Vectors

Extinction events occur in the paleontological record ever since the rocks of this planet recorded the history of Life. The classic events of mass extinction are the Permian And the KT extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.

It is the normal course for most every species. Of course to balance this off, new species are expected to fill the vacant niches in the environment.

The reasons for extinction occupy a long and interrelated list. Often an extinction may be the result of the introduction, or the evolution of a genetic challenger or the result of an astronomical object striking the earth and radically altering the geography and climate of the species environment.

Understanding that extinction can evolve out of a range of causes, often a combination of causes makes the prevention of extinction a questionable effort. Some species may be subject to extinction vectors in a complete separate reason than sourcing it to human causes.

Indeed humankind appears presumptuous that it alone is the cause of a species extinction. Interfering to prevent that extinction may be wrong. So complete study of the environment and the species are always necessary.

What are the individual causes, the vectors to extinction.?

1. Human interference, specifically reasons such as artificially altering an environment, over hunting a species beyond its capacity to reproduce, or introducing a poison or toxin to the species environment.

2. Disease. Often viruses will effect a species far beyond its innate capacity to reproduce. In other words the population falls below numerically its capacity to maintain a population due to natural methods of replication.

3. Volcanism, The planet experiences periods of frantic volcanic activity. The period we exist appears to be a relatively quiet one. But as evidenced on the Indian Subcontinent the Siberian Traps and the Deccan Traps are geological features that indicate a violent period of volcanic activity. Such an aggressive period would have had a severe adverse effect on the environment.

3. Astronomical events. This vector is best demonstrated by the meteor impact event at the Cretaceous-Tertiary (KT) period. Such an astronomical event certainly would be deadly to any species concentrated in the locality of the impact zone. So it is an extinction vector. Whether it is the sole extinction vector of the dinosaur on a global scale remains open to challenge.

4. Food scarcity. Or starvation. In the natural world many species are so dependent on another single species, either plant or animal, that if one species changes or alters that predatory species will also significantly decline.

Since the parasitic or predatory species is often numerically inferior and a slower reproducer its capability to maintain population may be in jeopardy.

5. Climatic - The planet may get cooler or warmer and quickly. Indeed, extinction of many species is the regrettable forecast for human caused global warming. This occurs naturally due to the change in the related orbit and angle to the Sun.

6. Tectonic - The moving of the planets tectonic plates is a major extinction vector. It is closely related to the others. Continental plates move in and out of the trade winds, into or out of the polar regions. Mountains thrust up or volcanoes are created effecting the surrounding climate.

7. Genetic evolution. At every stage a species can be supplanted by a genetically superior rival in a specific environmental niche.

So this is a brief list of the many vectors to extinction. Most of these vectors are natural. Discerning which is an extinction due to natural vectors and the human caused vectors can be difficult.

Every species is born into a world enters into a myriad of vectors all pointed to extinction. Certainly the presence of humans enhances many adverse vectors and suppresses animal populations below their capacities to naturally reproduce.

What are the primary human caused vectors?

1. Predation. Humans, despite the howls of Vegans, primarily evolved as a predatory Primate. It is significantly proven in the fossil record. Humans may have hunted many species to the point of extinction or below the species capability to naturally replicate itself enough to maintain a thriving population.

2. Climatic change. Well Global warming.

3. Poisons - introduction of chemicals and durable synthetic or manmade items into the environment.

4. Environmental demands. Many of the preferable sites of human habitation are also the same preferred habitats of many species. Humans put housing and create industry on prime habitat.

Those are the basic human generated vectors to animal extinction. They don't deter the naturally occurring vectors. Many species already lived on the thin edge of natural extinction vectors before the sudden advent of humanity. Humans are a relatively new species in the natural history of earth. And few animals can compensate quickly enough for the presence of this Primate.

Okay, humans can do all the things to reduce the vectors. Limit predation (hunting) of threatened species. Quit human activity on the remaining habitat. Eliminate the burning of hydrocarbons by humans. Completely eliminate chemical discharges. Recycle chemical and human made materials.

Yet humans could significantly reduce the strength of extinction vectors on many species but will never completely eliminate the event of natural extinction vectors. It is important to appreciate the difference, and effective if humans to learn to do reduce their impact.