A mass extinction is the extinction of a large number of species within a relatively short period of geological time.
The Earth has seen five great mass extinctions in the past that correspond to a loss of at least 75% of the species that were alive at that time.
But the sixth mass extinction isn’t like the first five. This one is entirely man-made.
Resources:
- What are mass extinctions? – Understanding Evolution. Accessed 21 Apr. 2020.
- IUCN Red List. Accessed 20 Apr. 2020.
- UN Report: Nature’s Dangerous Decline ….” 6 May. 2019, Accessed 20 Apr. 2020.
- Accelerated modern human–induced species losses: Entering …. 19 Jun. 2015. Accessed 20 Apr 2020.
- Estimating the normal background rate of species extinction. . Accessed 20 Apr. 2020.
- Ahmed Djoghlaf – Convention Biological Diversity. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.