En anglais

When change outruns adaptation

Science · Ecosystems & Habitats · ages 12-14

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which of these animals is extinct?
- African elephant
- Woolly mammoth
- Asian elephant
How can rapid environmental change increase a species' extinction risk?
- Useful inherited traits may not spread before populations collapse
- Individuals choose helpful inherited traits
- Every species produces enough young to survive any change in its habitat
A mass extinction removes a large share of species worldwide in a short time on Earth's geological scale.
Circle one: True False
Two fish species have equal generation times. Each lives only in one lake and cannot move to cooler water. Both lakes warm by 1°C: Lake A over 1,000 years and Lake B over 20 years. Which species has less time for useful inherited traits to spread?
- The species in Lake B, which warms over 20 years
- The species in Lake A
- Both species have equal time because the warming is 1°C
Which activity removes food and shelter and can increase extinction risk for forest species?
- Restoring forest habitat
- Protecting woodland from further clearing
- Clearing forests for farmland
Which critically endangered animal in the lesson can drown in gillnets set for other species?
- Domestic goldfish
- Vaquita porpoise
- Common house sparrow
A forest species is losing nesting sites to clearing. A coastal species has suitable habitat but drowns in gillnets. Which plan tackles both reported threats most directly?
- Protect nesting habitat; keep gillnets out of coastal habitat
- Reduce forest hunting; restore coastal food
- Restore forest food plants; reduce coastal hunting while keeping gillnets
A report says current extinction rates exceed estimated background levels. A student concludes that this alone proves a large share of all species has already disappeared. Which response best evaluates the evidence?
- A higher rate proves a large share has vanished.
- Background rates vary, so current rates cannot be compared with them.
- Rates are elevated; measuring the share lost needs further evidence.

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

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Woolly mammoth · No woolly mammoths remain alive. African and Asian elephants still exist.
Useful inherited traits may not spread before populations collapse · Rapid change may leave too little time or useful inherited variation for populations to survive and reproduce. Extinction is possible, not certain.
True · A mass extinction combines widespread species loss with a short geological timescale. It does not mean every species dies on the same day.
The species in Lake B, which warms over 20 years · Lake B undergoes the same warming in less time. Equal generation times mean its fish have fewer generations for useful inherited traits to spread.
Clearing forests for farmland · Forest clearing removes habitat, including food and shelter used by forest species. This can reduce survival and reproduction.
Vaquita porpoise · Vaquita porpoises can become trapped and drown in gillnets set for other species.
Protect nesting habitat; keep gillnets out of coastal habitat · Protecting nesting habitat addresses the reported loss of nesting sites. Keeping gillnets out addresses drowning. Other conservation actions may help different problems, but they do not directly tackle both threats given here.
Rates are elevated; measuring the share lost needs further evidence. · The report supports an elevated extinction rate. Establishing a mass extinction also requires evidence about the worldwide share of species lost and the geological interval over which that loss occurred.