Biodiversity and the fossil record

[bivalve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (David Campbell)]

>So here is the question for you to kick around:  Based on our knowledge
>of mass extinctions and recoveries -life has always managed to recover,
>including the big one (Permian/Triassic)- how concerned is the
>paleontological community regarding the current 'mass extinction'?
>
Although paleontology is the best way we have of predicting the possible
effects of such extinctions, the pattern of recovery (if any) and similar
issues, "concern" seems to me to be more of a philosophical than scientific
issue.  Most paleontologists whose views on this I know (including me)
think that we ought to try to conserve biodiversity.  Science does not
evaluate whether this attitude or a "anything which doesn't survive was
unfit or unlucky-too bad for it (or us)" attitute is better.


David Campbell   "old seashells"
Department of Geology
CB 3315 Mitchell Hall
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill NC 27599-3315
bivalve@email.unc.edu