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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.'
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.
* 'Boulter's marvellous meditation on the role of extinction in natural history.' Scotsman * 'Mike Boulter's book explores new ways of looking at extinctions. He is a pioneer and shows how new methods allow us to understand major crises of the past and how they relate to the current problems. This is a whirlwind of a book.' Michael Benton, Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology, University of Bristol '* Boulter has an intriguing tale to tell ...It is indeed a story worth telling, and a book worth reading.' John Gribbin, Independent
