6.3.11

Extinctions

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Extinctions

Extinction happens when there are no individuals of a species left in the world. A change in abiotic (physical) or biotic (relating to organisms) factors can cause an extinction if a species cannot adapt or move to another environment.

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Rapid extinctions

  • Sometimes abiotic (physical) factors can change rapidly to cause extinctions.
  • Large volcanic eruptions can change the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, block light and cause pH changes in soils.
  • A meteorite or asteroid impact (like the one around the time of the dinosaurs) would have a similar (but larger) effect to a large volcanic eruption.
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Slow extinctions

  • Geological and atmospheric changes happening over a longer period of time can also cause slower extinctions.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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