Please draw your attention to this morning's declaration by Rush Limbaugh that we are not in a biodiversity crisis. The transcript is posted at: https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2017/07/13/rush-247-morning-update-mass- extinction/
Limbaugh uses this opportunity to claim only a handful of scientists claim a problem exists. Specifically, this problem is the impending Sixth Mass extinction at whose doorstep we sit or stand. He points fingers at prominent research Paul Ehrlich, claiming he is full of it, and belittles his accomplishments in other ways. The first point for us on Ecolog is that this work is not simply the work of a single researcher (Paul Ehrlich), and is certainly more than a handful of scientists. Multiple researchers have addressed this topic, and much of the current production spans groups and individuals connected or completely unconnected with Paul Ehrlich. Further, despite the variation in assumptions, mathematical approaches, and backgrounds of this widely divergent group of investigators, many of whom have never met have come to virtually the same conclusion. That is, 1) extinctions taking place since 1500, and definitely since 1980 are absurdly high and in line with those observed in mass extinctions, 2) if we continue with losses at this rate, we will look back in just a few decades to centuries and recognize that we have watched a rapid mass extiction take place, and 3) the cause of this extinction, without any doubt or question is our own doing, and we are so close to the tipping point where there is no turning back, it really is a catastrophe in waiting. This projection is not new, and hints that it might be taking place go back decades. In the 1981 Dr. Ehrlich warned in his book "Extinction," that we were on track to enormous losses. In 1995, Pimm compared avian extinctions to that of the fossil record. Also, around that time Sepkoski (I believe) calculated that current rates were sufficient to drive a mass extinction in very short time. Numerous other researchers have followed this up over the decades since. In 2007, I published a paper on amphibian extinctions using fuzzy intervals that simply stated they were going extinct faster than seen previously in the fossil record. A year later, David Wake and Vrendenberg published a paper in PNAS questioning if we were facing a sixth mass extinction. This was followed in 2010 or 11 by Barnosky et al., who also questioned if massive losses were reminiscent of a mass extinction. Pimm then followed this in 2012 in Science stating more of the same. Biodiversity and Conservation published my paper in 2015, a study restricted to vertebrates and using fuzzy math that demonstrated current losses are not typical, and that the timeframes for complete extinction of all vertebrate species would decimate the planet in decades to centuries depending on how liberal or conservative you were with data and assumptions. This was within weeks followed by Ceballos et al.'s paper in Science Advances for which Limbaugh is now attacking. Alroy, followed here with extinction comparisons in PNAS for reptiles. Just recently, there was a special issue in one of the top journals on this crisis . When you have this many groups looking at similar data sets in the same way, deducing similar outcomes, it is hard to poo-poo it. Granted, there are disagreements among all of us. I suggest we should be using fuzzy math, Barnosky's team suggests we should be using a special estimator to gauge for variation, etc. However, the key thing here, like with climate change, is that we are arguing semantics. The theoretical points are trivial from an applied view. It just doesn't matter whether we have 30 years or 100 years or 1000 years, expecially when you consider some of these mass extictions may have lasted millions of years! Few were definitely overnight events, adn the shortest ones were far longer than what we are most likely going to face if we continue status quo. I believe it is vital that everyone on here be aware of the message of the Sixth Mass Extinction. It is a warnign that we we are at a signpost. We are currently on a trajectory to massive losses. One can argue if we are in or not in a mass extinction, but its trivial. I personally argue we will be if we move forward as we have, but can cut it off as a blip on the screen if we do something NOW. It is important, frankly it is essential that each of us take the time to challenge the misinformation sourced to pundits incorporated when they are clearly intended to reduce the confidence in science and raise opinion broadcasters' influence. They get a nice payraise from their funders every time they can poo poo a scientist. The rest of us, at least the main components of society, lose when these ill-intended pundits have the upper hand. We lose our potential, our ability to better the world, our ability to support society, our ability to promote the greater good, and in this case, it reduces our ability to survive. I have copies of Ceballos et al., my own paper, and a number of others if anyone wants to look them over (frankly, there are several hundred papers in total that are connected to this). But if you want copies of a few of the more recent studies, Just ask. -- Malcolm L. McCallum Aquaculture and Water Quality Research Scientist School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Langston University Langston, Oklahoma Link to online CV and portfolio : https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO Google Scholar citation page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lOHMjvYAAAAJ&hl=en Academia.edu: https://ui-springfield.academia.edu/MalcolmMcCallum/Analytics#/activity/overview?_k=wknchj Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Malcolm_Mccallum/reputation?ev=prf_rep_tab <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Malcolm_Mccallum/reputation?ev=prf_rep_tab> Ratemyprofessor: http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=706874 *Confidentiality Notice:* This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. “*Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.* ” *-President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law.* "*Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive*" -* Allan Nation* *1880's: *"*There's lots of good fish in the sea*" W.S. Gilbert *1990's:* Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction *MAY* help restore populations. 2022: "Soylent Green is People!" Charleton Heston as Detective Thorn 2022: "People were always awful, but their was a world once, and it was beautiful.' Edward G. Robinson as Sol Roth. The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle
