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Secrets of the Deep Sea: What Historical Truths Do Changes in Marine Biodiversity Reveal?
Throughout Earth's history, biodiversity has often experienced dramatic changes, especially during mass extinction events, during which we have not only lost a lot of knowledge, but also missed the opportunity to understand ecological evolution. These changes not only affected the organisms at the time, but also shaped the environment of the Earth today. According to scientists' research, the Earth has experienced at least five major mass extinction events in the past 5.4 million years. What unrevealed secrets are behind these events?
Understanding Mass Extinction Events
A mass extinction event is a dramatic decline in biodiversity, often accompanied by the rapid extinction of species. It is estimated that the five most significant mass extinction events in recent Earth history (the "Big Five") have captured the scientific community's attention due to their importance and scale. Each of these five events, with its unique environmental and biological characteristics, marked a turning point in the Earth's ecology.
The "Big Five" mass extinction events are: the end-Ordovician extinction event, the late Permian extinction event, the late Triassic extinction event, and the end-Cretaceous extinction event.
Causes of these events include climate change, volcanic activity, sea level changes and asteroid impacts. The most well-known is the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period, which caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and allowed the rise of mammals.
Changes and History in the Ocean
Deep ocean research reveals more about how species change. Although the fossil record of marine organisms is better preserved than that of terrestrial organisms, the changes in marine biodiversity are equally significant. In many marine sites, scientists have discovered the disappearance and appearance of a series of ecosystems and their species. These records not only reveal the past appearance of the Earth, but also reflect the power of natural selection.
The researchers point out that changes in the diversity of many marine organisms reflect changes in the atmosphere and the environmental characteristics of the time.
These changes are crucial to our understanding of today's ecosystems and allow us to begin to think about how organisms today adapt to changing environments. Especially in the current sixth mass extinction event, we are facing the loss of organisms caused by human activities.
What is the Sixth Mass Extinction?
Unlike the five previous naturally caused mass extinctions, the sixth mass extinction was caused by human activities. According to research, the sharp decline in biodiversity is mainly due to factors such as habitat destruction, pollution, invasive alien species and climate change.
It is estimated that in the next few decades, if current environmental policies are not changed, a large number of species will face the risk of extinction.
This has attracted attention around the world, with scientists, environmentalists and policymakers scrambling to prevent this disaster. In the process of exploring extinction events, we also reflect on the impact and responsibility of humans on nature.
The past meets the future
Mass extinctions don't just affect life; they drive the evolution of life. After each extinction event, adaptive radiation of new species occurs, and the replacement relationship between different biological groups is particularly obvious during this period. For example, the extinction of the dinosaurs gave mammals room to develop and evolve into the diversity we have today.
What should we do?
While understanding history, we must also face real challenges: how can we effectively protect today’s ecosystem and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past? This series of issues not only requires research by scientists, but also requires all mankind to work together to formulate action plans. Protecting diversity and maintaining ecological balance is the common mission of our generation.
How will biodiversity be altered by human actions in the future?
