wirelessguru1 wroet:

"It is almost like you take an extra
step to try to suggest that there is no
relationship between certain things!!!"

In case of magnetic reversals, I am just reporting on the published
results of, at this time, 30 years of Earth scientists trying to find
some sort of relationship between evolution and magnetic reversals.
Given the nature of magnetic reversals, paleontologists and
geologists as a matter of common sense, thought there should be
some sort of relationship between evolutionary events, speciation
and extinctions. However, for the past thirty years they have
conducted detailed collections of fossils from stratigraphic sections
and cores containing sedimentary rocks deposited over magnetic
reversals, which are quite easy to detect in them. After spending
months identifying hundreds, even thousands of fossils, crunching
numbers, and plotting stratigraphic distributions, they simply have
not been able to find any well-defined correlation between the
extinctions and speciations with magnetic reversals. Geologists
and paleontologists are just as puzzled about this lack of any
apparent correlation as wirelessguru1, as they certainly
expected one to find one.

Eberhart, J., 1976, Of life and death and magnetism. Science
News. vol. 109, p. 204.

Hays, J. D., 1971, Faunal extinctions and reversals of the
earth's magnetic field. Geological Society of America
Bulletin, vol. 82, pp. 2433-2447.

Purrett, L., 1971, Magnetic reversals and biological extinctions:
Science News. vol. 100, p. 300.

The is what the geologists at the USGS have to say about magnetic
reversals and extinctions in "USGS Frequently Asked Questions" at
[72.14.207.104]

"Question: Could the mass extinctions observed
in the paleontological record be correlated with
magnetic reversals ?

Answer:

The magnetic field of the Earth does protect us
from fast-moving charged particles streaming
from the Sun, but so does the atmosphere. It is
not clear whether or not the radiation that
would make it to the Earth’s surface during a
polarity transition, when the magnetic field is
relatively weak, is sufficient to affect evolution,
either directly or indirectly, and cause extinctions,
such as that of the dinosaurs. But it seems that
the radiation is probably insufficient. This
conclusion is supported by the fact that reversals
happen rather frequently, every million years or
so, compared to the occurrence of mass extinctions,
every hundred million years or so. In other
words, many reversals and, in fact, most reversals,
appear to be of no consequence for extinctions."

In this case, wirelessguru1 needs to understand that I am just the
messenger, whom he seems intent on "shooting" because the
message is not what he wants it to be.

More web pages about the Earth's magnetic fields are:

1. A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO GEOMAGNETISM at
[geomag.usgs.gov]

2. TWENTY- ONE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND THEIR
ANSWERS at [geomag.usgs.gov]

One of my favorite web pages was a science fair project, "The
Effects of Magnetic Pole Reversals on Radish Plants" by Samuel
C. Spevack, 2004 California State Science Fair at [www.usc.edu].

wirelessguru1 wrote:

"Are you also trying to suggest here that a
"magnetic reversal" is a non event without any
specific "physical" consequences!?"

No. Magnetic reversals are significant events with consequences. I
am just reporting that after 30 years of studying the fossil record,
paleontologists and geologists have yet to find any solid evidence
that either speciation events or mass extinctions are part of these
consequences. A magnetic reversal might cause some species to
become extinct, but not in any noticeable numbers above extinctions
caused by other factors. It appears that life is far more resilient
and adaptable to such common-place "catastrophes" than either
wirelessguru1 or conventional scientists assumed it to be.

wirelessguru1 wrote:

"I want to make sure that I fully understand
your position on this!!!???'

I am just pointing out that despite 30 years of diligent searching
for a connection between magnetic reversals and speciation events
and mass extinctions by Earth scientists, no convincing correlations
or connections have been found even though the people looking for
them **expected** to find such a correlation.

wirelessguru1 wrote:

"so then what are these "speciation events"
and exactly what are they related to if they
are not related to EM changes like magnetic
reversals?"

There are any number of environmental factors, which can cause them.
For example the building of the London Underground created a new
environmental niche, which caused a speciation event that created a
new species of mosquito since it was built. In this case, I failed to find
any evidence of an "EM change" associated with this speciation event.
This example is discussed in "Re: Mosquito Evolution in London's
Underground?" at [www.madsci.org]

The original paper that documented this speciation is:

Byrne, K. and Nichols, R. A., 1999, "Culex pipiens in London
Underground tunnels: differentiation between surface and
subterranean populations. Heredity. vol. 82, pp. 7-15. at:
[www.blackwell-synergy.com]

Other examples of observed speciation, which all occurred without
the occurrence of a magnetic reversal are discussed in Observed
Instances of Speciation by Joseph Boxhorn at [www.talkorigins.org].

A related web page is "Speciation by Punctuated Equilibrium" at
[www.don-lindsay-archive.org] .

"Also, in your fossil record examination
what exactly tells you that a "speciation
event" has taken place? Please no
references, just a simple explanation...

Changes within the physical characteristics of the fossils found in
a section of sedimentary rock deposited over a period of time, which
shows what was one species of animal or plants either diverging into
two species or becoming another one. An example of fossils, which
show this happening can be found illustrated in "A Smooth Fossil
Transition: single celled Radiolarian" at [www.don-lindsay-archive.org].

Other examples are illustrated in " A Smooth Fossil Transition:
Pelycodus, a primate", also called "A tree dweller becomes two" at
[www.don-lindsay-archive.org] and "A Smooth Fossil Transition:
Orbulina, a foram" at [www.don-lindsay-archive.org].

If these do not satisfy Mr. wirelessguru1, he can find many
more examples, just a few docuemnted in the scientific
literarture, of speciation events in:

Cuffey, Roger. 1984. Paleontologic evidence and organic
evolution. In A. Montagu, ed., pp. 255-281, Science and
creationism. Princeton, Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, United
Kingdom.

Source:
1984, pp. 255-281

Best Regards,

Paul H.


"The past is never dead. It's not even past."
William Faulkner, Act 1, Scene III, Requiem for a Nun (1951)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2005 09:38AM by Paul H..