Extinction (AQA GCSE Biology)

Revision Note

Lára Marie McIvor

Written by: Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewed by: Lucy Kirkham

Extinctions

  • Extinctions occur when there are no remaining individuals of a species still alive

  • Species that are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to survive and reproduce compared to species that are well adapted to their environment

  • If they are unable to survive and reproduce sufficiently to maintain their population numbers they will eventually go extinct

  • Some factors which may contribute to the extinction of a species include:

Factors that can lead to extinction table

Factors that can lead to extinction table, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Extinction is occurring all the time. Although it is happening naturally for many of the reasons in the table above, human activities have also massively increased extinction rates in recent history.We are very successful predators and have hunted many species to extinction (eg. the dodo). We also compete very effectively against other species for resources such as space, food and water.


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Lára Marie McIvor

Author: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

Lucy Kirkham

Author: Lucy Kirkham

Expertise: Head of STEM

Lucy has been a passionate Maths teacher for over 12 years, teaching maths across the UK and abroad helping to engage, interest and develop confidence in the subject at all levels.Working as a Head of Department and then Director of Maths, Lucy has advised schools and academy trusts in both Scotland and the East Midlands, where her role was to support and coach teachers to improve Maths teaching for all.