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Extinctions definitions

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  • Extinction
    A process that removes species from the tree of life, shaping biodiversity by ending evolutionary lineages.
  • Background Extinction
    A low, ongoing rate of species loss caused by competition or environmental changes, not linked to catastrophic events.
  • Mass Extinction
    A rare event where a large percentage of species vanish rapidly due to catastrophic environmental disruptions.
  • Permian Extinction
    A catastrophic event 252 million years ago, erasing 96% of marine and 70% of terrestrial species, mainly from volcanic activity.
  • Cretaceous Extinction
    A global crisis 66 million years ago, marked by a meteorite impact, that ended the reign of non-avian dinosaurs.
  • Phanerozoic
    The geological eon beginning with the Cambrian, characterized by abundant animal fossils and the big five extinctions.
  • Paleozoic
    An era from the Cambrian to the Permian, featuring early animal diversification and ending with a massive extinction.
  • Mesozoic
    The era following the Paleozoic, known as the age of dinosaurs, ending with the Cretaceous extinction.
  • Cenozoic
    The current era, beginning after the Cretaceous extinction, often called the age of mammals.
  • Pangaea
    A supercontinent existing during the Permian, where most terrestrial life was concentrated.
  • Acid Rain
    A phenomenon resulting from volcanic gases or impacts, causing widespread plant death and ecosystem collapse.
  • Ocean Acidification
    A chemical shift in seawater, often following extinctions, making survival difficult for marine organisms.
  • Background Extinction Rate
    The typical pace at which species disappear over time, serving as a baseline for comparing mass extinctions.
  • Sixth Extinction
    A current, human-driven biodiversity crisis with extinction rates far above historical norms.
  • Fossil Record
    The preserved remains and traces of ancient life, crucial for identifying extinction patterns and rates.