How Does the Rate of Extinction Today Compare to the Rates

Question

How does the rate of extinction today compare to the rates in the past?
A) The rate is much lower today than it has been, on average, in the past.
B) The rate is about the same today as it has been, on average, in the past.
C) The rate is much higher today than it has been, on average, in the past.
D) The extinction rate today can't be estimated or calculated.

Accepted Answer

The current rate of extinction is estimated to be 1000 to 10,000 times higher than the average rate over the past 10 million years. This is largely due to human activities such as habitat destruction, climate change, and overexploitation.