7.9 Extinction
in AP Biology
Extinction is the loss of a group of organisms, such as a species. Levels of biodiversity are determined by rates of speciation and rates of extinction.
To Think About:
What factors lead to extinction? How do environmental changes increase risk of extinction? How do speciation and extinction rates impact species diversity? How does extinction create new niches?
Watch: AP Daily Video Extinction
Answer the Following Questions:
- What can cause extinction rates to increase?
- What human activities can drive catastrophic ecosystem changes?
- What is speciation?
- How do speciation and extinction affect species biodiversity?
- What is a niche?
- After dinosaurs went extinct, ______________________________ occupied the open _____________ and experienced __________________________________
Supplementary Resources:
- Bozeman Science: Mr. Andersen’s “Speciation and Extinction” video
