▶ Your Answer :The reading and the lecture both talk about extinction of Diprotodon. The reading says that there are some theories to explain that the reasons of extinction. However, the lecturer argues that the reasons mentioned in the reading are not convincing. Firstly, the reading states that very low reproductive rate is caused Diprotodon's extinction. In contrast, the lecturer disagrees with this statement. He states that reproductive rate and extinction is not related. As an example, bears which still live in Australia only produce five offspring which is even lesser than Diprotodon's. Secondly, the reading goes on to say that another factor is a sudden and severe shortage of food. On the other hand, the lecturer makes an opposing point to this claim. The point is that because of the human's activity, soil could contain more nutrition which made more vegetations grow there. Although Diprotodon prefer to eat saltbush, they also eat other plants. Thirdly, the reading asserts that predators killed off it. However, the lecturer contradicts to this statement, arguing that beause of its great size, it had very few predators. In addition to this, it coexisted with other organisms for many years. If predators are a factor of extinction, they should be extinct far faster. For these reasons the lecturer disagrees with the statement that mentioned in the reading. |