The Sixth Extinction - Alese Cowardin

  My introduction to environmental studies was through my AP Environmental Science class, in which we read the book The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. This book, while also explaining all of the previous five mass extinction events that our environment has experienced, introduced the development of the current, sixth, extinction. Research tells us that a new extinction might be taking place, as we watch the warning signs of another mass extinction through developments in flora and fauna loss. Kolbert specifically mentions the slow loss of Panamanian gold frogs as a particularly worrisome development, because amphibians such as frogs are meant to survive harsh conditions such as extinction events that would affect most other species. So as the extinction rate of these amphibians continues to rise, so does the probability of another mass extinction event. What is most intriguing about this supposed sixth extinction, however, is that it will be the first mass extinction event directly affected by man's own making. Kolbert points to our actions in the Panamanian Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef as well as industrial developments as problematic for the species that surround us, and therefore contributing to the causation of such an event. Unlike these other species, we have progressed at such a speed that others around us are now affected by our development and our actions. We have known this for a long time, but have yet to change our trajectory and now there are fears that it might be too late.

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