Why Is Extinction Caused?

A procedure that results in the disappearance of a species or a population is called extinction. When a species becomes vanish, its whole genetic heritage is extinct for good. A species can become another with revolution by adjusting with small environmental changes or because of casual changes in its genetic legacy. This process of the birth of new species is known as speciation. Extinction and Speciation both are part of the natural development process of living beings. Therefore, the natural extinction of a species must not be taken as a negative event, but it must be regarded simply for what it is, simply put, an expression of biological evolution. Normally extinction may be classified into two categories. The first extinction that is the slow and, for us, the undetectable trend of the living creatures to change constantly. And the other is the episodic extinction, with enormous and attendant deaths of species, activated by quick changes in the nature of the environment. Generally, the extinctions that donate most to the serious changes in the flora and fauna in the earth’s history, were of the second type.

Natural Causes of Extinction
1.Climatic Heating and Cooling
2.Changes in Sea Levels or Currents
3.Asteroids/Cosmic Radiation
4.Acid Rain
5.Disease/Epidemic
6.The spread of Invasive Species

Human Causes of Extinction
1.Increased human population
2.Destruction/Fragmentation of Habitat
3.Pollution
4.Climate Change/Global Warming

Natural factors usually take place at a slower speed than human factors and therefore give rise to a lower extinction rate.  Human activities happen at a faster rate and cause more extinction rates.  Human activities are in charge of the present extinction rates.

By: Aditya Raj Awasthi

Class 6

National Pinnacle School