EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Species endangerment and extinction have three major anthropogenic causes-overhunting or overharvesting; introduction of nonnative species, including the spread of disease; and habitat degradation or loss.

Detailed explanation-2: -Unlike previous extinction events caused by natural phenomena, the sixth mass extinction is driven by human activity, primarily (though not limited to) the unsustainable use of land, water and energy use, and climate change. Currently, 40% of all land has been converted for food production.

Detailed explanation-3: -The current extinction crisis is entirely of our own making. More than a century of habitat destruction, pollution, the spread of invasive species, overharvest from the wild, climate change, population growth and other human activities have pushed nature to the brink.

Detailed explanation-4: -What causes mass extinctions? Past mass extinctions were caused by extreme temperature changes, rising or falling sea levels and catastrophic, one-off events such as huge volcanic eruptions or an asteroid hitting Earth. We know about them because we can see how life has changed in the fossil record.

Detailed explanation-5: -There are two main types of extinction: Mass extinction and background extinction. Mass extinction has only occurred five times in history.