Chapter 20: The Holocene Mass Extinction

Question 1

What is the Holocene extinction?

Answer 1

An ongoing accelerated loss of species on earth

-will continue because of human practices

Question 2

What is concerning in terms of the amount of CO2 emitted?

Answer 2

The rate at which it is getting emitted is faster than previous times

Question 3

How did the first wave extinction happen?

Answer 3

By overkilling from humans mostly of mega fauna

Question 4

In the alter half of the first wave, how did the extinctions occurred?

Answer 4

Through over kill and invasive species were introduced

Question 5

How did the second wave extinctions happen?

Answer 5

Through European expansion and migration

Question 6

How did/is the third wave extinctions happen/happening?

Answer 6

Through loss of habitat

-primarily loss of tropical species

Question 7

Why is biodiversity so important?

Answer 7

Because genetically diverse community can resits climate change as well as diseases

Question 8

As human population increases, what happens to the extinction rate?

Answer 8

Increases

Question 9

What are the 4 solutions that education can help us with?

Answer 9

1. the reduction of the human population
2. improvements in micro-biotechnology.
3. Natural habitat preservation
4. need a transformation in our attitude towards nature

Question 10

What are the 3 Catastrophic mechanisms?

Answer 10

1. Collapse of the gulf stream- circulation stops/slows= drop in temp
2. Collaps of the amazon rainforest-soils can no longer absorbe CO2= increase in the greenhouse effect
3. Methane release from the see floor- temp increase promotes the breakdown of methane clathrates