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Over on the Politics & World Affairs sub-forum, in a thread called climate risk 'to million species'*, I asserted that the Earth is the midst of the sixth mass extinction**. There was some disagreement, so I suggested that we apply the scientific method, and test the assertion. More discussion, much agreement, ... and here we are.
So, my proposal:
1) We all agree on what constitutes a mass extinction.
2) Bystander and Russ propose a definition of the 'normal' or 'background' extinction rate; we discuss it and agree.
3) We agree on what the actual background extinction rate has been, up to 1mya.
4) I propose a means of estimating the present extinction rate; we discuss it and agree.
5) I will make an estimate of the present extinction rate; we discuss it.
Supplementary topic: if we agree that number six is in progress, then we look for causes.
Some other 'rules':
+ we establish our protocol before we begin the work; that's 1 through 5 above, plus these 'rules'
+ we restrict ourselves to peer-reviewed sources (which we post a link to, if possible)
+ I will try to keep us on track, and move us along to the next item when we're ready (I'm happy for someone else who we trust to take this role, if Bystander, Russ, Ivan or SelfAdjoint is uncomfortable with me taking it). Of course, Monique and Another God will keep us all honest
*Here's the thread:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12280
As this may be new to the denizen of Biology, let's add a 0):
0) two days for questions, suggestions (on the protocol!), etc before we start.
**The widely accepted 'five mass extinctions' occurred at the end of the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic and Cretaceous (bye-bye dinosaurs).
[Edit: fixed typo]
So, my proposal:
1) We all agree on what constitutes a mass extinction.
2) Bystander and Russ propose a definition of the 'normal' or 'background' extinction rate; we discuss it and agree.
3) We agree on what the actual background extinction rate has been, up to 1mya.
4) I propose a means of estimating the present extinction rate; we discuss it and agree.
5) I will make an estimate of the present extinction rate; we discuss it.
Supplementary topic: if we agree that number six is in progress, then we look for causes.
Some other 'rules':
+ we establish our protocol before we begin the work; that's 1 through 5 above, plus these 'rules'
+ we restrict ourselves to peer-reviewed sources (which we post a link to, if possible)
+ I will try to keep us on track, and move us along to the next item when we're ready (I'm happy for someone else who we trust to take this role, if Bystander, Russ, Ivan or SelfAdjoint is uncomfortable with me taking it). Of course, Monique and Another God will keep us all honest
*Here's the thread:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12280
As this may be new to the denizen of Biology, let's add a 0):
0) two days for questions, suggestions (on the protocol!), etc before we start.
**The widely accepted 'five mass extinctions' occurred at the end of the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic and Cretaceous (bye-bye dinosaurs).
[Edit: fixed typo]