IB ESS HL 3.002.13 Biosphere Integrity Boundary Question Bank

global rates of extinction have been relatively constant over long periods; ...and relatively low as extinction was balanced by rates of speciation; there have been major peaks / 5 mass extinctions with unusually high extinction rates; ... associated with relatively sudden changes in natural global cycles eg ice age/volcanic activity/plate tectonics; ...or catastrophic events eg, Asteroid impact;
...most recent/current peak is anthropogenic / $6^{\text {th }}$ mass extinction due to human causes;
eg hunting/urbanisation/global warming/habitat destruction;