This is an interesting article from the UK Science Magazine, New Scientist. It looks at the use of biomarkers or chemical fossils to tell us about the nature of the biosphere when there are few if any body fossils to help. You will see that this casts light on what we discussed in class and also on the nature of some of the “Big 5” mass extinctions that we will discuss in class.
The article makes a number of very good points and one that impresses me most is that it is good for us to remember that complex metazoans represent only a fraction of the total Biomass of the Earth and that microorganisms, including the archaebacteria and eubacteria still really rule the earth and could easily do so again in the future. “Big” life is very vulnerable and poorly adapted for significant environmental change as we shall see in future classes.
I found this article interesting and gave a good overview of this new branch of science. I think the earth goes through cycles of extinction as a purging process. I think we are going to be seeing another one and whether humans will survive, we will see. Sadly, we are aiding the next mass extinction by number and behavior. It makes you pause and wonder will we make an evolutionary leap or will we be wiped out for nature to be begin with a clean slate again. Just how resilient is the creature called human.
This article and the concept of biomarkers are really fascinating. I hope there is an opportunity or that we can make time to discuss this idea in class. I would recommend reading this article!