Extinction and Speciation

Question 1

When does extinction happens?

Answer 1

When a species can’t evolve quick enough.

Question 2

What are the reasons a species will become extinct? (6 points)

Answer 2

1) the environment changes too quickly (destruction of habitat)
2) a new predator kills them (humans hunting them)
3) a new disease kills them
4) they can’t compete with a new species for food
5) a catastrophic event kills them all (volcano eruption)
6) a new species develops (speciation)

Question 3

What is speciation and when does it occur?

Answer 3

Speciation is the development of a new species, it occurs when populations of the same species become so different that they can no longer breed together to produce fertile offspring.

Question 4

What leads to speciation?

Answer 4

Isolation - populations of a species are separated due to a physical barrier, with different conditions on each side, causing them to develop different characteristics. Natural selection also causes speciation.

Question 5

What are the stages of speciation due to isolation? (4 points)

Answer 5

1) two populations of the same species
2) physical barriers separate populations
3) populations adapt to new environments
4) development of a new species