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The Earths Sixth Greatest Extinction. By Igor Milgram, Derrin Miller, Johny, Scott Richmond. The 5 Past Extinctions. Ordovician-Silurian extinction: 439 million years Late Devonian extinction: 364 million years ago Permian-Triassic extinction: about 251 million years ago
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The Earths Sixth Greatest Extinction By Igor Milgram, Derrin Miller, Johny, Scott Richmond
The 5 Past Extinctions • Ordovician-Silurian extinction: 439 million years • Late Devonian extinction: 364 million years ago • Permian-Triassic extinction: about 251 million years ago • End Triassic extinction: roughly 199 million to 214 million years ago • Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction: about 65 million years ago
Current Extinction • The current extinction is beginning to rival all of the last five extinctions. • It is the first extinction in earths history that is cause by a biotic source instead of physical cause.
The Current Stats • We are currently losing 40,000-50,000 species a year • That is roughly 137 a day. • Since 1600, 83 mammals species and 113 birds have become extinct.
All the stats • Threatened animal and plant species : 11,046 • Known species humans have forced to extinction in past 500 years: 816 • Threatened animals and plants in the United States: 998 • 20% Known Amphibian species • 24% Known of Mammals • 25% Known of Reptiles • 30% Known of Fish
The First Cause • The invention of Agriculture is the first cause of this problem. • It let us become separated from other species. • We changed the earth for our needs.
Domino Effect • All species have an effect on each other • If one species dies it could cause the co-extinction of another species • Some species directly affect the health of hundreds of other species.
Current Causes • Pollutants • Pesticides • Ultra-violet radiation • Climate change • Habitat loss from agriculture and cities • Hunting and Poaching • Man Made Borders • Many more…
Fences • Humans love to fence off space they say belongs to them. • This stops animals from getting to needed food sources. • Fences cuts off food sources for animals which leads to village attacks, which leads to more killing of animals.
Roughly 21% of the land-mass is covered with closed-canopy forests There are only formal bans on 9% of the worlds forests. The Earth's forests hold over 50% of all known species. Top Five Countries Russia: 23.3% Canada: 12.8% Brazil: 12.6% United States: 8.2% Democratic Republic of the Congo: 4.0% The Disappearing Forests
Is there a way out? • The world needs international cooperation to sustain the environment. • Countries ban the cutting down forests • Reduce Co2 emissions. • Reduce Human Population. • End destruction of land for Agriculture.
United Nations Environment Programme • Monitors status of global environment • Making international agreements Combining economic development and environmental protection. • Allows the transfer of knowledge and technology for sustainable development.
What can each of us do? • Reduce our carbon footprints • Learn about Local endangered species • RECYCLE!!! • Protect wildlife habitat.