Economics of Biodiversity: Geologic History, Global Climate Change, and Economic Growth

This article discusses the geologic history of the earth, major events of extinction, global climate change, and economic growth. It also explores the impact of economic growth on biodiversity and the need for sustainable usage of natural resources.

Running head: ECONOMICS OF BIODIVERSITY
ECONOMICS OF BIODIVERSITY
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Introduction
The geology of the earth has witnessed major events of extinction throughout the history.
The earth’s history covers an approximately 4 billion years and it includes the formation of earth
from the solar nebula to the present day condition. After the birth of the solar system, earth was
formed and it became a part of the solar system of which it was initially a part of. It is a widely
known fact and it has been accepted by astronomers and the geologists is an approximately 4.6
billion years old (Walker et al., 2013).
Geologic History of the Earth/Major Events
Geologic History of the Earth
The five major group of extinctions that are listed in the Sam Noble Museum are as
follows:
 End Ordovician- The condition of earth was warm and the conditions of humidity were
proper for living. However, towards the end of the period, about 443 million years ago
the geology of earth started to change. The continent Gondwana started to move towards
the south pole. The level of temperature dropped suddenly due to the formation of ice and
it even lowered the water level. The level of carbon dioxide dropped and in the sea as
well as in the atmosphere, this caused the decrease in the number of plants in the
ecosystem and source of food for the animals became scarce. Within the three million
years of 86 percent of the living beings disappeared. The organisms that got extinct are
the Bryozons, Acritarchs, Conodonts, Branchiopods, and Trilobites that lived in ocean
(Samnoblemuseum.ou.edu, 2019).

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 Late Devonian- This extinction took place about 359 million years ago. The mass
extinction at this time period is caused by relentless meteor shower and it caused and
significant decrease in the levels of oxygen at the global level. Furthermore, the other
phenomenon that have occurred are the climate change and increased tectonic plate
activity. This has caused the death of 75 percent of living creatures. The extinction during
this period has extensively damaged the life in the sea which was dominated by the
stromatoporoids and corals (Samnoblemuseum.ou.edu, 2019).
 End- Permian- The extinction occurred at around 251 million years ago and it was during
the end of the Permian age. A new continent called Pangea was formed and it brought
immense changes to the geology, environment and climate of earth. For about 1 million
years, volcanic eruptions took place for over 300 million square kilometres of lava was
spread. This led to the formation of 1750 metres of sediments in the Siberian Traps. The
excessive eruptions led to burning of the forests and the area is about four times the size
of Korea. This led to the production of large amounts of carbon dioxide and caused the
global warming. Subsequently, the increased temperature melted the methane below the
sea and produced a warming effect that is more powerful than the carbon dioxide. It is
important to note that the effects of global warming lasted for about 10 million years.
About the95 percent of life perished and only 5 percent of the population sustained the
global warming effect. Massive drought was observed with the lack of oxygen and the
acid rain made it hard for the plants to survive. The organisms that got extinct are cladid
crinoids, Productid branciopods, goniatitic cephalopods, Rugose corals, Tabulate corals,
trilobites.

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 End Triassic- This extinction occurred almost 210 million years ago and the Pangea was
slowly splitting which led to the formation of volcanoes in the Central Atlantic Magmatic
Province. A spike in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere occurred and it
initiated the global warming effects again. While several of the scientists even speculate
that the global warming effect sustained for a period of 8 million years. Serious threats
were faced by the eel like ancient creatures and the corals. While it is important to
mention that the creatures that are coral based did not survived. Meteor rain during this
period also increased the levels of destruction. 20 percent of the creatures that were sea
based lifeforms became extinct. While the 80 percent of the living that included the
reptiles died. Furthermore, the creatures that were living on land died during this period
and it included the large amphibians, theropods, crocodylomorphs, pseudosuchia.
 End-Cretaceous- the fifth extinction occurred during the 65 million years ago and this
period is called the cretaceous-tertiary extinction. This period is called the fastest period
of extinction and it is most widely known period of mass extinction and it is when the
dinosaurs got extinct. The scientists believe that a meteor fall in the Gulf of Mexico and it
was compounded by the volcanic activity led to the production of massive amount of
carbon dioxide which killed the living population of earth (Samnoblemuseum.ou.edu,
2019).
Global climate change
Humans have played a significant role in all the extinctions that have occurred in the last
50,000 years. It is important to mention that the in the last 1000 years, extinction have caused in
the islands of Madagascar and New Zealand. Humans cause extinction by the three major ways

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of introduction of plants and animals; alteration of the habitats, and overexploitation
(Samnoblemuseum.ou.edu, 2019).
Scientists has agreed to the fact that the main causes of global warming are the
greenhouse effect and it results due to atmosphere trapping the heat energy radiating from earth.
While it is important to mention that the life on earth depends largely on energy emanating from
sun. The gases that majorly contribute to the greenhouse effect are the water vapour, carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. The natural greenhouse has been
altered by the humans through the anthropogenic activities. The atmospheric concentration has
increased considerably due to the increased burning of oil and coal. The change in the natural
greenhouse effect will lead to increase in the average temperature of earth, the warmer
conditions will lead to increased amounts of precipitation and evaporation, crops might respond
positively to the increased amounts of carbon dioxide (climate.nasa.gov, 2019).
The sixth mass extinction is a possible event and this will occur from the increased
burning of the fossil fuels that will negatively affect the animals and plants. Scientists even have
predicted that the increased amount of fossil fuel burning will impact the life forms in the next 3
to 4 decades (Ceballos et al., 2015).
Drawing conclusions
From the above discussion it can be conclude that the anthropogenic activities have led to
an increased change in climate. The increased changed in temperature have led to an increased
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, in the past 5 major extinctions have
already occurred that have led to the extinction of majority of organisms on earth. Consequently,
a sixth extinction is also possible considering the increased levels of release of greenhouse gases.

