8.E.6B.2 Obtain and communicate information to support claims that natural and human-made factors can contribute to the extinction of species.
Extinction... isn't always bad?Students will be able to summarize the factors, both natural and man-made, that can contribute to the extinction of a species.
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It is essential for you to know that a species is extinct if no members of that species are still alive. Most organisms that have ever lived on Earth are now extinct. Natural factors can cause extinctions such as has happened throughout Earth history.
- Organisms that could not survive changes due to volcanic eruptions and global warming, global cooling during ice ages, changes in oxygen levels in seawater, or a massive impact from an asteroid or comet became extinct.
- Natural extinctions have occurred throughout geologic history.
- Not all have been necessarily negative in that extinctions often clear the way for new kinds of life.
> Man-made factors have caused extinctions in more recent times, such as the cutting of the rain-forest regions, removing natural habitats, over-harvesting, and pollution.
> Many plants and animals are likely to become extinct in the near future if humans do not make changes in way they are damaging Earth, and removing the survival needs of many organisms. > Human effects on the environment could threaten some biological resources that humans may need. > Species that have recently become extinct or that are endangered can be studied to discover what natural or man-made survival resources caused the extinction or endangerment and what could have been or could be done to prevent it from happening. |