The Asteroid That Killed The Dinosaurs

Description:  It is estimated that 75% of plant and animal (including dinosaur) species went extinct after the Earth was hit with a massive asteroid 66 million years ago. Evidence includes a thin layer of rock containing iridium (rarely found on Earth but common in asteroids) around the planet. Scientists have also discovered a large impact crater. The cause of the extinction is fairly clear but the details of the effects leave much to be explored.

Web Resource:  Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event - Wikipedia

Ever wonder why the dinosaurs disappeared? HHMI BioInteractive investigates the cause of the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period-and the clues come from paleontology, chemistry, physics, and biology. This three-act film tells the story of the extraordinary detective work that solved one of the greatest scientific mysteries of all time.

Megafauna Extinction: Humans or Climate?

Description:  North America (like Africa today) was once covered with large megafauna (animals weighing more than 100 pounds). This included giant mammoths, ground sloths, and beavers the size of a large bear. However most of these animals disappeared by 11,000 years ago. What was the cause of this extinction? Humans, climate, or a combination of the two? Phenomenon like this can be found around the World and can introduce the idea of human impacts on the environment.

Web Resource:  What Killed the Great Beasts of North America?

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2010/05/18/Dr_Elizabeth_Hadly_Mammals_and_Climate_Change Stanford biologist Elizabeth Hadly recaps a debate among biologists over whether prehistoric megafauna like mammoths, giant sloths and saber-toothed cats became extinct due to overhunting by humans, or by a combination of hunting and a changing climate.