Lecture 11: Humans & The 6th Extinction X(

Question 1

Which mass extinction event was primarily caused by an asteroid impact?

A) Ordovician-Silurian
B) Devonian
C) Permian
D) Cretaceous

Answer 1

D) Cretaceous

Question 2

When did The Great Dying take Place?
a) Permian
b) Carboniferous
c) Cretaceous
d) Devonian
e) None of the above

Answer 2

Permian period
- 250 mya

Question 3

Which factor is believed to have contributed greatly to the Quaternary megafauna extinction?

A) Climate change impacts
B) Volcanic eruptions
C) Asteroid impact
D) Plate tectonics

Answer 3

A) Climate change impacts

Question 4

What does the Hominin paleobiogeography hypothesis suggest about the Quaternary megafauna extinction?

A) It was primarily caused by volcanic activity.
B) It was mainly driven by asteroid impacts.
C) It was greatly influenced by human expansion and evolution.
D) It was primarily a result of climate change.

Answer 4

C) It was greatly influenced by human expansion and evolution.

Question 5

Which of the following statements best describes the most common features of the dentition of a mammal with a herbivore diet:

a) Sharp incisors, no canines, flat premolars/molars
b) Sharp incisors, sharp canine, no premolars/molars
c) Incisors (sometimes sharp), no canines, flat premolars/molars
d) No incisors, no canines, no premolars/molars
e) Sharp incisors, sharp canines, mix of sharp and flat premolars/molars

Answer 5

c) Incisors (sometimes sharp), no canines, flat premolars/molars

Question 6

True or False?
Hominins include modern and extinct humans and great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans).

Answer 6

False!

Question 7

The loss of Megafauna mammals marks the beginning (or first phase) of which mass extinction event:

a) Ordovician-Silurian
b) Devonian
c) Permian
d) Triassic
e) Cretaceous
f) None of the above

Answer 7

f) None of the above

Question 8

What are the eras of geological time?

Answer 8

Paleozoic era
Mesozoic era
Cenozoic era

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Question 9

What were the 6 extinction periods of geological time?

Answer 9

1. Ordivician-Silurinan (433 MYA)
2. Devonian (374 MYA)
3. Permian (250 MYA The Great Dying)
4. Triassic (200 MYA)
5. Cretaceous (~66 MYA asteroid hit)

Question 10

Which geological event is associated with the Ordovician-Silurian extinction, resulting in the loss of approximately 85% of species?
A) Volcanic eruptions
B) Asteroid impact
C) Global cooling and glaciation
D) Ocean acidification

Answer 10

C) Global cooling and glaciation

Question 11

What environmental factor contributed to the Devonian extinction, impacting approximately 75% of world species, including bottom-dwelling invertebrates?
A) Volcanic activity
B) Global warming and cooling
C) Depletion of atmospheric oxygen
D) Meteorite impact

Answer 11

c) Depletion of atmospheric oxygen

Question 12

What catastrophic event, known as “The Great Dying,” is associated with the Permian extinction, causing the loss of over 90% of marine species and 70% of land species?
A) Volcanic eruptions and massive lava flows
B) Global cooling and ice age
C) Meteorite impact
D) Massive wildfires

Answer 12

a) Volcanic eruptions and massive lava flows

Question 13

Which factor is believed to have primarily contributed to the Triassic extinction, impacting approximately 80% of species, including archosaurs?
A) Rapid sea level rise
B) Asteroid impact
C) Ocean acidification and global warming
D) Intense volcanic activity

Answer 13

d) Intense volcanic activity

Question 14

What event, occurring approximately 66 million years ago, is associated with the Cretaceous extinction, leading to the demise of the dinosaurs and approximately 75% of all species?
A) Global cooling and glaciation
B) Massive volcanic eruptions
C) Asteroid impact
D) Rising sea levels

Answer 14

c) Asteroid impact

Question 15

Which hypothesis attributes the Quaternary megafauna extinction primarily to human expansion and evolution?
A) Climate change hypothesis
B) Plate tectonics hypothesis
C) Hominin paleobiogeography hypothesis
D) Volcanic activity hypothesis

Answer 15

c) Hominin paleogeography hypothesis

Question 16

What distinguishes mass extinction events from background extinction events?

A) Mass extinctions result from gradual environmental changes, while background extinctions occur suddenly.
B) Mass extinctions lead to the loss of a large proportion of Earth’s biodiversity over a short geological time frame, while background extinctions occur at a slower pace.
C) Mass extinctions primarily affect marine ecosystems, while background extinctions primarily affect terrestrial ecosystems.
D) Mass extinctions are caused by natural events, while background extinctions are primarily driven by human activities.

Answer 16

B) Mass extinctions lead to the loss of a large proportion of Earth’s biodiversity over a short geological time frame, while background extinctions occur at a slower pace.

Question 17

Which of the following species extinction is an example of background extinction?
A) The abrupt disappearance of dinosaurs due to an asteroid impact.
B) The gradual decline of certain species of frogs due to habitat loss and pollution.
C) The sudden extinction of a species of bird caused by overhunting.
D) The rapid decline of a species of fish due to a sudden increase in water temperature.

Answer 17

B) The gradual decline of certain species of frogs due to habitat loss and pollution.

Question 18

Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies a challenging example of mass extinction?

A) The gradual decline of a species of plant due to competition with invasive species.
B) The sudden disappearance of a species of insect due to pesticide overuse.
C) The catastrophic volcanic eruption that led to the extinction of approximately 96% of marine species during the Permian-Triassic extinction event.
D) The extinction of the Tasmanina tiger on the Island by government issuing bounties

Answer 18

C) The catastrophic volcanic eruption that led to the extinction of approximately 96% of marine species during the Permian-Triassic extinction event.