7.11: Extinction Flashcards
1
Q
What can cause extinction rates to increase?
A
Catastrophic changes to an ecosystem
Such as solar flares, rising sea levels, volcanic eruptions, or asteroid impacts
2
Q
What human activities can drive catastrophic ecosystem changes?
A
Habitat loss and destruction, pollution, poaching, and invasive species
3
Q
What is speciation?
A
A process by which populations of organisms become reproductively isolated and a new species forms
4
Q
How do speciation and extinction affect species biodiversity?
A
High species biodiversity = High levels of speciation and low levels of extinction
Low species biodiversity = Low levels of speciation and high levels of extinction
5
Q
What is a niche?
A
An organism’s ecological role
