Change Quote by Daniel Botkin
““Life has had to deal with environmental change, especially climate change, since the beginning of its existence on Earth. Species adjust or go extinct, and both have happened. For life-forms with our kinds of cells—eukaryotic, the kind with distinct organelles—the average existence of a species is about 1 million years, and, on average, one species goes extinct a year, at least of the species we have named and know, including those we know only from fossil records." -Dan Botkin, excerpt from THE MOON IN THE NAUTILUS SHELL.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Moon in the Nautilus Shell by Dan Botkin, 2020
Life constantly faces environmental shifts; species either adapt or disappear, with eukaryotes averaging a million‑year lifespan and about one extinction per year among known species.
In simple terms: Life adapts or dies; species last ~1 M years, one dies yearly.
Key Takeaway
Recognize adaptability and urgency in conservation.
Themes
evolution
extinction
adaptation
climate change
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- conservation planning
- climate policy
- education
- research funding
- public awareness
Key Concepts
ecology
species turnover
geological time
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better protect species before they vanish?
- What role does human activity play in accelerating extinctions?
A Different Perspective
Extinction rates may be underreported; unknown species could be lost unnoticed.
