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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Earth is nearing 'sixth great extinction,' alarming survey says
2014-06-01
[THEWEEK] Is the end near? Scientists at Duke University say the world is on the brink of its sixth great extinction, since certain species of plants and animals are now dying out at least 1,000 times faster than they did before humans came into existence.

The study, published Thursday in the journal Science, measured the the rate at which species are disappearing from Earth. In 1995, the researchers found that the pre-human rate of extinctions was roughly 1. Now, that rate is about 100 to 1,000.

Stuart Pimm, the study's lead author, said habitat loss is mostly to blame for the increasing death rates. As humans continue to alter and destroy more land, animals and plants are increasingly being displaced from their natural habitats. Climate change is also a factor, he added.

"Whether we avoid it or not will depend on our actions," Pimm warned.
Posted by:Fred

#8  Muslim/Islamic Communists???

Every restaurtant is a Taco Bell,+ everyone wears "Muslim/Islam-esque" Middle East or Asian style clothes???

COMMIES TAKE OVER THE WORLD, OR ISLAM???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2014-06-01 22:54  

#7  Sounds like it "needs more study".
Where's that grant paperwork?
Posted by: tu3031   2014-06-01 18:40  

#6  I always question numbers like 'anywhere from "100 to 1000". I see it all the time and sheeple believe anything.
Posted by: Bangkok Billy   2014-06-01 18:24  

#5  Two comments. First a snark; on the plus side, less for future zoology students to have to memorize. Second, what a load of crap.
Posted by: Squinty   2014-06-01 16:29  

#4  "Whether we avoid it or not will depend on our actions," Pimm warned.

translation: "Give us control and money"
Posted by: Frank G   2014-06-01 14:16  

#3  Is there a fossil record way to differentiate between the Upper Tennessee river snail darter and the Lower Chattahoochee snail river darter?

Didn't think so. Alarmism - is how Big Science gets attention and government funding.
Posted by: OldSpook   2014-06-01 13:46  

#2  ..since certain species of plants and animals are now dying out at least 1,000 times faster than they did before humans came into existence.

Because someone was around doing all the counting and classifying before humans developed writing and record keeping? Who knew. If you simply classify a species by the color of their feathers or fur, how can you tell from partial bone fragments 500,000 year later?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2014-06-01 13:17  

#1  "Communists and cockroaches predicted to survive"
Posted by: Grunter    2014-06-01 13:10  

00:00