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Homo sapiens: Cause of 6th Mass Extinction?
By: Kristen Mintzer
This artifact explores the essential question, are humans causing
Earths sixth mass extinction event?
The main picture, entitled Tree of Life was created by biologists
David M. Hillis, Derrick Zwickl, and Robin Gutell of the University of
Texas. The image represents three thousand out of an estimated nine
million species thought to exist on earth, or about 0.18% of the 1.7
millionspecies that have been formally described and named (Hillis,
Zwickl, & Gutell, 2003). What is intriguing about this particular image is
that it places in perspective where humans exist in the tree of life; that
is, we are just one of many million species that call this earth home. I
chose this image in order to cause viewers to consider humans place
on this earth; as they consider the impact we are having on the other
millions of species on earth by reading the articles and viewing the
movies, they are continually reminded of our place as just one out of
millions who inhabit this planet. As such, are we entitled to use and
abuse the earth as we please with little regard to how our actions are
affecting our neighbors?
I included the article, World's last male Northern White Rhino
placed under 24-hour armed guard in Kenya to highlight just one of
the many species that are in peril as a direct result of human actions.
Forty-year old Sudan the rhino is the last male northern white
rhinoceros on the planet; he has now been placed under 24-hour
armed guard in the Ol Pejeta game Conservancy in Kenya where he
lives with two other female northern white rhinos. There are only five
remaining northern white rhinos left in the world; the two other
females live in captivity. The remaining members of their species have
been decimated by poachers, who kill the animals for their horns that
can go for $75,000 per kilogram or more on the global market. In order
to protect Sudan from poachers his horn has been removed, which
renders his of no interest to poachers; he has also been fitted with
radio transmitters. Protecting these rhinos is perilous work for humans
as well; the dedicated rangers who protect the rhinos often risk their
lives in the line of duty (Mosbergen, 2015).
The Scientific American article Fact or Fiction?: The Sixth Mass
Extinction Can Be Stopped considers the question is the planet
undergoing the sixth mass extinction in its history courtesy of the
human species? Scientists estimate that humans have driven roughly
1,000 species extinct in our 200,000 years on the planet. Since 1500

we have killed off at least 322 types of animals, Another 20,000 or

more species are now threatened with extinction according to the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and as many as one
third of all animals are either threatened or endangered. the current
extinction rate is roughly 1,000 times than the average pace in Earth's
history, which makes this the fastest extinction event on record.
Scientists are calling this event an "Anthropocene defaunation," or
sixth mass extinction, and one caused by humans. The article also
argues that it is not too late by citing examples of many animals
humans have brought back from the brink of extinction, including the
black-footed ferret and condors; the author also argues that
conservation efforts can work, citing successes in Maine and
Washington fish populations, reforestation of the U.S. eastern
seaboard, and Amazon rainforest deforestation efforts. The author does
warn, though, that in order to avoid the 6th mass extinction, we will
have to employ more aggressive conservation tactics. Biello argues
that we are not yet doomed to cause a sixth mass extinction; we have
one-two centuries at our present rates before our actions guarantee a
mass extinction. Biello wisely reminds us, unlike an asteroid, we could
choose to change course (Biello, 2014).
The Huffington Post article, World On Brink of Sixth Great
Extinction, Species Disappearing Faster Than Ever Before refers to a
landmark study published by the journal Nature that warns we are on
the brink of a sixth mass extinction event; however, the studys lead
investigator biologist Stuart Pimm of Duke University asserts that
whether we avoid it or not will depend on our actions. Pimm found
that Species of plants and animals are becoming extinct at least 1,000
times faster than they did before humans arrived on the scene due to
habitat loss, invasive species crowding out native species, climate
change affecting where species can survive, and overfishing. Pimm
believes there is still hope in saving the worlds threatened species and
encourages readers to use smartphone apps like iNaturalist to help
scientists find species in trouble so that scientists can work to protect
them (Borenstein, 2014).
The Center for Biological Diversity article, The Extinction Crisis
argues Its frightening but true: Our planet is now in the midst of its
sixth mass extinction of plants and animal. The article suggests that
although extinction is a natural phenomenon, it occurs at a natural
background rate of about one to five species per year; however,
scientists estimate we are now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times
the background rate. Past mass extinctions were caused by natural
events like asteroid strikes, volcanic eruptions, and natural climate
shifts; however, the current crisis is almost entirely caused by humans.
Currently threatened species are at risk from human activities,

