Late Ordovician Occurred 440 million years ago. Animals affected were the Brachiopod and the Bryozon families. As well as numerous groups of Condonts, Trilobites, and Graptolites. In total over 100 families of marine invertebrates. Second most devastating extinction to marine communities in earth’s history.

Late Devonian

Late Cretaceous Diatoms

Cretaceous K/T mass extinction

Are We in the Sixth Extinction Now? Evidence of the impending Sixth Extinction: Species Loss Overpopulation Over-consumption of non-renewable resources

Species Loss As early humans moved around the earth, they destroyed and drove to extinction most of the major species they found. Invasive species have contributed to 42% of of all threatened and endangered species in the U.S. Humans have disrupted eco- systems throughout history by overhunting and spreading lethal microbial diseases.

Habitat Loss and Resource Depletion Humans are destroying wildlife habitats, which leads directly to extinction of species. Habitat loss caused the extinction of: 35% of fish species 20% of birds 19% of mammals If an area of any habitat is reduced by 90%, at least 50% of the species will die. The population increases and continues to deplete the resources that we need at a huge rate.

What is overpopulation? Overpopulation is when any species that is able to extend its carrying capacity. It also means that a specie has many offspring and runs out of room to keep them all. When the people on Earth have many offspring, the growing of offspring takes up living space. When space is hard to find overpopulation is taking over. Overpopulation is the reason why other people starve as well as in the United States. If there wasn’t an overpopulated world more things could be done to the environment to keep it clean. Less of the forest would be cut down if fast food places like McDonalds who need cattle for meat. The more forest we use the less species are capable to survive and evolve. Less gas and oil would be used if the world wasn’t so overpopulated. Overpopulation

Conservation Conservation – the answer to ending the 6 th Mass Extinction. The top left is a jawed fish. The top right is Trilobita. It was as popular as dinosaurs. The bottom left is the first seeded plant. The bottom right is Spirifeda. Part of an eating organ.

Poaching Poaching robs sportsmen of game and fish and robs us and future generations of our wildlife. Poaching is the illegal killing or taking of any wildlife. The hides and skins and other parts of the animal may be used for clothing, food, folk medicine, and trophies.

Criminals Poachers are criminals and should be dealt with like one. Poachers are today most often gangs of highly organized selective and effective killers of the countryside. Poachers use three main types of guns- Rifle, Crossbow, Snaring

Animals in Danger Tiger bones, rhinos for their horns and bears for a variety of other body parts Although polar bears are protected by a number of laws and international treaties, the bears along with many other animals are being taken illegally.

Law Enforcement There has been a lack of law enforcement that may be believed to be the lead of poaching. The rangers can assume that a bearer of a firearm has criminal intent, whether it be poaching, resource destruction, drug related assault or other. Citizens who are licensed to carry concealed firearms do not pose a threat wildlife or other park resources. The criminals knowingly intend their crimes and they do so regardless of laws or regulations to the contrary.

What can be done? Identify poaching defenses Report poaching to your local wildlife officer Demand strong enforcement of hunting and fishing Encourage schools to include information about poaching Refuse to purchase products that have been made from illegally obtained wild animals

Conserving Resources Don’t waste Natural Resources; they might never come back! Solar Power is something we can use to conserve natural resources, as well as wind and water power. Coal is dangerous to mine, and it takes 1,000 years for it to form!

More trees are cut down than planted! Oil is a non-renewable resource! If we continue using oil at the rate we are, it is very likely that it will run out within 40 years. The use of oil contributes to the pollution problem we have.

Other sources to resort too~ One resource that could help our environment is battery powered cars! This way auto exhaust fumes won’t pollute the atmosphere and the air will be much cleaner.

Conservation Conservation – the answer to ending the 6 th Mass Extinction.

Pollution Nearly 200 dangerous pollutants have been found in the air we breath Air pollution causes acid rain that can kill forests Pollution depletes the ozone layer and that allows ultraviolet radiation to come through

What can we do to prevent Pollution Carpooling Becoming involved in cleaning up Maintain automobiles so they don’t burn excess oil

Deforestation

How much is lost? 200 million hectares lost between One hectare equals acres Through million hectares lost annually

What is being done? Brazilian inspectors fining who log illegally Regulations make land owners preserve 80% of their land There are 300 inspectors For every person caught 100 get away