How can extinction be caused

The abusive and unsustainable use of natural resources not only harms the health of the planet, it also wipes out entire species so that they disappear for ever.

The frenetic loss of biodiversity means that a million plants and animals are currently under threat. Others had even worse luck. Below we list some of the extinct species that we can only reminisce about today.

A species is considered to be extinct when the last known specimen dies without leaving a genetic successor. Thanks to biodiversity , we human beings can benefit from food security and access to clean water and raw materials.

The biological balance also regulates the weather and slows down pollution. However, this balance is threatened, in large part by humanity's insatiable urge for more foodstuffs and more energy. The extinction of species is not just anecdotal: the United Nations UN has warned that every day species become extinct.

To protect biodiversity it is necessary to make a commitment to environmental conservationism , with measures to protect the environment: Breed animals in captivity for subsequent release, create nature reserves, combat animal trafficking, etc. It is considered that a species is extinct when the last known specimen dies without leaving a genetic successor. The myth of the year rule has lingered on if a species has not been sighted during this time, it is considered extinct , but in reality there is no specific time frame.

Deciding whether a species is completely extinct is complicated: sometimes, specimens of species thought to be extinct have been discovered, known as a Lazarus taxon. For this list, which began over 50 years ago, information is gathered from expert biologists, conservationists and statisticians to record the conservation status of species. Today, we can distinguish between two types of extinction, depending on the way the species disappears:. What can we humans do to care for animals?

In general terms, species become extinct for the following reasons:. First of all, species with small populations face a greater risk of extinction.

Also, natural selection does its job by keeping beneficial genetic traits and eliminating poor ones. There are animals with a good gene pool that is robust and more adaptable to unforeseen exogenous circumstances, and others that are weaker. Humans also cause other species to become extinct by hunting, overharvesting, introducing invasive species to the wild, polluting, and changing wetlands and forests to croplands and urban areas. Even the rapid growth of the human population is causing extinction by ruining natural habitats.

Passenger pigeons, billions of which frequently blanketed North American skies when Europeans arrived on the continent, went extinct when the last one died at the Cincinnati Zoo in Fossils show that there have been five previous periods of history when an unusually high number of extinctions occurred in what are known as mass extinctions.

Those losses, however, also paved the way for dinosaurs to evolve into existence, as mass extinctions create a chance for new species to emerge. Dinosaurs met their end about 65 million years ago in another mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period. Scientists believe that volcanic eruptions in India caused global warming that also may have contributed to the mass extinction. Scientists are debating whether Earth is now in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.

If so, it may be the fastest one ever with a rate of 1, to 10, times the baseline extinction rate of one to five species per year. Humans are largely responsible for the striking trend. But not all species will be able to adapt quickly enough to stave off extinction and many are expected to perish. Using fewer fossil fuels by lowering the thermostat, driving less frequently, and recycling is one good way to slow the rate of extinctions. Eating less meat and avoiding products, like ivory, that are made from threatened species also can make a difference.

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This can all be contributed to climate change. Explore how climate change affects the earth's systems and human activity through spatial analysis, mapping, and GIS tools. The data shows the Earth is warming and it's up to us to make the changes necessary for a healthier planet. Use these resources in your classroom to help your students build spatial reasoning skills to better understand and take action on climate change.

As a result, they develop research-based action steps critical to protecting a certain species and incorporate key findings into their culminating conservation pamphlets. This lesson is part of the Engaging in the Fight Against Extinction unit. They predict how human activity has impacted these biomes and species.

Teams design conservation pamphlets promoting endangered species, and suggest action steps to protect the species and the planet. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Engage students in the analysis of a photograph. What would you do differently next time? What were the students able to do well? What did the students struggle with during the lesson?

Ask yourself: Were the students able to sort the scenarios into like categories? Did their categories make sense? Were the students able to explain their thinking when asked about the sentences that labeled the categories? View not found. Download the PDF from here. Related Subjects. Part of This Unit Plan. Unit Plan. Grade Duratio n 5 Weeks. Related Books and Products. Donna Jo Napoli.

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