Earth’s Environmental Path
Earth's path follows a sequence of natural oscillations effecting global dynamics of constant vegetation and habitat change, as described in Part 1 & 2 (PRIVATE GAME Issue 1 & 2). Consequently, phyllo-biogeographic existence and evolution (distribution, performance, genetic integrity, survival and speciation trades) of animal species are affected. Animals move, adapt or die as a result of changing environmental conditions. The conservation applications of palaeozoological data are numerous (Lyman 2006). One such application concerns the determination whether or not a species is native to a region. Such insight is essential to informing species translocations and to restoring biodiversity in disturbed habitats.
Specialist Wildlife Scientist, Consultant & Lecturer (Ecology, Zoology, Game Production).
Studied at Pretoria University, 3 years fieldwork studies in the Kruger Park, 12 years ecosystem analysis of Eastern Cape valley bushveld, 25 years expertise in southern African game ecology & management and 17 years of part-time academic lecturing – 39 years career as expert wildlife scientist.
“The YDC, a 2nd increased aridification since the Late Eocene, led to important extinctions, but also provided unique diversification opportunities shaping the current African biodiversity landscape.”
The majority of mammals evolved since 50 million years (ma) before present (BP) and modern game animals with extended speciation only during the last 5ma (Anderson 2001, Fraser 2020). Important to note is the six major past extinctions of life : [] 57% of all life died 430ma BP during a climate shift, [] 50% died 365ma BP following a multi-asteroid impact in Belgium, [] 83% died 245ma BP from extreme CO poisoning, [] 48% died 215ma BP following a double-asteroid impact] 50% was wiped out (including last dinosaurs) 60-65ma BP following a single-asteroid impact (Chicxulub Crater, Gulf of Mexico), [] 30% of modern large grazers became extinct during the last glacial-interglacial transition (<20ka BP) and a sudden 1ka mini-Ice Age (Younger Dryas Catastrophe [YDC]) following a multi asteroid impact 11ka BP.
