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Video Description
Show 3: Extinction!
Five mass extinctions have occurred since life began on Earth. Are humans causing the next mass extinction? And what does evolutionary theory predict for the world we will leave to our descendants?
Chapter 1. Prologue (2:44)
Introduction to the show's theme: the balance between evolution and extinction
* A brief definition of extinction and basic facts about species' lifespans
* The natural process of extinction creates opportunities for new species
* Are humans causing a new mass extinction?
Chapter 2. The Mother of All Extinctions (9:10)
Geological research into the planet's largest mass extinction
* Uncovering fossils from the Permian period
* Exploring the cataclysmic event that destroyed almost all Permian species and began the Triassic period
* Description of the dramatic environmental changes that produce mass extinction
Chapter 3. The Dinosaurs Win Out (6:04)
Dinosaurs and mammals after the Permian extinction
* The evolution of dinosaurs, the dominant species after the Permian extinction
* The evolution of small mammals, minor species during the dinosaurs' era
* Researching dinosaur and mammal fossils in the Gobi desert
Chapter 4. KT-Extinction, Triumph of Mammals (3:46)
The end of dinosaur supremacy, and the rise of mammals
* The K-T extinction event: an asteroid impact that changed life on earth
* Dinosaurs die, but small mammals survive
* Mammals grow larger, diversify, and spread out across the world
* Emergence of monkeys, apes, and, eventually, human-like primates
Chapter 5. Thailand and the Empty Forest (13:19)
Human dominance and the escalating rate of animal extinction
* Are humans causing the next great extinction?
* Exploring animal disappearance in a pristine-looking Thai forest
* The disappearance of large carnivores, the sign of a failing ecosystem
* Natural habitats and the relationships among plants, herbivores, and carnivores
* Human destruction of natural habitats, a primary cause of extinctions
Chapter 6. Hawaii and Biological Invasion (9:17)
Invasive species, and the extinction of native life in Hawaii
* The formation of Hawaii's unique ecosystem
* Fossil research in a Hawaiian sinkhole: documenting the arrival of Polynesians, Europeans, and invasive species
* Humans spread invasive species around the world
* Two examples of invasive species: zebra mussels and brown tree snakes
* The costs of trying to contain invasive species
Chapter 7. Planet of Weeds (6:39)
Understanding "weed species"
* What makes invading species successful?
* Humans: the most invasive weed species on earth
* The accelerating rate of extinction as a threat to all life
* In North Dakota, using one weed species to battle another: leafy spurge versus flea beetle
Chapter 8. Return to Thailand (5:31)
The health of the Thai ecosystem, and of our planet
* Is it too late to stop change in the Thai forests?
* Knowledge, the greatest tool against extinction
* Can we slow the rate of human-caused species extinction and return to the natural cycle of evolution and extinction?
Documentary Description
EVOLUTION (2001)
Series Overview
Evolution determines who lives, who dies, and who passes traits on to the next generation. The process plays a critical role in our daily lives, yet it is one of the most overlooked -- and misunderstood -- concepts ever described.
The Evolution project's eight-hour television miniseries travels the world to examine evolutionary science and the profound effect it has had on society and culture. From the genius and torment of Charles Darwin to the scientific revolution that spawned the tree of life, from the power of sex to drive evolutionary change to the importance of mass extinctions in the birth of new species, the Evolution series brings this fascinating process to life. The series also explores the emergence of consciousness, the origin and success of humans, and the perceived conflict between science and religion in understanding life on Earth.
The Evolution series' goals are to heighten public understanding of evolution and how it works, to dispel common misunderstandings about the process, and to illuminate why it is relevant to all of us.
Evolution Series Show Descriptions
Show 1: Darwin's Dangerous Idea (two-hour)
Why does Charles Darwin's ''dangerous idea'' matter more today than ever, and how does it explain the past and predict the future of life on Earth? The first show interweaves the drama of Darwin's life with current documentary sequences, introducing key concepts of evolution.
Show 2: Great Transformations (one hour)
What underlies the incredible diversity of life on Earth? How have complex life forms evolved? The journey from water to land, the return of land mammals to the sea, and the emergence of humans all suggest that creatures past and present are members of a single tree of life.
Show 3: Extinction! (one hour)
Five mass extinctions have occurred since life began on Earth. Are humans causing the next mass extinction? And what does evolutionary theory predict for the world we will leave to our descendants?
Show 4: The Evolutionary Arms Race (one hour)
Survival of the fittest: Raw competition? Intense cooperation? Both are essential. Interactions between and within species are among the most powerful evolutionary forces on Earth, and understanding them may be a key to our own survival.
Show 5: Why Sex? (one hour)
In evolutionary terms, sex is more important than life itself. Sex fuels evolutionary change by adding variation to the gene pool. The powerful urge to pass our genes on to the next generation has likely changed the face of human culture in ways we're only beginning to understand.
Show 6: The Mind's Big Bang (one hour)
Fifty thousand years ago, something happened -- the modern human mind emerged, triggering a creative, technological, and social explosion. What forces contributed to that breakthrough? Where might our power of mind ultimately lead us?
Show 7: What About God? (one hour)
Of all species, we alone attempt to explain who we are and how we came to be. This final show explores the struggle between science and religion. Through the personal stories of students and teachers, it offers the view that they are compatible.
Source: PBS
