The Sixth Extinction

In the first chapter of "The Sixth Extinction," Kolbert focuses on the extinction of amphibians in Panama. She describes a species of frog, the golden frog, in the El Valle de Anton, that was extremely toxic. The frog was a symbol of the village's strength, and after it began to disappear, the village was in shambles. A research center in the Valle began to research the causes of the frog's extinction, and came to the conclusion that a fungus was poisoning the frogs. This particular case of extinction was categorized as one of the first "background extinctions," or a catastrophic depletion of species that is caused by events such as natural disasters.   

"The Sixth Extinction" by Elizabeth Kolbert is a novel that focuses on the mass extinction of species in the Anthropocene. Kolbert starts her novel by describing various aspects of the human race, and noting that, although humans are not particularly strong in terms of fertility, size, or strength, they are perhaps the most adaptable and intelligent species on the planet. Because of the human race's ability to form and articulate thoughts and communications, their actions have led to a large decrease in the biodiversity of many species on the planet.

Throughout the first half of the novel, the author gives many examples and statistics that reveal the shocking truth about the extinction of many species on Earth. She states that although natural selection and other natural factors will always cause species to go extinct, in this day and age, amphibians are going extinct 45,000 times faster than in the last million years. This rate is absolutely inconceivable. If these numbers continue to increase at a steady rate, the annihilation of species on Earth will be larger than that of the Cretaceous period; the largest known mass-extinction on Earth.

Because of the human race's desire to relocate species, destruct habitats, and burn fossil fuels, the world is beginning to see a dramatic decrease in biodiversity. Acidity is destroying the calcium-based shell animals of the ocean and completely destroying the marine ecosystem. A rise in temperature is creating environments that are not sustainable for land mammals. Deforestation is destroying the habitats of animals in many parts of the world. If humans do not become cognizant of their actions, coupled with creating mechanisms to stop species extinction, many of the organisms on Earth will soon disappear, including the human race.

Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets

According to the National Snow & Ice Data Center, ice sheets are defined as "glacial land masses that extend more than 50,000 kilometers." Today, there are only two ice sheets on Earth, Greenland and Antarctic. Over the course of millions of years, ice and snow accumulated, creating these masses. If these ice sheets were to melt, sea levels would rise, which would result in a global catastrophe. Melting of the Greenland ice sheet would raise the sea level by 6 meters, while the Antarctic ice sheet would raise the sea level to an outstanding 60 meters.

Over the last 50 years, both the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been significantly impacted by global warming. Between 1979 and 2006, the Greenland ice sheet saw a 30% increase in ice loss per year. Scientific evidence has shown that because the surface temperature of Earth is rising, the glacial ice is melting at an astonishing rate. According to Bill McKibben, between 2003 and 2008, the West Antarctic ice sheet was melting 75% faster than previous decades. At Earth's present temperature, both ice sheets will be completely melted within the next one hundred to two hundred years. So, in order to retard or terminate ice sheet loss, Earth's surface temperature will have to be reduced by at least 1.3 degrees Celsius within the next few decades.
Glacial melt is not only having an effect on sea level rise, but it is acidifying the oceans, and pushing many species to the verge of extinction. The phytoplankton population, the ocean's main "staple" organism, is beginning to decrease. If the phytoplankton go extinct, the ocean's food web will be disrupted and severely harmed. In addition, many penguin, seal, and polar bear species are being starved out, due to a lack of sea ice, and a disturbed ocean food chain.
Over the course of the next fifty years, there is expected to be a three foot increase in sea level. More than 75 species are predicted to go extinct, and the world will continue to be destroyed. If we do not create an immediate solution to global warming, melting sea ice will certainly endanger the lives of many species, including humans, on Earth.

Rolling with the High Tide

As I was driving home on this frigid afternoon, listening to some long forgotten tune, I couldn't help but notice the price of gas at the station two miles from my house. I don't usually stop at this gas station, for their prices usually exceed that of the fuel I can buy in Kalamazoo. However, today was different. Today, I was shocked to see that gas was one dollar and forty six cents, a price that I haven't seen since....possibly ever? I kid you not, my first reaction was somewhat of a fear and disappointment. There were cars lined up, waiting to fill their tanks with the leftover remnants of fossils. These cars would go on to do whatever they do, producing emissions that will further contribute to the destruction of our Earth.


Destruction of Earth seems to be McKibben's topic of choice. In fact, he proposes so many negative outcomes in life, that I am beginning to doubt every action I take. While getting my hair cut, I spent half of the time discussing global warming with my hairdresser! The other half was spent talking about cancer. It's no wonder she gave me the number of a counselor, even if the number wasn't for me. The point is, global warming is taking our lives, faster than we can control. But I have decided that, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, our aim should be to prevent outcomes from ever occurring, rather than try to find solutions to pick up and control what's left in the aftermath. Although a rise in temperature has already created irreversible damage to our world, there is still some fragment of hope, and I hope that in the near future, members of our society will be active creating a new, cleaner version of Earth.

