The Sixth Mass Extinction, also known as the Holocene extinction, is an event which is currently taking place, as scientists have observed, species are dying out at a rate much greater than normal.
This mass extinction, unlike the others beforehand, is taking place
because of human activity; it includes various plants, animals, and habitats. All
over the planet, billions of animal populations and ecosystems have been lost
due to human overconsumption and overexploitation, earning us the title “Biological
Annihilation”. This extinction is more severe than previously thought and forecasted
as studies from entities continue finding increasing rates of extinctions in
every part of the globe. Some species which have seen population declines
include Lions and the African Elephant which scientists have speculated that it
may go extinct within the next twenty years unless immediate action is taken.
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| © Mike Chase, Elephants Without Borders |
Others, like Professor Pimm from Duke University, argue that the sixth mass
extinction hasn’t yet begun, as we are still “on the edge of it”.
Most extinctions in various ecosystems root down to one of the most
important animal classifications, insects. Insects are the base of the food chain
and so are crucial for other species’ survival, as they are food to other
members of the ecosystem they are in. The extinction of different species of
insects is leading to the collapse of ecosystems, due to those who prey on them
no finding a food source. The plummet in insect population has led to bird,
lizard, and amphibian extinctions over the years. A German study has found that
there was a “75% decline in flying insects in the last three decades”. Although
the population decrease is mainly due to human activity, there are also factors
of climate change which are severely affecting different species.
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| © Cheryl-Samantha Owen |
Causes to this mass extinction are linked to many factors, mostly because
of us humans and our greed. Overexploitation and Pollution have led to many
species dying out by means of Habitat Destruction to make space for agriculture
and cattle, infrastructure and mining of resources, fueled by the desire for
money and control. Illegal traffickers execute animals without mercy for the
resources they provide; the African Elephant is one of the most severely
affected, seeing a population decline by more than half of that in the last
century due to poaching for ivory.
Other extinctions of indigenous species were subject to Invasive Alien Species,
which are relocated by humans resulting in the loss. Climate Change also plays
an important role in some extinctions as some are brought about by habitat destruction
caused by physical changes throughout time; this process although not directly
linked to human activity, is being accelerated by humans as we always strive to
have more.
Even though the mass extinction will go on there are ways to slow it down
and to reduce the human impact over it. These include reductions of fossil fuel
use, the protection of more masses of land, minimizing blatant plastic usage, fighting
illegal wildlife trafficking by means of extensive investigations, and most
importantly educating people to be more sustainable and leaving as little
impact on their surroundings as possible.
Sources:
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Carrington,
D. - The Guardian (2017, July 10) Earth's
sixth mass extinction event under way, scientists warn. Retrieved from:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/10/earths-sixth-mass-extinction-event-already-underway-scientists-warn - Sutter, J. - CNN (2017, July 11). Sixth mass extinction: The era of 'biological annihilation'. Retrieved from: https://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/11/world/sutter-mass-extinction-ceballos-study/index.html
- Resnick, B. -
Vox (2018, October 17). Why scientists
are so worried by the huge, sudden loss of insects. Retrieved from:
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/10/17/17985282/insects-puerto-rico-biodiversity-mass-extinction-pnas - Sutter,
J – CNN (2016, December 12). How to stop
the sixth mass extinction. Retrieved from:
https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/12/world/sutter-vanishing-help/index.html
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