to have. The funny thing all of this is accelerating so quickly now. I was reading one report saying that usable water will be depleted by 2040. When a population doubles every 20 years, sustaining it becomes a nightmare and then resources are just drained. You cannot get much more precious than water in a resource depleted world.

I too thought I could just minimise my impact on the planet and toddle off quietly, but our later years are going to be in tumultuous times.

Scientists say all kinds of shit, I say I'll believe it when I see it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Beanflicker

Scientists say all kinds of shit, I say I'll believe it when I see it.

---

Well, at least make a little preparation just in case. ;D

I have me firearms so if the shit goes down, I can defend meself and loot what I need. You unarmed brits will be up shit creek I reckon lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IamInuit

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by erics44

if you took any moment in time across the whole of history 30% of all species would be endangered

---

The old saying that statistics only prove that there are more statistics just doesn't cut it in this case. This model is not rocket science and has been predicted for years. We discussed it in university 35 years ago. I'm sure others did when the industrial revolution started. Difference her is, we are "the beginning of the end" that others predicted. That is, we are starting to feel the effects caused by 250 years of geographical rape. Its cause and effect, simple as that. We were bound to be the victims of our own success. No other species comes close or ever has. we are just startig to see the consequences of acting as if no generations will follow.

The oceans on a hole are about 70% fished out. And that's not just the creatures people eat. We are a species that kills sharks for there dorsal fin. Nobody ever thought that the Cod would collapse on our east coast. After all Columbus said you could walk on their backs and circle the continent. It still has not recovered and likely wont because now the environment is no longer there. Its been changed because of their absence.

The coho salmon is next. There has been no fishing here allowed for close to ten years and now even the sustenance camps along the Yukon river have stooped. Alaska has closed shop. Factory fishing will cause their extinction in my lifetime. I believe that the children of today will see the end of fish as a food choice in theirs. One does not even have to bring up pollution really. We will eat them all before chemicals ever cause their demise. Try to imagine a dead ocean. Its inevitable just as it is for those species on land aside from cattle etc but they could go also if we continue to kill the soil.

Are there any lions left on continental Africa? How about the Cheetah? That animal has been so decimated over the last two decades and forced to inbreed that they can no longer catch their prey.
How's that pachyderm population doing? And the black Rhino? At the beginning of the 20th century there was an estimated 1 million roaming the African savannas. In 2001 there were about 2 thousand and one subspecies was extinct.

The Indian tiger will be extinct in my lifetime and most likely sloth bear and leopard. In my own country we have all these sell out Guides and outfitters that take rich tourists from Europe and the states to kill the wildlife usually for trophies. Why? Because they have killed everything in their own country. The grizzly bear being pushed so hard that its been seen feeding on whale carcasses in our far north along side polar bears. Polar bears on the other hand being forced south having been seen in the bottom half of the NWT. That just reminded me of something. About ten years ago someone from the lower 48 paid 100 grand to go on a polar bear hunt. Like shooting a cow in the field. He spotted one, thought it looked odd through his scope but killed it anyway. Turns out it was a "growler" which is half polar bear and half grizzly. The only one known and really a new species brought on by nature trying to adapt and survive. We snuff it out of existence before it can take a baby step.

What we have here is a total disconnect and sadly this report is not surprising to me at all.

---

good reply, you've obviously researched it a lot


I haven't so really have no foot to stand on


ive never heard of a growler before tho, im gonna google it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Beanflicker

I have me firearms so if the shit goes down, I can defend meself and loot what I need. You unarmed brits will be up shit creek I reckon lol

---

Many will suffer and especially in cities, but my plan is to obtain air rifles and move out to the family farm where we can grow our own food quite easily. The best thing to do is get out of the city, have land that can be used to obtain food and to defend ourselves. Most haven't a clue about these things. The lucky ones will have their bunkers and I guess that is why they posture WW3. Such cunts. We would also need to build equipment to trap rainwater and thankfully it does rain out here. However, this is hardly a water wasteland with the monsoons we have.

thing is ive thought about this and a human's concept of time means that theres a realism of their insignificants that results in the trying to rationalise their existence in the greater scheme of things


there for a lot of these massive ground breaking theories will emerge

If you think it will rain, then carry an umbrella.

Nobody wants the worst to happen, but all eventualities must be prepared for. Maybe it's fine, but on uncharted territory, the worst can happen. It can reduce anxiety to be ready for that.