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Mechanisms change and the fossil record
Closer look at the evidence
The graph on the NASA website shows the comparison of the atmospheric samples that
are contained in the ice cores and the recent direct measurements that provides the evidence
regarding increase in the carbon dioxide concentration since industrial revolution. The average
temperature of planet earth has increased by about 1.62 degree Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius).
This change has largely driven by the manmade emissions and increased amount of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere. Majority of the warming is made during the past 35 years and since
the year 2010 there has been an increase in the number of the warmest years (climate.nasa.gov,
2019).
The rise in the carbon dioxide levels is mainly contributed by the anthropogenic activities
consumption of electricity deforestation, building and transportation.
On the NASA website the supporting data are provided into different categories like the
global rise in temperature, ocean acidification, extreme events, declining Artic sea ice, sea level
rise, decreased snow cover, glacial retreat, shrinking ice sheets, warming oceans, global rise in
temperature (Jackson, 2019). While on the UK met office the data are categorized into high
temperatures, change in rainfall, changes in nature, sea level rise, retreating glaciers, sea ice, ice
sheets (metoffice.gov.uk, 2019).
Due to the change in climate, the effect on the climate can be observed clearly like trees
are flowering quicker, animal and plants ranges have shifted, ice on the lakes and rivers are
breaking up early, and glaciers have shrunk. In the past, the scientists have predicted that as a
result of climate change the following issues will occur. Like more intense type of heat wave,
accelerated sea level rise and sea level will be longer, loss of sea ice. To address the effect of

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climate change on the effect of water resources and weather will include strategies of water
conservation and to reduce the effect on the weather, the global rise in temperature must be
stopped (climate.nasa.gov, 2019).
How can economic growth be a part of the solution?
Economic growth leads to the rise in the consumption of the resources and it will put
pressure on her habitat, which can be considered bad for the species. Also the major concern is
he land use and with the loss of habitat, it becomes a principal threat for the biodiversity. With
the rise in global population, the 2/5th of the land is already taken up for agriculture and to meet
the demand for food, the land is left for the other creatures (economist.com, 2019).
The principal threat to the economy is described as the pattern of the land use and the and
the excessive use of the land has led to the biodiversity loss. Agriculture is one of the major
contributor of the biodiversity loss due to the rise in global population and the increase in the
global economy.
Economic growth is not necessarily bad for our planet because the economic growth is
necessary for the development of a country and also for the development of the people.
Economic growth can be beneficial for the economy because with the growth of economy will
also emphasize on the sustainable usage of the resources and it means the natural resources will
be used in a justifiable way so that the future generation can use the same. While conservation of
the biodiversity will become an issue when countries have the economic strength to conserve its
wildlife (Iritié, 2015).
From the above discussion it can be concluded that the economic growth is a necessary
evil and it will emphasize on the usage of natural resources in a justifiable way. Economic

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growth has its close connection with the development of a country and often due to
anthropogenic activities climate change takes place. This climate change is a negative impact and
it affects the biodiversity and leads to the habitat loss. Habitat loss occurs due to the increased
amount of pressure on the natural land and it also impacts the biodiversity negatively.
Reference
Ceballos, G., Ehrlich, P. R., Barnosky, A. D., García, A., Pringle, R. M., & Palmer, T. M.
(2015). Accelerated modern human–induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass
extinction. Science advances, 1(5), e1400253.
climate.nasa.gov. (2019). Climate change evidence: How do we know?. Retrieved from
https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
economist.com. (2019). Averting the sixth extinction. Retrieved from
https://www.economist.com/special-report/2013/09/14/averting-the-sixth-extinction
Iritié, B. G. J. J. (2015). Economic growth and biodiversity: An overview. Conservation policies
in Africa. Journal of Sustainable Development, 8(2), 196-208.
Jackson, R. (2019). Global Climate Change: Effects. Retrieved from
https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
metoffice.gov.uk. (2019). What is climate change?. Retrieved from
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate-guide/climate-change
Samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. (2019). Extinctions in the Recent Past and the Present Day. Retrieved
from https://samnoblemuseum.ou.edu/understanding-extinction/extinctions-in-the-recent-
past-and-the-present-day/

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Samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. (2019). Mass Extinctions. Retrieved from
https://samnoblemuseum.ou.edu/understanding-extinction/mass-extinctions/
Walker, J. D., Geissman, J. W., Bowring, S. A., & Babcock, L. E. (2013). The Geological
Society of America geologic time scale. Bulletin, 125(3-4), 259-272.