Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780133923001
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
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Textbook Question
Chapter 18, Problem 1AC
Extinctions have occurred throughout the history of life on Earth. Why should we care if humans are causing a mass extinction event now?
Expert Solution & Answer
Summary Introduction
To apply:
Extinctions have occurred throughout the history of life on Earth then why should an individual care, if humans are causing a mass extinction event now.
Introduction:
The history of life has been characterized by uniform turnover of species as some are replaced by new ones and others go extinct. The event in which a large number of species disappears within a short duration of time is known as mass extinction. It is probably caused by some combinations of catastrophic events and climate change such as volcanic eruption and meteorite impacts.
Explanation of Solution
From the beginning of life on Earth’s, extinctions took place all over the time. Such extinctions occurred naturally and no other factor except natural factors is responsible and due to these extinctions, organisms are evolved. They never imbalanced the ecosystem as humans are evolved from mass extinction of dinosaurs.
Therefore, these extinctions did not cause large negative impact but are more advantageous. The mass extinction event that is taking place due to activities of humans is a serious issue and should be taken care. Mass extinction by humans is a disturbing ecosystem in a wide range which results in a decrease of valuable resources that is to be passed onto next generations.
Thus, humans are affecting the environment so badly that it cannot be reversed which is putting many lives in danger. So environment should be preserved and mass extinction caused by humans has to be taken care of.
Conclusion
The mass extinction that is caused by humans cannot be reversed thus it has to be taken care of.
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Students have asked these similar questions
Because mass extinction is a natural process that may facilitate evolution during the period of thousands to millions of years that follow it, should humans be concerned about the current mass extinction we are causing? Why or why not?
We have looked at what the fossil record can tell us about the amazing History of Life on Earth. We've examined the evidence for an early origin for life in the sea, 3800 million years, and investigated how life invaded life about 500 million years. We've also discussed the subsequent boom in life that massively increased biodiversity but also noted how the History of Life is frequently punctuated by mass extinctions. Today we stand on the threshold of a new mass extinction event. The biodiversity that we take for granted and that sustains humans is threatened to a degree only rarely seen in 4500 million years of Earth History.
NOW TO CONCLUDE, ANSWER THE QUESTION.
1. ARE WE ON THE BRINK OF A MASS EXTINCTION? WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR SOCIETY OF LOSING HALF OF ALL SPECIES BY 2100? ARE THERE ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS SOCIETY TO HELP PROTECT LIFE ON EARTH?
WHAT IS MASS EXTINCTION? HOW DID MASS EXTINCTION EVENTS INFLUENCE EARTH'S HISTORY?
Chapter 18 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Ch. 18.1 - describe a likely scenario for the origin of life?Ch. 18.1 - How Would the experiments result charge if oxygen...Ch. 18.1 - describe, for each step in the scenario, some...Ch. 18.2 - describe scenarios for the major evolutionary...Ch. 18.2 - Uranium-235, with a half-life of 713 million...Ch. 18.2 - State the order in which these events occurred,...Ch. 18.2 - Scientists have identified a free living bacterium...Ch. 18.3 - describe fossil evidence of the earliest...Ch. 18.3 - describe the advantages that fostered the origin...Ch. 18.3 - Prob. 3CYL
Ch. 18.4 - Can ancient DNA reveal the secrets of dinosaur...Ch. 18.4 - describe the transitions and innovations...Ch. 18.4 - Prob. 1TCCh. 18.4 - Although it may never be possible to recover DNA...Ch. 18.4 - describe the advantages gained by the first plants...Ch. 18.4 - Does the mudskippers ability to walk on land...Ch. 18.5 - explain how extinction has affected the course of...Ch. 18.5 - Scientists have cloned a number of animal species,...Ch. 18.5 - describe the likely causes of mass extinctions in...Ch. 18.6 - We might be able to more easily distinguish...Ch. 18.6 - The unexpected discovery that humans interbred...Ch. 18.6 - describe the evolutionary history of humans and...Ch. 18.6 - Paleontologists recently discovered fossil...Ch. 18.6 - name and describe some characteristics of the...Ch. 18.6 - describe the key features of the most recent phase...Ch. 18 - Extinctions have occurred throughout the history...Ch. 18 - Because there was no oxygen in the earliest...Ch. 18 - Almost all of the oxygen gas in todays atmosphere...Ch. 18 - What is the evidence that life might have...Ch. 18 - In biological terms, what do you think was the...Ch. 18 - The molecule _________ became a candidate for the...Ch. 18 - Extinction a. generally does not occur except...Ch. 18 - How did the origin of photosynthesis affect...Ch. 18 - Complex cells that contain a nucleus and other...Ch. 18 - In the endosymbiotic origin of the mitochondrion,...Ch. 18 - Explain the endosymbiont hypothesis for the origin...Ch. 18 - The Sperm of early land plants had to reach the...Ch. 18 - Which of the following does not list evolutionary...Ch. 18 - Name two advantages of multicellularity for plants...Ch. 18 - Prob. 5FIBCh. 18 - Prob. 5MCCh. 18 - What advantages and disadvantages would...Ch. 18 - Prob. 6FIBCh. 18 - Prob. 6RQCh. 18 - Prob. 7FIBCh. 18 - Prob. 7RQ
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