TheSixthMassExtinction

SivanesanMuruganandam
Mr.Heugh
March112015

WritingOutline
ThesisStatement:
MassExtinctionwascausedbyhumans,whichaffectstheecosystemand
humanscanbealsoitsvictims,andsoweneedtoprotecttheecosystem.

I.

Introduction
A. Background.
1. Beforehumanswereborn
2. Afterhumanswereborn
B. ThesisStatement

II.

Human'sRole
A. Humanactivitiesaffecttheecosystemdirectly
B. Humanactivitiesaffecttheecosystemindirectly

III.

AffectsToTheEcosystem
A. Speciesthatareneartoextinctionorextinct
1. NearExtinction
2. Extinct
B. Speciesthatarethreatened
1. TheInvasion
2. Pesticides
3. ClimateChanges


IV.

EffectsToHumans
A. Causesmadebyhumans
1. Healthissues
2. Moneyanddemandsincreases
B. Causeofaffectedecosystem,affectingthehumansindirectly
1. Climatechange
2. ChainEvents

V.

SaveTheEcosystem
A. Actsforsavingbiodiversity
B. Reducehumanrole.

VI.

Conclusion
A. RestateThesisStatement
B. Acceptingwrongwehumansdid

MySearchStory

CanyouimagineaworldwithoutElephants,WhalesandTigers?Attodaysextinction
rate,scientiststhinkthatin30years,ofthecreaturesnowlivingcouldbegone..There
wereplentifuloffloraandfaunainthisbiodiversity.Inthismodernera,becauseofhuman
activities,speciesandtheecosystemarethreatenedwithdestruction.Ashumansarethecause
thatcouldtriggerthesixthMassextinction.Weneedtoprotecttheecosystemorwecanbea
victimofthisSixthMassExtinction.MassExtinctioniscausedbyhumans,whichaffectsthe
ecosystemandhumanscanalsobeitsvictimsandso,weneedtoprotecttheecosystem.

IchosemytopiconMassextinctionbecauseiliketheecosystemandiwantedtofind
whatscausing,howitsaffectingtheecosystem,andhowtoprotectit.Itwashardformetofind
researchquestions.Whenifinallyovercomethatandwrotefewresearchquestionlike,Ireally
wantedtofindhowhumansarecauseofthismassextinction?andHowdoeshisMass
extinctionaffectourdailylives?.AfterIfinishwritingmyresearchquestions,Istartedtolook
forsources.Mr.HeughtoldagreatwebsiteIcouldlooksourcesformytopic.Iwenttomel.org,
Databaseandlookformysources.Sadly,Ilostfewwhentheprintermixedupordidnotprint
mysources.Ifinallychose12sources.MyenglishteacherMr.heugh,taughtmehowtotake
CRAPtestonawebsite.AfterilearnedhowtoCRAPtestawebsite,ICRAPtestedtwo
websites.Thosetwowebsitesdidntdomuchgoodinmyresearch,butlearnedhowtoCRAP
testawebsites.IwroteThesisStatementandaWorkingOutline.GettingRomanNumeralsfor
myOutlinewashardbutthankstoMr.Heughiovercamethatobstacle.Iwrotesourcecardsfor
my14sources(including2website).ItookdatasfrommysourcesandwroteitinNotecards.
Mr.Heughletmedo10perdayinclass.Finally,ihave76Notecards.Mr.Heughtaughtmehow
toInterview/Pollaperson.IchosetoInterviewaperson.IinterviewedMr.Kanus.Mr,Heugh
toldmehowtomakemyfinaloutline.Itypedandprintedafinaloutline,Mr.Heughcheckedand
theoutlinehadsomeproblems.Mr.Heughsaidtoprintthelastandgoodcopy,afteriwritemy
finalpaperdraft.IalsoaddedaromannumeralnumberVIConclusion.Todayiamdoingmy
SearchStory.FromnowIwillbedraftingmypapersoon.

