When will the next mass extinction occur?

When was the most severe mass extinction in Earth’s history?

• 66 million years ago when the dinosaurs went extinct

• 252 million years ago when Pangea formed

• 5 million years ago when human relatives first started to walk

• Less than 10,000 years ago when ice sheets started to retreat

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The Permian-Triassic mass extinction paved the way for what group of animals to diversify?

• dinosaurs

• insects

• fish

• mammals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Species become vulnerable to extinction when

• the climate changes

• new species arrive

• the species does not adapt

• their habitat is changed or destroyed

• all of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Paleontologists have identified many possible causes of mass extinctions. Which of these has NOT been identified by paleontologists as an agent of mass extinction?

• Volcanoes

• Asteroids/Comets/Meteors

• Humans

• Changing Continents

• Forest Fires

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The relatively recent extinction of large mammals such as mammoths was caused by _____________.

• Climate change during the ice ages

• Over-hunting by humans

• An asteroid impact

• A combination of climate change and the impact of humans

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Rates of extinction today are _______________.

• Rates of extinction today are _______________.

• Twice the normal background rate of extinction

• Ten times the normal background rate of extinction

• Hundreds to thousands of times the normal background rate of extinction

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

What is a mass extinction?

• an event when many species of life go extinct at the same time

• an event when many new species of life arrive on Earth

• an event when one species goes extinct

• an event when one new species arrives on Earth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What is an invasive species?

• a species that arrives in a new habitat and outcompetes the native species

• a species that dies off as a result of environmental change

• an adaptation to a new environmental change

• a species that arrives in a new habitat and helps other species grow and thrive

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

How do paleontologists use mass extinctions?

• to divide the Earth's history into distinct periods

• to stock their freezers with fresh meat

• to pick only the cutest and fluffiest of animals to snuggle with

• to combine time periods into one large Super eon

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1