Elizabeth Kolbert’s book, The Sixth Extinction, covers the argument that we are currently in another mass extinction because the Earth is following similar trends as it did in the past five mass extinctions. The first chapter of The Sixth Extinction starts out by discussing frogs. Frogs are the one of the oldest species on Earth; however, the extinction rates of frogs is higher than it’s ever been, and it’s only increasing. Kolbert then focused specifically on Panamanian golden frogs. Not too long ago, these frogs were plentiful, but recently the numbers have decreased due to human’s introducing a native species to Panama: Chytrid fungus. As the book continues, Kolbert discusses the American Mastodon in the second chapter. The Mastodon is
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Although we most commonly know that the dinosaurs died out from this, there are many other species that went extinct; one of the least commonly known species is called the ammonites. The ammonites are symbolic of how a species can be fit for an environment, but a catastrophe can completely change what is and isn’t fit. The next chapter discusses graptolites, and how their extinction is symbolic of how glaciation can cause extinction. Graptolites went extinct because of a sudden drop in carbon dioxide levels, which caused sea levels and temperatures to decrease. This change in the ocean caused multiple species to go extinct, and as humans, we tend to alter the ocean as well; this is used to represent how our alterations to the ocean can affect oceanic species. Chapter six further develops on carbon dioxide levels can harm species. Human activity has caused carbon dioxide levels to shoot up and marine life is dying because of it. She exemplifies the death of marine life through the species in the Castello Aragonese. Chapter seven further delves into issues regarding the ocean, specifically with coral. Ocean acidification may cause corals to die out, and there are many other species that depend on corals as well, making ocean acidification yet another cause of
Although we most commonly know that the dinosaurs died out from this, there are many other species that went extinct; one of the least commonly known species is called the ammonites. The ammonites are symbolic of how a species can be fit for an environment, but a catastrophe can completely change what is and isn’t fit. The next chapter discusses graptolites, and how their extinction is symbolic of how glaciation can cause extinction. Graptolites went extinct because of a sudden drop in carbon dioxide levels, which caused sea levels and temperatures to decrease. This change in the ocean caused multiple species to go extinct, and as humans, we tend to alter the ocean as well; this is used to represent how our alterations to the ocean can affect oceanic species. Chapter six further develops on carbon dioxide levels can harm species. Human activity has caused carbon dioxide levels to shoot up and marine life is dying because of it. She exemplifies the death of marine life through the species in the Castello Aragonese. Chapter seven further delves into issues regarding the ocean, specifically with coral. Ocean acidification may cause corals to die out, and there are many other species that depend on corals as well, making ocean acidification yet another cause of