The 6th Extinction

What is the definition of extinction?

• The process where a species adapts to new environments.

• The dying out or termination of a species.

• The increase in the population of a species.

• The migration of a species to a new habitat.

Which naturalist was the first to propose that fossils represented "lost species" rather than undiscovered living creatures?

• Charles Darwin

• Charles Lyell

• Georges Cuvier

• Walter Alvarez

What evidence did Walter Alvarez and his father find that supported the theory of a catastrophic event causing the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago?

• Unusually high levels of gold in rock layers.

• The discovery of a massive volcanic eruption site.

• Unusually high levels of iridium in rock layers.

• Fossilized remains of a giant asteroid.

Which mass extinction event is known as "The Great Dying" and wiped out approximately 96% of Earth's species?

• The Ordovician-Silurian extinction

• The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction

• The End Permian extinction

• The Triassic-Jurassic extinction

True or False - Humans are the cause of the current 6th mass extinction

• True

• False

What term do scientists use to refer to the current geological epoch, characterized by significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems?

• The Holocene

• The Pleistocene

• The Anthropocene

• The Cenozoic

According to Stuart Pimm's 2014 paper in Science, what are the primary drivers of the current extinction event?

• Volcanic eruptions and asteroid impacts

• Human population growth and increased consumption

• Natural climate cycles and disease outbreaks

• Invasive species and pollution

If ocean pH levels reach 7.8 by the end of the century, what percentage of ocean species could be wiped out, particularly those with calcium-based shells?

• 10%

• 25%

• 33%

• 50%

According to Rodolfo Dirzo, what percentage of invertebrate populations, which constitute 97% of all species, have declined worldwide in the past 40 years?

• 15%

• 25%

• 35%

• 45%

What does the speaker hope for regarding the future of species and ecosystems?

• Complete restoration of all species

• Continued human dominance

• The ability to bring back species

• No changes to ecosystems