Extinction of Species

Extinction of Species: As per the definition, “Extinction is the process of evolution that leads to the disappearance of a population or species.” In simpler words, Extinction is the death of all members of a species of plants, animals, or other organisms.

In this article, we will study in depth the Extinction of Species. We will take a look at a list of some of the Extinct Species and learn about the cause of Extinction as well.

Let’s explore.

What is Extinction of Species?

When a species disappears forever, we lose all its genetic information. Species change and become new ones to cope with environmental or genetic changes. A huge number of species, more than five billion, have vanished over Earth’s history. Now, we estimate there are between 10 to 14 million species, but we’ve only studied around 1.2 million. That means over 86% of them are still unknown. Extinctions can happen naturally, like when the climate changes, or because of human actions, such as hunting too much or destroying habitats.

Even though it’s not always clear, extinction has three main parts:

1. For a group of species, extinction is likely if the things causing harm are so rare that the species hasn’t dealt with them before. This makes it hard for natural selection to help.
2. Big extinctions can shake up life on Earth. Some successful groups may disappear, making room for smaller groups to grow.
3. Sometimes, extinction seems to happen selectively, as argued by Darwin. But it’s tough to predict which species will be the next to go extinct.

List of Some Extinct Species

The passenger pigeon is a bird that doesn’t exist anymore, and humans are the reason it disappeared. Many other animals have also disappeared because of things people did in the last few hundred years, like:

Year of Extinction	Name of the Species	Reason for Extinciton
1690	Dodo Bird	Extinct from predation by introduced pigs and cats
1768	Stellar’s Sea Cow	Extinct from hunting for fur and oil
1870	Labrador Duck	Extinct from human competition for mussels and other shellfish
1900	Rocky Mountain Locust	Extinct from habitat conversion to farmland
1936	Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger or Wolf)	Extinct from hunting, habitat loss, and competition with dogs
1952	Deepwater Cisco Fish	Extinct from competition and predation by introduced fishes
1962	Hawaii Chaff Flower	Extinct from habitat conversion to military installations
1989	Golden Toad	Extinct from climate change or other impacts
2004	St. Helena Olive Tre	Extinct from logging and plantations

Causes of Extinction of Species

The important causes of extinction include:

1. Asteroid Strikes

A long time ago, a big rock from space hit Mexico and caused the dinosaurs to disappear. Many mass extinctions, like the ones called KT extinction or Permian-Triassic extinction, happened because of similar events. Astronomers are always watching for any comets or meteors that could end human civilization.

2. Climate Change

Changes in the Earth’s climate can harm land-living creatures. When the last ice age ended, lots of big animals couldn’t handle the warmer weather. They didn’t have enough food, and early humans hunted them. Now, with global warming, our modern way of life is also at risk.

3. Diseases

Big sickness outbreaks have caused epidemics, affecting lots of people and animals. In the Middle Ages, the Black Death wiped out a third of the European population.

4. Loss of Habitat

Every animal has a favorite place to live and raise babies. For example, a bird likes being on a tree branch. Because people are spreading out and building more, many forests, which are homes for lots of animals, are being destroyed. This makes it hard for animals to find space and food, reducing their populations.

5. Lack of Genetic Diversity

When there are fewer and fewer species, their gene pool (their genetic variety) gets smaller. For example, African cheetahs have less genetic diversity because they are losing their homes.

6. Better Adapted Competition

The animals that are best at surviving win over the ones that aren’t as good. For example, prehistoric mammals were better at surviving than dinosaurs. The ones that are well-adapted stick around, while the others disappear.

7. Pollution

The harmful chemicals that industries and vehicles release into the air and water is making a big change. This pollution is hurting and killing many water and land creatures.

Extinction Rates

Recent studies suggest there are around eight million species on Earth, and at least 15,000 of them are at risk of extinction. It’s tough to know the exact rate at which species are disappearing because some endangered ones haven’t been found or studied yet. Scientists are trying to figure out better ways to calculate this.

Even though the exact rate is tricky to determine, scientists agree that the number of species going extinct today is much higher than what would naturally happen. If we look at the fossil record, which shows us how species disappeared in the past, the normal rate is about one species per every one million species each year.

But now, the rate is way faster, hundreds or even thousands of times more. Scientists are in a hurry to identify and study all the different species on Earth because time is running out due to ongoing extinctions.

List of Extinct Species of Animals

Following is the list of important extinct species of animals:

• Passenger Pigeon
• Dodo
• Tasmanian Tiger
• Baiji White Dolphin
• Pyrenean Ibex
• Stellers Sea Cow
• Great Auk
• Mammoth
• Sabre-toothed Cat

Conclusion – Extinction of Species

An important part of the evolution of life is the process of extinction, which results in the extinction of entire populations or species. It creates room for the emergence of new species. We looked at a list of some extinct species in our investigation on species extinction and discovered the several reasons why they vanished. It is vital to protect Earth’s biodiversity as well as to acknowledge our part in influencing the course of life as we know it in the future. The lessons learned from extinct species highlight the delicate balance needed to keep our various ecosystems alive.

FAQs on Extinction of Species

What are endangered species?

Species classified as endangered are those whose population has dropped to a point where they are in immediate risk of becoming extinct and whose survival is doubtful if causes contributing to their decline continue to exist.
For Example: The Asiatic Lion, the Bengal Tiger, and the Snow Leopard.

How many species have humans made extinct?

The precise number of species made extinct by humans is challenging to determine due to several factors, including undiscovered species that have gone extinct before being scientifically described, historical extinctions that may not have been accurately recorded, and ongoing debates about the causes of certain extinctions. However, it is widely acknowledged that human activity has significantly accelerated the rate of species extinction.

What are the 10 causes of species extinction?

1. Habitat Destruction: Loss of natural habitats due to human activities.
2. Climate Change: Global warming and changing climates affect species’ survival.
3. Invasive Species: Non-native species outcompete or prey on native species.
4. Pollution: Contaminants harm or kill wildlife and disrupt ecosystems.
5. Overexploitation: Overhunting, fishing, and harvesting reduce species populations.
6. Disease: Spread of diseases can decimate vulnerable species.
7. Pollination Decline: Reduction in pollinator species affects plant reproduction.
8. Pesticides and Herbicides: Chemicals can be toxic to various species.
9. Natural Disasters: Volcanic eruptions, floods, and fires can cause sudden extinction.
10. Human Population Growth: Leads to increased demand for land and resources, exacerbating other factors.

What are endemic species?

Endemic species are those with restricted distributions. It’s not always the case that an endemic species is uncommon or limited in its range. The region that endemism is measured over determines this.
For Example: The Large Ground-Finch is endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

What is the main cause of extinction?

The main factor contributing to increased extinction rates is habitat loss. Additional factors include the introduction of dangerous non-native species, pollution, disease transmission, overexploitation of animals for economic gain, and changes in habitat.

What does extinction of a species mean?

When a species of animal or plant goes extinct, it means that there are no longer any living members of that species anywhere in the globe. This is how evolution works naturally.

What is the difference between endangered and extinct animals?

Endangered animals: The species which are on the verge of extinction and which are required to be protected and conserved are called endangered animals.
Example: Tiger, Wild Buffalo etc.
Extinct animals: The animals that no longer exist on Earth are called extinct animals.
Example: Dinosaurs, Dodo, etc.