MyInterviewProcess

AfterMr.Heughtaughtmehowtointerview.IinterviewedMr.Knaus,myscience
teacher.Mr.KnausearnedadegreeinForestry,andadegreeinEducation.Majorityofhis
scienceclasses,thathetookScienceCertificationforeducation,wasBiologyClasses.Atmy
intervaltime,IaskedMr.Knausificouldinterviewhim.Hesaidokandhealsosaidthathewas
freeat6thperiod.IaskedmyWritingOddclassteacher(6thhour),ificouldgoandInterview
him.Myteachersaidok.WhenIfirstarrivedMr.Knauswasntthere.Iwaitedforawhile,
walkinginthehallways.Ifoundhim,wewenttohisroomandistartedmyInterviewabout
MassExtinction.Istartedmyinterviewwithoneofmyresearchquestions:Howdoeshuman
activitiessuchaspollution,deforestationaffectourdailylife?Ireallygotsomeinterestingfact
thatididntgetinsources.OneorTwowerefactsIalreadyknowlikeHealthissuesthat
associateswithdifferenttypeofpollution.HetoldmethatmostproblemsarefromAirpollution
andWaterpollution.Infewplaces,waterresourcesarenotdrinkable,itisdirty.Ireallylearned
morethatcouldhelpfillaromannumeralwithfacts.Aftertapingmyinterview,Isaidthanksa
lotandwenttomy6thhourclassandafterthebellrangIwenthome.

MySearchFindings

OurroleinthisSixthMassExtinctionisbig.Throughourdailylivesanddailyneed,we
aredestroyingbiodiversity.Habitatlossanddestructionisaresultofhumanactivitiesand
populationgrowth(Threats).Asyousee,thisisgettingbadnamesforhuman.Whenpeoplecut
downforests,digmines,buildcities,ormakeroads,theydestroyhabitats(Threats).Wehave
seenacommonthreatcausedbyhumans.AchangeinEarthsclimatebroughtinpartdueto
humanactivitiessuchasburningfossilfuelsanddeforestation(Foran).Humansarenotonly
threateningtheecosystem,wearealsohurtingtheclimatearoundus.Amajorthreatto
biodiversitycomesfromtheincreasedpressureonnaturalresourcesproducedbyhigh
populationgrowthandasdemandsincreasedfromstandardsofofliving(Threats).Humansare
thecauseofthisMassextinctionbecauseofourdemands.SeventyEightmillionmorepeople
liveonEarth.Theyallneedaplacetoliveandgrowfood.Weneedpaper,houses,andoilfor
ourcars.Weusedlandandcuttrees,leavingnowhereforanimalstolive(MassExtinction).As
wetalkaboutdemands,thesearejustafewonthelistthatgoesonandon.Poaching,
indiscriminatehuntingofanimals,andoverhuntingarehumanactivitiesthathaveendangered
manyspeciesofanimals.Someofthemareatthevergeofextinction(Threats).Wehuntfor
differentreasons.Huntingmoreanimals,especiallyendangeredanimals,isnotcoolandnot
good.Thissixthmajormassextinctionscauseisushumansbecauseofdeforestation,pollution,
globalwarmingandotherhazardsofmodernlife.Theyarewipingoutspeciesfasterthanwecan
discoverthemandseeapossiblebenefitfromthem(TheBiodiversity).Variousactivitiesinour
dailylivesarehazardoustotheecosystem.Ms.Kolbertblamespeopleforkillinglegendary
creatureslikeMastodonsandWoollyRhinocerosthanthemostrecentIceAge(The
Biodiversity).ThePanamanianGoldenFrogisNativetocentral.Thesefrogsweredrivento
extinctionbydeforestation,waterpollution,theillegalpettradeandthespreadofan
Amphibiankillingfungus(Kolbert).WehumanshavedrivenatypeofFrogspeciesoutof
existing!Wehumanshavestartedsomeproblemsthatstillcontinuebyotherfactors.Ms.
Kolbertglidesthroughtheproblemswehavecreatedbyclimatechange,incursioninto
wildlands,thetransportofinvasivespecieswithbroadstrokes(Killing).Indirectlyaffecting
theecosystemandthisarejustthebasics.Manyoftheinvasivespeciesinaregionwere
introducedbyhumans(Threats).Oneofthebiggestproblemthatstartedbyhumansisstill
affectingtheecosystem.TheKakapoisendangeredbecauseofdeforestationandtheintroduction
ofpredatorslikecatsbyPolynesianandEuropeanSettlers(Kolbert).Nativespecieslikethe
Kakapocouldntbecameendangered,ifwedidntgetotheranimalswithus.Invasioncan
happenthroughmanydifferentways,marineshipsaretransportedaroundtheworldthrough
ballastwaterfromshipsandinsectcanbetransportedwiththeinternationalTradeforfoodor
Timber(Threats).Thosearealotofwaystotransportanonnativespecies.Theinvasiveor
nonnativespecieshasdriventhenativespeciestoextinction(Williams).Humansaretotallyto
beblamedfor.ScientistsdiscoveredwhatwaskillingtheamphibiansinCentralAmerica,itwas

