Extinctions and Diversifications

We saw this week the End of the Triassic event that may have resulted in increased atmospheric CO² and global warming i.e. the same factors that scientists today are drawing public attention to – but this time caused by us, the dominant species. In this week we have also seen how global domination by the incredibly successful dinosaurs came to an end at the End Cretaceous extinction event. Scientists think that this extinction event was caused by a combination of causes: volcanic eruptions, sea level changes and an asteroid impact.

Next week we will be talking about the contemporary times – often called the Anthropocene – and whether we are facing a sixth mass extinction.