The Evolution of Extinction
Evolution of the species is a theory, but a theory steeped in fact. Thus, it is outside the normal bounds of “theory” which is closer in application to “hypothesis.” The facts that point to the theory being true—while still unproven—are subject to changing the outlines of the central proposition. Extinction of species is just one aspect of what is termed the “theory of evolution” and as facts have been revealed, the book shows, it is one that has swung back and forth like pendulum. The idea of a catastrophic event speeding up the evolutionary process of mass extinction was initially formulated in the 19th century and then rejected during that same century and for most of the 1900’s before newly discovered evidence swung the pendulum back to an acceptance of what had for so long been dismissed.
Human Intervention in Extinction
Whether termed “global warming” or “climate change” it is readily admitted by the overwhelming majority of scientists in the world today that human intervention is having an increased effect upon species extinction. Although rejected by a tiny, ill-informed minority, the evidence is overwhelmingly accepted by most people. What might surprise those who accept the facts of climate change—and perhaps do nothing to change the minds of those who reject it outright—is that humans appear to have been a interfering with the natural processes of evolution since pre-history. Mass extinctions of species around the globe correlate much more stringently with the arrival of human beings than with any known environmental catastrophic event. This suggests that such species as pygmy hippos, giant lemurs and a host of other oversized and undersized animals succumbed to extinction at the hands of humans at a faster rate than natural selection would otherwise indicate.
The Rise of Environmental Science
One of the missing links in the history of evolutionary theory has been the way that certain gaps in the record or unexplained diversions from expected results have contributed to misunderstandings. Evolutionary science for a long period tried to attach evidence supporting theories to results which conflicted with that evidence because of either an inability to apply environmental science or a failure to even realize it should be applied. One of these environmental impacts with massive implications on extinction was the long-rejected idea that a global catastrophe could challenge the fossil record. Only with the discovery of a crater suggesting an asteroid collision with earth could that theory be revitalized for serious study. The ability to determine much environmental changes on a less global level which had remained unknown before has contributed substantially to both revising some theories and reinforcing the evidence supporting others.
