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Megafauna Extinction Due to Climate

Posted by Zonk on from the dead-giant-sloths dept.

jvchamary writes "Most biologists believe that Earth is currently undergoing its sixth mass extinction. The cause? Human activity, either directly (e.g. the Dodo) or indirectly (e.g. the Amazon rainforests). The disappearance 30,000-45,000 years ago of the Australian megafauna, large animals such as the marsupial lion, is often attributed to hunting by Aboriginal settlers. However, recent research in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that it was more likely a shift in climate, rather than hunting, that caused the over-sized organisms to die-out (via Nature and the BBC)."

3 of 481 comments (clear)

  1. Part of Nature by ndansmith · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Human Beings are as natural a part of the Earth's ecosystem as earthworms and aardvarks. We need to accept that our behavior will affect the planet not unlike any other animals.

    However, this is not an excuse for an "anything goes" attitude. We still need to work hard to preserve the earth; it is one of our greatest responsibilities.

  2. Re:Irrelevant by AliasMoze · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "...humans will be irrelevant as Transhumans move off-planet..."

    This off-planet stuff is confusing. If the population continues exploding, then even within my lifetime there will be a hundred billionish people on Earth. How the heck are we going to get even a million people off the planet, let alone billions of them?

  3. Difference between Humans and Nature. by H01M35 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I understand the argument that humans are a part of nature, and so are their tools. (By the same token, a bullet to the forehead causes death quite naturally, er, so I'm told.)

    The best way I've heard this expressed is Nature doesn't make waste. Nature makes food. (I'd love to claim this, but I can't remember for sure who said it. It might have been Bucky or Amory Lovins. At any rate, all the other species make food, and participate in the food chain and cycle all waste around.

    We, as humans create waste that no biological process can deal with. Now humanure can be composted and reused, but there's lots of stuff that is good for no living thing.

    That's the big difference. Waste not, want not.