including those leading to habitat loss, introduction of exotic species,

and global warming (Center for Biological Diversity, n.d.).
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Biointeractive The
Anthropocene: Human Impact on the Environment is an interactive
element that allows viewers to see how human population growth, air
pollution, agriculture, mining, water use, and other human activities
have impacted the environment, reshaping our planet in profound
ways and leading scientists to to propose a new geologic epoch called
the Anthropocene (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2015).
The New York Times Article Cataclysm Has Arrived: Mans
Inhumanity to Nature is a book review of Elizabeth Kolberts book,
The Sixth Extinction. Kolbert uses interviews with scientists and
researchers to explore the history of extinctions and to explain how
human beings have been altering the planet, including hunting to
death large mammals, introducing alien species, altering earths
surface, and changing the atmosphere through fossil fuel use and
deforestation. Kolbert documents many of the vanishing creatures on
the earth and uses evidence to show how humans are causing the
catastrophic losses (Kakutani, 2014).
The National Geographic article The Sixth Great Extinction: A
Silent Extermination asserts that we are in the midst of the Sixth
Great Extinction, an event characterized by the loss of between 17,000
and 100,000 species each year. The article summarizes the first five
major extinction events, and compares them to the sixth event which
is the most catastrophic in history and almost exclusively human
driven. It summarizes the many contributing factors including
destruction of habitat, introduction of alien species, pollution,
overexploitation of species for consumption, collection and trade,
agricultural monoculture, human-induced climate change, nitrogen loss
in soil and oceanic acidification as a result of a warming climate, and
urbanization leading to sedimentation and soil erosion. Additionally, it
suggests that conservation measures, sustainable development,
stabilization of the human population and the support of
environmentally responsible economic development will be essential in
halting the extinction crisis (Voices for Biodiversity, 2012).
The artifacts asks viewers to consider, how can you help? and
suggests two ways to do so. It urges viewers to join iNaturalist, a
citizen science project and online social network of naturalists, citizen
scientists, and biologists who map and share observations of
biodiversity across the globe. Viewers can download the iNaturalist app
on their smartphone to help scientists find species in trouble. Once
biologists know where endangered species are they can try to save

habitats and use captive breeding and other techniques to save the
species (iNaturalist.org, 2015). Additionally, if a viewer is considering
buying a new pair of shoes, the artifact asks viewers to consider
buying a pair of TOMS Animal Initiative shoes. TOMS is honored to be
partnering with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to provide financial support
to its global conservation efforts including those dedicated to
protecting rhinos (TOMS, 2015).
This digital artifact prompts viewers to consider the question, are
humans causing Earths sixth mass extinction event? Viewers consider
evidence as they read various articles by leading scientific
organizations, watch videos, view images, and explore an interactive.
Viewers are reminded of their place as just one species of millions that
call this planet home. Finally, they are prompted to consider ways in
which they can actively contribute to preventing the sixth mass
extinction event from coming to fruition. Various perspectives within
the artifact suggest that it is not too late; there is still hope that
humans can prevent the sixth mass extinction from occurring and
reverse the damage already done by our actions. We have the power
to right our wrongs, but its up to us to decide and take action.
References
Biello, D. (2014, July 25). Fact or fiction?: the sixth mass
extinction can be stopped. Retrieved from
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-the-sixthmass-extinction-can-be-stopped/
Borenstein, S. (2014, May 29). World On brink of sixth great
extinction, species disappearing faster than ever before.
Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/29/sixthgreat-extinction-species-disappearing_n_5412571.html
Center for Biological Diversity. (n.d.). The extinction crisis.
Retrieved April 19, 2015, from
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements
_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/
Hillis, D., Zwickl, D., & Gutell, R. (2003). Tree of life [pdf file].
Retrieved from
http:/http://www.zo.utexas.edu/faculty/antisense/DownloadfilesTo
L.html
Howard Hughes Medical Institute. (2015). The Anthropocene:
human impact on the environment. Retrieved from

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/anthropocene-human-impactenvironment
iNaturalist.org. (2015). A Community for Naturalists. Retrieved from
https://www.inaturalist.org
Kakutani, M. (2014, February 2). Cataclysm has arrived: mans
inhumanity to nature. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/books/the-sixth-extinctionon-endangered-and-departed-species.html?_r=0
Mosbergen, D. (2015, April 14). World's last male northern white
rhino placed under 24-hour armed guard in Kenya. Retrieved
from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/14/northern-whiterhino-sudan-armed-guard-kenya_n_7059682.html
PBS Digital Studios. (2014, November 24). The sixth extinction
[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=z9gHuAwxwAs
Scientific American. (2012, October 23). Are we facing the sixth
mass extinction? - Instant Egghead #24 [Video file]. Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INWqAABweTg
TOMS. (2015). The TOMS Animal Initiative. Retrieved from
http://www.toms.com/the-toms-animal-initiative?
utm_source=email&utm_medium=us_sp15_tairhinos&cid=em_us
_sp15_tairhinos
Voices for Biodiversity. (2012, March 28). The sixth great
extinction: a silent extermination. Retrieved from
http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2012/03/28/the-sixth-greatextinction-a-silent-extermination/