In each of the mass extinctions indicated by arrows in the graph below, what can

Question

In each of the mass extinctions indicated by arrows in the graph below, what can you conclude based on the slope of the loss and subsequent rebound of species number ? a) the rates of extinction and new species are equal b) the same species return after each extinction event c) the rate of extinction is much faster than the rate of new species formation d) the rate of extinction is much slower than the rate of new species formation Copyright O The McGraw-Hil Companies, Inc. Permission required for 0 Cretaceous 100 200 Triassic- Permian 300 Devonian 400 500 600m 0 200 400 600 800 1000 Number of families

Explanation / Answer

d) the rate of extinction is much slower than the rate of new species formation.

The number of families 600 mya are much fewer compared to the number of families 100 mya. Though there is a loss of species diversity in due course, overall, there is an increase in biodiversity with time. This means that the rate of extinction is slower compared to that of formation of species.

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