Has the Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived?

Nature. 2011 Mar 3;471(7336):51-7. doi: 10.1038/nature09678.

Abstract

Palaeontologists characterize mass extinctions as times when the Earth loses more than three-quarters of its species in a geologically short interval, as has happened only five times in the past 540 million years or so. Biologists now suggest that a sixth mass extinction may be under way, given the known species losses over the past few centuries and millennia. Here we review how differences between fossil and modern data and the addition of recently available palaeontological information influence our understanding of the current extinction crisis. Our results confirm that current extinction rates are higher than would be expected from the fossil record, highlighting the need for effective conservation measures.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biodiversity*
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / methods
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / trends
  • Earth, Planet
  • Endangered Species / history
  • Endangered Species / statistics & numerical data*
  • Endangered Species / trends
  • Extinction, Biological*
  • Fossils
  • History, 21st Century
  • History, Ancient
  • Human Activities
  • Humans