The Sixth Extinction: Chapter 6

This chapter touches on the idea that marine life is in complete danger due to the effects humans have on the environment. Carbon emissions have increased immensely since the Industrial Revolution because of the burning of fossil fuels and the cutting of forests. If things continue as they are Kolbert predicts that the amount of carbon in the atmosphere will soon double, followed by an increase of temperature. This increase in temperature will disrupt marine life, as it means that the glaciers will melt rapidly and the acidity of the water will increase. To study this Kolbert travels to Castello Aragonese were with two marine biologists study green bubbles that rise from vents in the sea floor. The animals that Jason Hall-Spence and Maria Cristina Buia saved were missing key features that made it difficult for them to survive. Through their findings they were able to conclude that the closer to the vent the animal lives, the more it will be exposed to carbon which leads to the animal suffering from abnormalities eventually causing them to die. That ultimately means that as carbon increases, many marine ecosystems will become extinct. In his paper Hall-spencer explains that as there is more and more carbon dioxide the ocean becomes more acidic which might lead to small bacteria taking over more parts of the marine ecosystem, meaning that several species will become endangered and eventually extinct. In the past, ocean acidification has led to one of the five mass-extinctions marking the danger of carbon emissions since it is leading to this acidity that can potentially be the cause for the next mass extinction.

This chapter shows how humans are altering natural systems. Kolbert explains that because of the excess of Carbon admission, “It is expected that such an increase will produce an eventual average global temperature rise of between three and a half and seven degrees Fahrenheit” (Kolbert 113) This goes to show the power that humans hold as a specie understanding this means that as intellectual beings we are responsible for our actions and need to do something to reverse the negative effects we’ve had on the ecosystem.