Estimates indicate the average annual background extinction rate is one species lost for each million species on earth per year.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This rate, often referred to as the "background" or "natural" rate of extinction, is a baseline against which current, human-driven rates of extinction can be compared. It suggests that naturally, without human influence, we would expect to lose about one species per million species per year.

Estimates Indicate the Average Annual Background Extinction Rate Is One