Extinctions in Near Time : Causes, Contexts, and Consequences

Hans-Dieter Sues

ISBN 10: 0306460920 / ISBN 13: 9780306460920

Published by Springer US, Springer New York, 1999

About this Item

Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - 'Near time' -an interval that spans the last 100,000 years or so of earth history-qualifies as a remarkable period for many reasons. From an anthropocentric point of view, the out standing feature of near time is the fact that the evolution, cultural diversification, and glob al spread of Homo sapiens have all occurred within it. From a wider biological perspective, however, the hallmark of near time is better conceived of as being one of enduring, repeat ed loss. The point is important. Despite the sense of uniqueness implicit in phrases like 'the biodiversity crisis,' meant to convey the notion that the present bout of extinctions is by far the worst endured in recent times, substantial losses have occurred throughout near time. In the majority of cases, these losses occurred when, and only when, people began to ex pand across areas that had never before experienced their presence. Although the explana tion for these correlations in time and space may seem obvious, it is one thing to rhetori cally observe that there is a connection between humans and recent extinctions, and quite another to demonstrate it scientifically. How should this be done Traditionally, the study of past extinctions has fallen largely to researchers steeped in such disciplines as paleontology, systematics, and paleoecology. The evaluation of future losses, by contrast, has lain almost exclusively within the domain of conservation biolo gists. Now, more than ever, there is opportunity for overlap and sharing of information.

Seller Inventory # 9780306460920

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Extinctions in Near Time : Causes, Contexts, and Consequences
• Publisher: Springer US, Springer New York
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0306460920
• ISBN 13: 9780306460920
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 260W x 183H x 31D millimeters 260 millimeters width by 183 millimeters height by 31 millimeters depth
• Weight: 1078 grams

About this title

Synopsis

"Near time" -an interval that spans the last 100,000 years or so of earth history-qualifies as a remarkable period for many reasons. From an anthropocentric point of view, the out­ standing feature of near time is the fact that the evolution, cultural diversification, and glob­ al spread of Homo sapiens have all occurred within it. From a wider biological perspective, however, the hallmark of near time is better conceived of as being one of enduring, repeat­ ed loss. The point is important. Despite the sense of uniqueness implicit in phrases like "the biodiversity crisis," meant to convey the notion that the present bout of extinctions is by far the worst endured in recent times, substantial losses have occurred throughout near time. In the majority of cases, these losses occurred when, and only when, people began to ex­ pand across areas that had never before experienced their presence. Although the explana­ tion for these correlations in time and space may seem obvious, it is one thing to rhetori­ cally observe that there is a connection between humans and recent extinctions, and quite another to demonstrate it scientifically. How should this be done? Traditionally, the study of past extinctions has fallen largely to researchers steeped in such disciplines as paleontology, systematics, and paleoecology. The evaluation of future losses, by contrast, has lain almost exclusively within the domain of conservation biolo­ gists. Now, more than ever, there is opportunity for overlap and sharing of information.

Review

`This book is a must-read if you have any curiosity, fascination, or professional interest in extinctions of the past or present. If you are among those concerned about our environment and the fact that we are losing more animal species each year, you should read this book.'
Discovering Archaeology, 1:5 (1999)