Man-made Mass Extinction
Earth has undergone five major mass extinctions known as the Big Five extinctions caused mainly by volcanic eruptions, asteroid collisions, ice age, and drastic environmental changes. The mass extinctions brought on massive decrease in biodiversity with many species going extinct. The current and imminent mass extinction is the Anthropocene also called the Sixth extinction which has massively affected organisms and plants due to human activity. While the event has been ongoing for billions of years the current human activities have increased and thus accelerated its rate. Kolbert addresses activities such as carbon emissions, deforestation, and pollutions that have led to habitat loss for many organisms and species. She affirms that human activity both leads to loss of habitat and prevents the relocation of organisms to suitable environments. Industrialization and modernization have accelerated leading to a massive loss in flora and fauna rendering various plant species extinct or reduce drastically.
Natural Selection
The novel focuses on Darwin’s theory of natural extinction in addressing the previous mass extinctions and the ongoing Anthropocene. In addressing the changes and reduction in biodiversity on Earth Kolbert focuses on specific species that failed to survive. The environmental changes brought on by catastrophism led to a shortage of resources, unsuitable conditions, and loss of habitat hence some species adapted and survived while others died off. Kolbert delves into the variables from human activity that have played a role in the mass extinction taking place. For instance, the great auks that went extinct due to human exploitation for resources from its feathers and oily bodies. She also addresses the organisms that are currently endangered and are at risk of extinction such as the Panamanian golden frogs due to habitat loss and deadly fungi.
Climate Change
In assessing the causes and magnitude of the imminent sixth extinction, global warming and climate change are key subjects that Kolbert addresses. Human activity has disrupted Earth systems by affecting the atmosphere, heat absorption, ocean acidity, and water cycle. The sixth extinction is accelerated by the drastic changes in ecological systems that consequently cause natural disasters. Due to the incapability to migrate the flora and fauna are greatly affected by the climate disruptions thus die off rapidly. Kolbert stresses the major accelerator of Anthropocene is climate change due to human activity and hence the solution is managing the activities in controlling global warming.
