Re: mass extinctions and DDT

["Steve Brusatte" <dinoland@lycos.com>]

On Fri, 28 Dec 2001 11:04:53  
 Daniel Bensen wrote:
>I think that the greatest evidence for humanity---the evidence that will stay
>for the next 65 million years---is the alterations we make to the biosphere by
>transporting animals around.  Because of humans, there are now (breeding
>colonies of) Eucalyptus trees in California, mongooses in South America, Dogs 
>on
>every continent but Antarctica (and I'm not even sure about that), norway rats
>everywhere, et cetera, ad infinitum.  Maybe some of these critters could have
>gotten across the oceans by themselves, and probably some of them will go
>extinct during the next 65 million years, but there will certainly be evidence
>in the fossil record of (a) the sudden drop in large species diversity right at
>the end of the Pleistocene and (b) the sudden expansion of range of just a few
>species across the world that took place just a little later.  Some future
>paleontologists might propose that these changes were caused by the formation 
>of
>a supercontinent (hmm, casts some doubts on Pangea :)) but the evidence will
>point to humanity, even if we don't leave any of our artifacts.
>
>There is, by the way, a funny book written on the subject.  It is called (I
>think) Mystery Motel and tells about an archaeological expedition stumbling 
>upon
>the ruins of a 20th century motel (called the Toot 'n Come On) and the mistakes
>they make.

I find it hard to believe that we wouldn't leave any artifacts!  I mean, even 
in the middle of desolate New Mexico the highways are covered in litter.  
Somewhere, as I write, a McDonalds bag or an old copy of the New York Times is 
becoming "fossilized" in a Mazon Creek-esque concretion.  And, with six billion 
humans populating the earth now, I doubt it would be difficult to find some 
human fossils.  I bet the cranium size would be a pretty good indicator of 
humankind's intelligence.   

But, yep, all of this global dispersal will be a telltale sign...if it is 
interpreted right, that is!

Steve  

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Steve Brusatte-DINO LAND PALEONTOLOGY
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