While reading the second chapter, I found myself once again overwhelmed by facts and statistics. In fact, I became rather irritated, because there is only so much information a person can consume before they thoroughly understand a topic. Because of McKibben's statistics, I feel very aware of the dangers of global warming. I do not desire to read 200 pages of a man telling me that my fate is doomed, because I refuse to accept that. I believe that, in order to create change, in order to really change our world, rather than shock individuals with endless statistics, members of our government must propose and enforce solutions, such as severely limiting the amount of resources an individual consumes on a daily bases. Yes, this would create a public outcry, but it is the only way we are going to survive as a species. The graph to the left depicts the break down of the average American's emission of carbon dioxide, from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Can we begin to share rides, eat vegetables rather than microwaveable noodles, and use a blanket when we are cold, rather than crank up the heat?


Survival is a sort of human characteristic. A way of life that has been passed on through generations. If, thanks to an increase of temperature, diseases that have been nearly eradicated reemerge, our species will struggle to survive. In 7th grade, I was on a week long field trip on the east side of Tanzania.  One night, I woke up sweating and vomiting, with a terrible headache. These symptoms lasted all through the night and into the next three days. My teacher called my father to bring me home, because I had gotten malaria from a small, very dangerous creature. Although I made it out just fine, in the present time, I surely felt like I was struggling to survive. Yes, that is quite dramatic, because I had the medication and resources to live, however I would never wish a disease like malaria on anyone. To me, the most threatening aspect of global warming is disease. Disease is one of the most crippling aspects of society, and with an increase of temperature, disease is only going to get worse. After spending months in Africa, and going to a camp at the CDC last summer, I have developed somewhat of an irrational fear of tropical diseases spreading across the world, due to climate change. As more and more individuals choose to go unvaccinated, and our species continues to raise the temperature on Earth, we are creating a microcosm of infectious disease and death. The real question becomes, are we going to die because of chlorofluorocarbons depleting the ozone, or because of a small, itchy mosquito bite?

 Anopheles Mosquito 
Responsible for carrying and distributing malaria

The Troublesome Truth (Chapter 1)

Many events throughout history have altered the way in which various species thrive. From the Big Bang, to the extinction of the dinosaurs, to our present warming of the climate, it seems as if a species eradication is inevitable. Although it is almost for certain that humans will go extinct someday, it appears as if Earth cannot sustain our rapidly changing, greenhouse gas emitting lifestyle, and that our species may be in grave danger of extinction in the near future. Our Earth has seen more changes in the last four decades than it has seen over the course of the last million years.

While reading the first chapter in Eaarth, I found myself questioning some of the statistics Bill McKibben presented. Although I have done research on global warming in the past, it was hard for me to accept the fact that all of the information was accurate. I do believe, however, that most of what he said was true, and perhaps I felt a great sense of fear and apprehension because I hoped the facts weren't true; that we aren't digging ourselves a very deep grave.

Because McKibben presented so many details in the chapter, I found it challenging to retain some of the information. There were no real solutions presented in the first chapter, but rather, the devastating statistics and facts on global warming's detrimental effects on the environment. To me, the author's most memorable statement was "the attempt to make it right usually makes things worse" (p. 46). By saying this, it is apparent that the author believes there may not truly be a "cure" to this global crisis. I hope that moving forward, McKibben describes some actions the human race can take to reduce the pace in which the rise in temperature destroys our planet. In addition, I am interested to know, if global warming is truly going to drastically alter our planet over the next century, why are we not doing all we can to prevent it?

A Small Piece Of Me!

Who is Jessica? How does she spend her days? What are her likes and dislikes? 

Jessica is a girl who appears to be your average blonde haired, blue eyed, 5'6" female, but she is more, and less, than that. Jessica's life encompasses a variety of things, ranging from books to babysitting. 

I, Jessica, enjoy many things, but I am particularly fond of traveling, babysitting, biking, drinking grape water, learning about Biomedical Sciences, drawing marshmallow men, and playing with Play-doh. I am a still in high school but, fingers crossed, I will be graduating this spring. I attend Gull Lake High School and the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center (KAMSC). 

I cherish my time spent with my friends and family, particularly with my brother, Wade. I often joke that Wade and I are a force to be reckoned with. We have had a rather unusual upbringing, due to a number of events. We have been very fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to travel across many parts of the world. My father works at a Belgian NGO called APOPO in Morogoro, Tanzania. APOPO trains Large African Pouched Rats to detect landmines and tuberculosis. I have worked on research projects at APOPO, and I have also attended the Morogoro International School for a few months while my dad was working. Although I have been exposed to many people and cultures, Tanzania has been by far my favorite. The country has absolutely exquisite landscape, and the people live with open arms and kind hearts. Additionally, Tanzania's contribution to global warming is monumentally lesser than that of the United States'!  I can see myself living in Tanzania in the near future. There is a strong possibility that I may never truly return "home."

Due to my experiences and family, my friends vary in religious beliefs, skin color, socioeconomic status, and educational attainment. I grew up on a farm in Barry County, with two parents who came from very impoverished backgrounds. As a child, my father, who is quite literally a "hillbilly from the Hills" (West Virginia), did not even have indoor plumbing! Somehow though, both of my parents managed to do quite well, and we have lived a life full of adventure. I hope to bring a unique and diverse perspective to this class, and I cannot wait to see all it has in store! :)