Extinctions
Living and Dying in the Margin of Error

Mass extinctions, the fossil record, and whether we can avoid a disastrous human-made mass extinction event.

Michael Hannah (Author)

9781108843539, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 September 2021

262 pages
23.6 x 16 x 1.9 cm, 0.52 kg

'Despite the sobering topic, Hannah's storytelling is exceedingly pleasant and never feels dry or moralizing. Overall, 'Extinctions' offers the reader a fascinating perspective on biodiversity losses and a renewed sense of urgency regarding the ongoing biodiversity crisis.' Nora Haack, Community Ecology

Are we now entering a mass extinction event? What can mass extinctions in Earth's history tell us about the Anthropocene? What do mass extinction events look like and how does life on Earth recover from them? The fossil record reveals periods when biodiversity exploded, and short intervals when much of life was wiped out in mass extinction events. In comparison with these ancient events, today's biotic crisis hasn't (yet) reached the level of extinction to be called a mass extinction. But we are certainly in crisis, and current parallels with ancient mass extinction events are profound and deeply worrying. Humanity's actions are applying the same sorts of pressures - on similar scales - that in the past pushed the Earth system out of equilibrium and triggered mass extinction events. Analysis of the fossil record suggests that we still have some time to avert this disaster: but we must act now.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Further reading
Introduction
1. The Anthropocene and the Earth system
2. A short detour: the fossil record and the geological time scale
3. The origin of animals and the emergence of the Earth system
4. Documenting ancient biodiversity
5. Mass extinctions – the basics
6. Causes of the End-Permian and End-Cretaceous extinction events
7. Time heals all – recovering from a mass extinction
8. The late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions
9. Surviving the Anthropocene
Further reading
Index.

Subject Areas: The Earth: natural history general [WNW], Rocks, minerals & fossils [WNR], Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Sustainability [RNU], Endangered species & extinction of species [RNKH1], Conservation of the environment [RNK], Palaeontology [RBX], Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Evolution [PSAJ]