Extinction L.O: To understand why a species may become extinct Starter: In pairs make a list of extinct animals and endangered animals. Mind map – what caused their extinction

Extinction is the permanent loss of all members of a species from the face of the earth. Species become extinct if they cannot adapt to a change in the environment or to the arrival of other organisms (speciation).

General causes of extinction Environmental changes e.g. climate or change in land use by humans Predators including human hunters (prey do not have time to adapt to avoid predators) Diseases (usually a problem where animals or plants are close together e.g. on islands) Competition (for food, water, space or mates). Catastrophic event like volcano or asteroids

Tasmanian Wolf The Tasmanian Wolf is believed to have been extinct for nearly sixty-five years. It was hunted until almost extinction The remaining few died from disease They few remaining were put into captivity to try to save them but this failed

/issues/rarespecies/ asp Illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade Habitat degradation and fragmentation Disease transmission

species/index.asp

Extinction worksheet

Copy and complete the sentences using the words below: ___________ is the permanent loss if all members of a ____________ from the ___________. It may be caused by changes to the _________ or ___________, to new_________, new ___________ or possibly new ________. ClimatecompetitorsdiseasesEarth environmentExtinctionpredatorsspecies