ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ANNOYS ABOUT LAMENTS OVER EXTINCTIONS: Is the lack of understanding that they always went on, before humans.  That species dying and being born is just what happens.  (The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo used to drive me nuts with a graveyard of extinct species which included the T-Rex, and a mirror with the smug inscription “You are looking at the only animal to cause extinctions of other animals.”  We had to avoid that area of the zoo because my husband gets embarrassed when I start yelling in public.)  So, I find this article fascinating.  Greater than the sum of its parts.