Extinctions In Near Time: Biodiversity Loss Since The Pleistocene

Why has the Pacific Island of Guam gone from sounding…like this...to a little more like this... Hello again everyone! My name is Joseph, and today I’m reporting to you all from the always beautiful Stanford University. Before we dive in, first a little about me. You see, I was born on the island of Guam 18 years ago. The silence you got a brief glimpse of is extremely concerning for me. Many species of animals on Guam have disappeared forever- that’s the silence. For my generation of Guamanians, this pestilent silence has nowadays become common place. Sixty years ago my grandfather would have heard all of those beautiful birds. Where.have.they.gone? Why has the island of Guam become a quieter place?! Ope! And it looks like we have caller! You're live caller #1, what do you have to say on the subject? YARRRRRRR Oh goodness me, not again. Make it quick captain yosef. I have the answer to your question!!! NOW... Come with me across the Pacific to peer at the answer in the form of an evolutionarily gifted pred