afungusdisease,thathadarrivedwithnonnativefrogs.Thisdiseasehadalsokilledamphibians
inNorthandSouthAmerica,Australia,andtheCaribbean(Kolbert).Lookback,the
PanamanianGoldenFrogwasdriventoextinctionbynonnativefrogsthatwetransportedfrom
placetoplace.Contaminatedwaterfromindustrialwastesandhouseholdwastesispoisoningour
biosphereandalsoterrestrialandaquaticenvironment(Arewe).Eventheindustrialwaste
materialspossessdangertoourbelovedbiosphere,land,andaquaticanimalsandplants.These
evidenceswouldsuggestthatourhumanroleinthissixthmassextinctionisgettingbiggerand
bigger.
TheEnvironment,theEcosystemhasbeenaffectedverybadly.Ifwecontinueour
mistakes,thesethreatenedspecieswillbecomeextinct.Scientistssaythatoveronemillion
speciesofplantsandanimalscouldbenearingextinctionby2050(Williams).Thenext
generationcannotseetheseanimals.Inpastcentury,97percentofwildTigersinAsiahave
disappearedbecauseofhabitatloss,poaching,andrisingsealevels.Asfewas3,200(
Williams).WithfewTigersinourecosystem,howcantheysurvivewiththeproblemswemake.
IfGlobalWarmingcontinuedatitspresentrate,atbest15percentofspecieswouldbenearing
extinction,andworst,37percent,ormorethanathirdoftheEarthsspeciescouldbenearing
extinctionbythemiddleofthisCentury(Williams).Thisglobalwarmingtrendiscontinue
higherandpossible50percentofspeciescanbegone.Since1500,Almost900speciesare
knownareextinct,orextinctinthewild(Kolbert).Wehavelostthosemuchspeciesofanimals
from1500.Everydayabout50to100otherspeciesbecomesextinct(MassExtinction).Then
everyweek350to700speciesbecomeextinct!Therecentdemiseofthefrog,alongwith
dozensofotherbrightlycoloredamphibiansinCentralAmerica,isapartofmuchlarger
phenomenonthatsbeendubbedtheSixthExtinction(Kolbert).Wehavecreatedanartificial
massextinction,andthisextinctionispowerfulliketherealonMassExtinction.Withinthis
century,to20to50percentofalllivingspeciesfromplantstomammalsmightbeheading
towardoblivion(Kolbert).Maybealllivingspeciescanbeheadingtowarda
disaster.Extinctionishappeningfasterthananypointfromthedinosaursdisappeared65million
yearsago.FrogsandToadsaretheworldsmostthreatenedgroupsofanimalnearly40
percentareendangeredbutextinctionratesamongprettymuchallgroupsaresoaring(Kolbert
).SmallanimalssuchasFrogsToadsbecomesextinct.Thiscanbesametobiggeranimals.Food
chainoftheanimalscancollapse,evenifasmallanimalgoesextinct(Knaus).Thisisalsoa
majorissueanditsveryimportant.ThesespeciesarenomoreontheEarth.Snail,birds,ferns,
flowersinHawaiiaregoneforeverbecauseotherspecieshavetakenover(Kolbert).Thesekind
ofspeciesareextinctnotonlyinHawaii.Bigcats,rarebeetles,obscurefungi,flightless
waterfowlandmanyotherarebecominganExtinctspecies(TheBiodiversity).Thesearenot
onlyspeciesatreallybigrisk.Therearemanyoutinthewildatdanger.Manyspecies
underwaterorabovethelandarethreatenedbadly.CoralReefsthat'shometothousandsof
underwaterspeciesarethreatened(Kolbert).Fishspecieswouldhavenohometolive.Starfishin
Americaandcoralreefseverywherearestrugglingtosurvive(Kolbert).Totallyagreeable
fact.Thereareonly150KakaparemaininNewZealand(Kolbert).Onceaspeciespopulation
goesdown,itshardtorisetheirpopulation.Gorilla,Rhinosandmanyotherlesserknownspecies
likeKakapa,aflightlessparrotinNewZealand,andtheFranklinsBumblebee,inNorthern
Californiaarethreatened(Kolbert).ItseemsthatnotjustKakapaisthreatened.Vulturesin
SouthAsiaandMonarchButterfliesinMexicoarestrugglingtosurvive(Kolbert).Speciesall
overtheglobeisstrugglingtosurvive.AfricanElephant,morethan500,000elephantsremain

