Back
0

Extinction Events: Causes, Consequences, and Patterns

Description: This quiz will test your knowledge about extinction events, their causes, consequences, and patterns.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: paleontology extinction events causes consequences patterns
Start the Quiz
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0
‹
›

Which of the following is NOT a known cause of mass extinction events?

  1. Asteroid impacts

  2. Volcanic eruptions

  3. Climate change

  4. Disease outbreaks

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Disease outbreaks are not considered to be a major cause of mass extinction events, as they typically affect only a small number of species.

The Chicxulub impact, which is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, occurred approximately how many years ago?

  1. 65 million years ago

  2. 100 million years ago

  3. 250 million years ago

  4. 500 million years ago

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Chicxulub impact occurred approximately 65 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period.

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of mass extinction events?

  1. Loss of biodiversity

  2. Ecological disruption

  3. Evolutionary opportunities

  4. Increased competition for resources

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Mass extinction events can lead to evolutionary opportunities for surviving species, as they may be able to fill the ecological niches left vacant by extinct species.

The Permian-Triassic extinction event, which is considered to be the most severe mass extinction event in Earth's history, is estimated to have killed what percentage of all marine species?

  1. 50%

  2. 75%

  3. 90%

  4. 95%

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Permian-Triassic extinction event is estimated to have killed approximately 95% of all marine species.

Which of the following is NOT a pattern that has been observed in mass extinction events?

  1. They tend to occur in clusters

  2. They are more common during periods of high global temperatures

  3. They are more common during periods of low sea levels

  4. They are more common during periods of high atmospheric oxygen levels

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Mass extinction events are not more common during periods of high atmospheric oxygen levels.

The term "background extinction rate" refers to the:

  1. Average rate of extinction over long periods of time

  2. Rate of extinction during mass extinction events

  3. Rate of extinction caused by human activities

  4. Rate of extinction caused by natural disasters

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The background extinction rate is the average rate of extinction over long periods of time, typically measured in species per million years.

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can contribute to the vulnerability of a species to extinction?

  1. Small population size

  2. Narrow geographic range

  3. Specialized diet

  4. High reproductive rate

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

A high reproductive rate can actually help a species to recover from population declines, making it less vulnerable to extinction.

The concept of "ecological release" refers to the:

  1. Process by which species adapt to new environments after a mass extinction event

  2. Process by which species expand their ranges after a mass extinction event

  3. Process by which species diversify into new forms after a mass extinction event

  4. Process by which species go extinct after a mass extinction event

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Ecological release refers to the process by which species expand their ranges and occupy new ecological niches after a mass extinction event.

Which of the following is NOT a type of mass extinction event?

  1. Impact event

  2. Volcanic eruption

  3. Climate change

  4. Habitat destruction

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Habitat destruction is not a type of mass extinction event, as it is caused by human activities rather than natural processes.

The term "Lazarus taxon" refers to a:

  1. Species that goes extinct and then reappears in the fossil record

  2. Species that survives a mass extinction event and then goes extinct

  3. Species that evolves rapidly after a mass extinction event

  4. Species that migrates to a new environment after a mass extinction event

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A Lazarus taxon is a species that goes extinct and then reappears in the fossil record, sometimes millions of years later.

Which of the following is NOT a potential consequence of the current biodiversity crisis?

  1. Loss of ecosystem services

  2. Increased risk of pandemics

  3. Economic instability

  4. Improved human health

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The current biodiversity crisis is not expected to lead to improved human health.

The term "sixth extinction" refers to the:

  1. Current biodiversity crisis

  2. Permian-Triassic extinction event

  3. Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event

  4. Ordovician-Silurian extinction event

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The term "sixth extinction" refers to the current biodiversity crisis, which is considered to be the sixth mass extinction event in Earth's history.

Which of the following is NOT a strategy that can be used to mitigate the current biodiversity crisis?

  1. Protecting and restoring habitats

  2. Reducing pollution

  3. Promoting sustainable agriculture

  4. Introducing new species to ecosystems

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Introducing new species to ecosystems is not a strategy that can be used to mitigate the current biodiversity crisis, as it can lead to the extinction of native species.

The term "keystone species" refers to a species that:

  1. Has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance

  2. Is at the top of the food chain

  3. Is a specialist feeder

  4. Is a generalist feeder

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.

Which of the following is NOT a potential consequence of the extinction of keystone species?

  1. Cascading extinctions

  2. Ecosystem collapse

  3. Loss of biodiversity

  4. Increased ecosystem resilience

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The extinction of keystone species can lead to cascading extinctions, ecosystem collapse, and loss of biodiversity, but it is not expected to lead to increased ecosystem resilience.

- Hide questions
ADVERTISEMENT

Find more quizzes from top tags

general knowledge
3615 Quizzes
119858 Questions
 technology
307 Quizzes
36705 Questions
 sports
963 Quizzes
19148 Questions
 history
1187 Quizzes
13475 Questions
 physics
598 Quizzes
13441 Questions
 biology
1160 Quizzes
12174 Questions
 science & technology
551 Quizzes
11015 Questions
 chemistry
490 Quizzes
9892 Questions
 maths
518 Quizzes
9324 Questions
 softskills
0 Quizzes
7131 Questions