Re: K-T Theories

["Mike Styzen Shelf Expl, 588-4308" <mstyzen@shell.com>]

Bonnie Blackwell writes:

>Ok, Michael,  that still brings us back to the question, how do kill 
>(as i recall) 75% of the phytoplankton species in one go?  do diseases
>work the same way with the phytoplankton as they do with animals?
>what other things would kill all those species?

Yeah and the survivors kind of disappeared from the screen for a while
too...makes me think they were none too well off either.
 
Actually I've never had much problem with the big rock from space
theory.  I was just pointing out the most efficient way to do the
ecosystem in with a disease.  I was also trying to make the point that
in a interdependant ecosystem the immediate catastrophe doesn't have to
take out your favorite lineage of critter.  Removing a key element
could have devistating effect even if say T. rex could survive long
periods of sub freezing temperatures.  My opinion of the best way to
explain the K/T problem is to kick out a leg and watch the rest of the
ecosystem colapse.  This could happen at various rates depending on
which leg you pick.
Mike

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