Extinction: Evolution and the End of Man

About this book

Prof Boulter and colleagues have produced a mathematical model of how groups of living organisms emerge, peak and become extinct. Typically, groups of animals diversify into multiple species rapidly, then slowly decline into extinction. But the rate of large mammal extinctions in the recent past is more typical of sudden mass extinctions like that of the dinosuars. 'Humans are adding to the pace of the present mass extinction which will involve all large mammals and many other groups,' Boulter told the British Association. 'We will be one of the extinguished species. The good news is that life on the planet will recover and peace will return to the environment.'

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Biography

Michael Boutler is the Professor of Palaeobiology at the University of East London. He is the head of a team analysing Fossil Record 2 the largest database of information on extinct animals and plants. He has written numerous articles on how we understand evolutionary change. For twenty years he has been Secretary and Editor for the International Organisation of Palaeobiology. He lives with his family in North London.