inthewildinAfrica,threatenedbypoachingandhabitatloss(Kobert).Atfirsttheremusthave
beenalotofafricanelephants.Invasionofnonnativespeciesisreallyamajorissue,reallyabig
majorissue.TheintroductionofNonNativespecieshaveamajorimpactonpopulationof
Nativeplantsandanimals(Threats).Thisissuehavealotofbranchesabouthowitworks.
Theinvaderscanaffectnativespeciesbyeatingthem,infectingthem,competingwiththem,or
matingwiththem(Threats).Thisthemainbranchorinotherwordbasicproblemsfrom
invader.Ashabitatsbecomesmaller,lessfoodandshelterareavailable.Asresultspeciesliving
inthosehabitatcompeteforfood.Sincetheirpopulationaresosmall.theyhavefewermates
withwhomtohaveoffspring,diminishingthegeneticdiversityoftheirpopulation(Threats).
Anotherproblem,thatitsenemyistheinvaderandthemselves.Pesticidesweusetoourcropsare
dangeroustotheecosystem.SomeoftheHerbicidesareadverselyaffectingbiodiversitylike
aquaticandwildlifeanimals(Arewe).Evenaslightestherbicidecouldkillalotofinsects.
Climatechangesoccurduetosomehumanactivitiesthataffecttheecosystemmorethanany
otherissues.Climatechangeisimpactingecosysteminseveralways,includingviatemperature
change.Theseshiftsaremakingitdifficultorevenimpossibleformanyspeciestosurvive.As
theclimatechangesmoreandmore,biodiversitywillfaceevengreaterthreats(Threat).
Nothingsdangerousthantheclimatethatsurroundstheecosystem.Duetodeforestation,itled
buildupofCarbonDioxideandothergasesthattrapheatintheatmosphere,causingtheplanetto
warmup(Kolberts).InotherwordsthisprocessiscalledGlobalWarming.Thechangein
temperaturesforcespeciestoadapttonewclimateormovetocoolerhabitats.Iftheycant
survivetheydieoutorgetextinct(Kolbert).Iftheycantcope,theylosehopetolive.

