What defines an event as a mass extinction rather than background extinction?
Answer
A loss exceeding the baseline, impacting many taxonomic groups across the globe
A mass extinction is defined by a loss of life that far surpasses the constant background rate and must affect a substantial percentage of life across many different taxonomic groups worldwide.
Related Questions
What defines an event as a mass extinction rather than background extinction?Which of the five major mass extinctions is known as 'The Great Dying'?What massive geological feature is strongly linked to the Permian-Triassic extinction?What immediate global effect did the material ejected by the K-Pg impactor cause?Which gases are pumped into the atmosphere by extreme, sustained volcanism?What devastating ocean stressor results directly from volcanic gas emissions?How do massive ice sheets impact marine life during intense global cooling periods?What is a primary driver of the current, sixth mass extinction event?What distinguishes the pacing of the K-Pg extinction compared to the P-T extinction?How long can the recovery of biodiversity take following ancient mass extinctions?