<< The first "complete" paradigm of extinction was proposed as "the multigenerational, attritional loss of reproductive fitness," for which MALF is a suitable acronym. A "complete" paradigm must encompass cause, effect, and a mechanism. The primary goal of this study is to verify the new paradigm. (AA) cite four independent tests of the paradigm employing observational, experimental, and wholly theoretical techniques, >>
<< "extinction" presents certain problems with adjectival and gerund forms. (AA) do not refer to a process of "extinctioning" or "extincting" and there is no disciplinary field named "extinctionary" biology, ecology, or genetics. There are several possible verbs for extinction that treat the population or species as agent. These include "devolve," "senesce," "die off," "terminate," and "disappear," among others. However, all of these are in common use with connotations that would distract from (they) proposed meaning. "Devolve" is common in antievolutionist literature. "Senesce" is usually applied only to individuals. "Die off" does not have a single-word noun form. "Terminate" used intransitively comes close to our proposed meaning, but the popularity of the Arnold Schwarzenegger film Terminator will suggest the transitive form to most people. "Disappear" suggests something that is merely out of sight, not necessarily extinct. Instead of these common words, (they) propose using a verb with no distracting connotations. (AA) take our cue from Jefferson’s concern over extinction. Jefferson (1799:256) uses the term "evanish," or in its modern form, "vanish." The adjectival form "vanished" is usable but the noun form sounds a bit awkward: "vanishment." However, Jefferson’s "evanish" calls attention to the Latin root, e + vanescere = to pass away. "Evanesce" has an elegant noun form, "evanescence," and several adjectival forms covering a range of states: "evanesced" denoting the completed action, "evanescing" denoting an action in process, and "evanescent" denoting action in process or in potential. In physics, the adjective "evanescent" is used to designate an electromagnetic field that does not propagate waves beyond the vicinity of the source of the field. Physics and biology are sufficiently distinct that (AA) proposed usage would not create confusion. "Evanescence" does not imply an external agent performing the action and fits the understanding of extinction as a process without adding confusing connotations. This process may be a precursor or complement to evolution, but not necessarily so. >>
Delbert Wiens, Timothy Sweet, Thomas Worsley. Validating the New Paradigm for Extinction: Overcoming 200 Years of Historical Neglect, Philosophical Misconception, and Inadequate Language. The Quarterly Review of Biology. Vol. 95, Issue 2, Pages 109-124. doi: 10.1086/709086. Jun 2020.
Goodbye 'extinction,' hello 'evanescence'? Validating a new paradigm. University of Chicago. Jun 18, 2020.
