BIO 263 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Introduced Species, Habitat Fragmentation, Habitat Destruction
Document Summary
We may currently be in the 6th mass extinction. Geologically rapid which involves the extinction of many lineages( > 60% of species lost in a million year) often occurs due to catastrophes and it occurs randomly with respect to fitness. Slower average rate relatively constant loss competition environmental change. Most important unsolved question in the history of life. No one still knows that caused this mass extinction. Possibly been attributed to mass volcanic eruption resulting in huge carbon deposits. Flaw is that carbon levels increased over time. Another theory is that it could be due to methane-producing microbes. Was caused due to a meteor crashing into the earth causing a mass chain reaction of events. Caused dust particulates to block off light. Could have possibly caused volcanic eruption and mass forest fires. Found a shit ton of iridium in the earth"s crust the time when the asteroid hit. Mini small glass that is formed due to asteroid.
