Is this the 6th mass extinction?

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Philosophy Explorer
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Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:39 am

Is this the 6th mass extinction?

Post by Philosophy Explorer »

I doubt the accuracy of this study as I don't see a basis for it:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/201 ... nts-halved

PhilX
Dubious
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Re: Is this the 6th mass extinction?

Post by Dubious »

Philosophy Explorer wrote: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:23 am I doubt the accuracy of this study as I don't see a basis for it:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/201 ... nts-halved

PhilX
Two things:

Why call it "the 6th mass extinction" which has a completely different meaning and...

It's long been known that Westerners produce far fewer offspring then those in so-called less advanced civilizations. So there must be reasons with more than one cause. In any case it appears that Westerners, as such, are the most endangered subset of the human species...not likely to be considered a catastrophe - the opposite being more probable - by Muslim and Asiatic populations.
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Noax
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Re: Is this the 6th mass extinction?

Post by Noax »

Low birth rate of a small segment of a species, let alone extinction of one entire species, does not constitute a mass extinction.

Nevertheless, the Holocene mass extinction is indeed in progress, and yes, it qualifies as one of the big ones.
The sperm count article linked has little to do with it, but is actually good news of a sort.
davidm
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Re: Is this the 6th mass extinction?

Post by davidm »

Philosophy Explorer wrote: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:23 am I doubt the accuracy of this study as I don't see a basis for it:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/201 ... nts-halved

PhilX
You don't see a basis for it? These are scientific studies. Can you find some flaw in these studies? If so, you should able to name what that flaw is.

Anyway, as pointed out above, this is NOT "the sixth mass extinction." The sixth mass extinction is taking place right now, right under our noses -- the mass die-off of species due to climate change and human encroachment on the habitats of non-human animals.
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