Wethinkthatnothingisgoingontohappenifwehurttheecosystembutthetruthisit
doeshurthumansinalotofways.Ahumanscantliveforalongifheorsheisnothealthy.
Healthissuesaremostlyassociatedwithdifferenttypeofpollution,themostobviouspollutions
areairpollutionandwaterpollution(Knaus).Pollutionaredevelopingreallyquick.Increasein
humanpollutionincreasedissuesofhunger,poverty,foodsecurity,hygieneandhealthissues
(Arewe).HealthproblemsarenotjustfrompollutionDuetowaterpollution,manyplaces
aroundtheworldhavealackofwaterresourcesbecausethewaterisdirty(Knaus).Without
goodwater,itiseasytogetdiseases.Weareprovidingcircumstances,wherecertainbacterias
andvirusescouldthrive,whichisamajorthreattohumans(Knaus).Someofthesecouldbe
thriveasyoureadthispaper.InaPsychologicaloremotionalways,withoutwildplacesdueto
deforestationyouloseyourconnectionwithnatureandnaturalworldandyourroots(Knaus).
Healthisnotjustaffectedbyphysicaldamagebutitalsoaffectpsychologically.Milliontonsof
contaminatedwaterfromindustrialeffluentisbeingdumbedinourwaterbodiesthatentersour
foodchain(Arewe).Thisisawaterpollution,thisincreasesastechnologyincreases.
Investigationininsecticidesandpesticidestreatedfoodintakeresultswasmorepoisoningof
humanbodythatis103to105timesmoredangerousthanbeingabsorbedthroughdrinking
waterorinhalation(Arewe).Itsmorepowerfulthepoisoninfoodthananyothermethods.
ThepesticideslikeorganophosphatesandcarbamatesarecauseofvariousdiseaseslikeNausea
Diarrhea,decreaseinbloodpressure,increasedsalvationandperspiration,narrowingofthe

pupilsmuscles,weaknessandfatigue(Arewe).Justtwotypeofthesepesticidescanmake
thesemuchdiseases.Imaginewhatall,thatismanmade,coulddo.Pesticideexposurecan
causearangeofneurologicalhealtheffectssuchasmemoryloss,lossofcoordination,reduced
speedofresponsetostimuli,reducedvisualabilityalteredoruncontrollablemoodandgeneral
behaviorandreducedmotorskills(Arewe).Notjustinmuscles,thepesticidesareaffecting
neuralsystemtoo.Otherpossiblehealtheffectsincludeasthma,allergies,andhypersensitivity
andpesticideexposureisalsolinkedwithcancerhormone,disruptionandproblemwith
reproductionandfetaldevelopment(Arewe).Ithasamajoreffectsonimportantpartsofour
bodymikebrain,nervoussystem.Ourdemandsincreasedastheecosystemisgettingdamaged.
Peoplearechangingtheworldwiththebiodiversitywemostlydependtoraiseanimalsand
crops,feedourselvesandsurvive(Kolbert).Whatwearedoingrightnowisgoingtohitus
back.400hundredmillionpeopledependcriticallyonfishfortheirfoodandfacereduced
accesstomarineproteinbecauseofclimatechangesandacidification.Artisanalfishermen
tropicsaremostatrisk....(Seafood).Manypeoplenotjustdependonpeoplefishes,they
dependonalotofplantspecies.Thebriefingwarnedthatglobalwarmingoftwodegrees
wouldresultinalossoflandingtoglobalfisheriesofbetweenUS$1714bn(Seafood).
Withthatmoney,thegovernmentcoulddoalotofpublicservice.UniversityofOtagosaysthat
oceanacidificationandclimatechangeputglobalseafoodindustriesunderthreats(Seafood).
Thisissuecanstartsomethingdifferentatanothernewlevel.Atypeofmovement,duetoglobal
warming,inmarinespeciescouldsparkaconflictbetweenfishingnationsandincreasedin
illegalfishing(Seafood).Thatsomeotherproblemcouldbeawarforfishes.Whenweget
closertoclimatechange,ithasahumongouseffectonhumansandtotheecosystem.Nothingis
dangerousthanthenatureitself.Scientistreportthatasglobalwarmingintensifies,sotoowill
thefrequencyofextremeweathereventsincludinghurricanes,tornadoes,flashfloods,andheat
waves(Foran).Naturaldisastersisaclimatechangethataffectstheecosystemandhumansata
drasticway.Whenaproblemisstarteditmakesachainthatwillendwithalotofcasualties.
PeoplearrivedontheislandfromPolynesiaincanoesaroundtheyear400CE.foralongtime,
lifewasprobablyquiteeasyandgood.Butasthepopulationgrew,theycutdownmoreandmore
treetomakecanoes,housesandcookfires.Theyalsostartedbuildingthegiantstoneheadsthe
islandisfamousfor,whichrequiresalotoflogstorollthemacrosstheislands.Therichforest
slowlybegantodisappear.Theyfishedforporpoisesfromtheircanoesoutintheopenseas.
Theynolongerhadanytreestomakecanoes,thehuntedsealsontheshore.Whentheseals
weregone,theykilledbirds.Whenthebirdsweregone,thesettlersaatrats.Afterallthat,the
settlersdied(MassExtinction).Thisallstartedwithhumansandendedwithhumans.

