The extinction of some species is no longer news to anyone in today's world. Studies reveal that in 4.5 billion years, planet Earth will have suffered at least five major mass extinctions. Researchers also say that 98% of the organisms that once inhabited the globe are no longer here.
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Unlike previous cases, humanity is currently to blame for the extinction of species
Check out the biggest extinctions in the history of the planet now:
1. Ordovician – Silurian, 440 million years ago
According to FioCruz, marine animals were growing when the first land plants appeared. At that time, 85% of the species, mainly the small invertebrate marine beings, disappeared.
Among the causes, the following stand out: drops in temperature, formation of glaciers and reduction in sea levels.
2. Devonian, 370-360 million years ago
At that time, the planet went through a new hecatomb with the disappearance of 70% to 80% of all species. There were many primitive fish, insects and four-limbed land vertebrates.
The causes for this mass extinction range from changes in the environment, rising and falling ocean levels to meteorite impacts.
3. Permian, 250 million years ago
Worst case scenario in history, when about 95% of living things have gone extinct. This phenomenon particularly affected vertebrates. The reasons for this event, according to studies, are: changes in the environment, movements of the continents, volcanic eruptions and global warming.
4. Triassic, 200 million years ago
Marked by the emergence of pines and other plants from the gymnosperm group, at that time, about three quarters of the species disappeared.
The main reason was the separation of Pangea. All this resulted in an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide (C02) in the atmosphere.
5. Cretaceous, 65 million years ago
This era was marked by the extinction of the dinosaurs, when about 80% of the species disappeared. The most common justification for this event was the fall of an asteroid, which had a global impact.
After this catastrophe, only very small animals remained, which needed few resources to survive.
6. ‘Anthropocene’, 2022
According to experts, the planet is currently experiencing the sixth mass extinction. However, this time, the fault is not the environment, but humanity itself. The extinction rate is 100,000 times faster.
Agricultural activity, for example, is one of the main sources of soil degradation, deforestation, pollution and loss of biodiversity.
