Apocalypse Now? Experts Say Earth in Middle of Mass Extinction – Here’s How to Survive
According to experts, our planet is already experiencing mass extinction. They determined that this is already the sixth mass extinction.
By studying fossils of an early Triassic Lystrosaurus, experts have managed to reveal how some beings managed to make it through the disaster.
Analysis of the fossils showed that ancient mammals were able to adapt and evolve extremely quickly to drastic climate change as they would reproduce earlier in life, and die younger.
By studying fossils of an early Triassic Lystrosaurus, experts have managed to reveal how some beings managed to make it through the disaster.
“Yet, nearly all of the Lystrosaurus specimens we find from after the extinction are only two to three years old. This implies that they must have been breeding when they were still [relatively young] themselves.”
The authors of this report argue that there is evidence to show that animals have been adapting at a rapid rate to cater to the increasingly harsh environment, such as the cod, which has become smaller over the last century and the monitor lizard which has begun reproducing earlier.
Adam Huttenlocker of the Natural History Museum of Utah at the University of Utah, another author of the paper, said: “It has been predicted that half of mammal species could become extinct by the end of the next century if present patterns continue; that’s more than 1,000 times greater than previous estimates of natural extinctions, a trend not seen since the End-Permian or End-Cretaceous extinctions.”
Dr Angielczyk continued: ”With the world currently facing its sixth mass extinction, paleontological research helps us understand the world around us today.
“By studying how animals like Lystrosaurus adapted in the face of disaster, we can better predict how looming environmental changes may affect modern species.”