Thingswearedoingorgoingtodointhefuturetosaveourenvironmentandthe
ecosystem.Itisimportantotakecareofourpalnetforsomereasons.HumansaretheAlpha
speciesonthisplanet,wemanipulatenature,whichmakesusuniqueinthisplanet.So,weget

thepositionasthecaretakeroftheplanet.Whenspeciesaredyingandyourethecauseofit,we
arenotdoingourjobastheAlphaspeciesinthisplanet.Itmakehumanlookbad(Knaus).This
isoneofthereasonthatwemustprotectourecosystem.Wehavebeendoingsomeactstosave
ourbelovedecosystem.TheU.S.CongresspassedTheEndangeredSpeciesActin1973,and
sincethenthelengthtowhichpeoplehavegonetoprotectvulnerablecreaturesisincredible
(Kolbert).Publishingsuchactsareanicewaytoprotectthosepoorspecies.Aconservation
centerisfilledwithtankscontainedendangeredfrogsincludingPanamanianGoldenFrogs.
Theyreequippedwithrunningwatersotheanimalscanbreednearafacsimileofthestreams
thatwereoncetheirhome(Kolbert).Rethinkaboutthosefrogs.Theyarenottotallyextinct,
thankstothosepeople,theyarejustextinctinthewild.Reducingourroleinthismassextinction
incomingfutureisaneffectivewaytosaveourecosystem.Wewouldeventuallystabilizeour
populationandcreatenewglobalenergysystem,thatdoesnotwrecktheecosystem
(Grinspoon).Therearelotofwaystodothisandthiswaywillcomesomeday.Wecouldcreate
greentechnologyandabetterenergyresources(Knaus).Thiswayitwillhaveamassiveeffect
tosaveourecosystem.GlobalWarmingcanbestoppedifindustrailcoutriesreducecarand
industrialplantemissions(Williams).Thistypetodoitcanbepossiblebutitcantakealotof
time.Usethe3r'sReuselikedontuseplasticplate,useaceramicplateandyoucanwashit
andreuseitagain.Reduce,theamountyouconsume,andfinallyRecycleitemsthatcouldbe
used(Knaus).Ifwefollowthisinacommonphilosophy,itwillreallychangealot,and
probablydoesnthurttheecosystemmuch.

MassExtinctionwascausedbyhumans,whichaffectstheecosystemandhumanscanbe
alsoitsvictims,andsoweneedtoprotecttheecosystem.Iwouldtotallyagree.Ithinksthis
planetmightnoteventakethisanymore.Ithinkswehumansmustdosomethingaboutit.It
doesnthurttochangeourlifestyletomakethingscleaner,healthier,andbetterforthe
environment.