EDITORIAL INFORMATION

La Extinción de las Especies identifies and examines clearly what we should have to do both at a personal and a social level so as to counter the current trends that are leading us to an environmental catastrophe. The prevailing theories on the origins and the evolution of life are reviewed, and the possible causes as well as the tangible effects of the massive extinctions are researched, from the Pre-Cambrian to the advent of the Man of Cro-Magnon. The reader will learn how the volcanic eruptions, the drift of the continents, the magnetic field inversions, the climatic changes, and the impacts of comets, could have led to the decline of many species.

(Extracted from the back cover).

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

-Contenido.

-Agradecimientos.

-Introducción.

-1. El Origen de la Vida.

-2. La Historia de la Vida.

-3. Las Grandes Extinciones.

-4. La Evolución de las Especies.

-5. Los Efectos de las Extinciones.

-6. Causas Celestes de las Extinciones.

-7. Causas Terrestres de las Extinciones.

-8. Las Glaciaciones.

-9. El Calentamiento del Efecto Invernadero.

-10. La Extinción Global.

-Glosario.

-Bibliografía.

-Indice.

OUR REVIEW

Once again, the prestigious science writer Jon Erickson, a radar technician of the US Navy and a Master in Science at the University of Arkansas, makes his knowledge in the field of geophysics and geotechnology available to the average reader, in this occasion to alert us about the catastrophic situation we are causing for the planet, due to human intervention, which is centered in exploiting the environment no matter the harm done, up to the point that the extinction of different animal and vegetable species caused by the hand of man is endangering the continuity of life on Earth.

So as to make us aware of all that, the author compares the current situation to the great extinctions of the past, due to natural causes. Starting from a clear, concise introduction to the origin of life on Earth, as it is theorized that must have happened, the author explains the evolution of the chemistry that was to create the first living organisms, and studies the successive extinctions that throughout the times have been giving rise to new species, more evolved than the preceding ones, and therefore more adaptable to the climatic and physical changes that caused such mutations. After reviewing the different geological eras of Earth, as well as the great extinctions that took place along these, till depicting the world as we know it today, with its current species, Erickson examines such phenomena as asteroid collisions and their influence on the great extinctions, or those that are caused by the planet itself, such as volcanic eruptions, magnetic inversions, continental drift, glaciations, etc. Next the author studies the greenhouse effect and man's influence on the climatic change, due to environmental pollution, desertization, overpopulation, etc., and concludes the book with a much needed reflection on the real risk we are running to eliminate life fron the only planet we know of able to support it till we appeared.

The book is complemented with a glossary of technical terms, which on the other hand the author makes use of sparingly, so as to develop his arguments in as clear a language as possible to reach the average reader, and therefore, one can understand its interesting contents without problems. Aimed at a non-specialized readership, this work, which also contains numerous graphics and photographs to illustrate ist contents, will appeal to all those readers interested in getting to know about the origin and evolution of the species, the main causes for the great extinctions, and the role of humanity in those affecting our present. Jon Erickson, always caring for the ecological problems caused by the human civilization, intends to transmit to us his concern in this respect so as to make us truly aware of the problem and make us react consequently. To do that, he does not hesitate to use his considerable skills as a science writer, developing his arguments in a pleasant, easy to read book that must not fail to be in our library.