BRAINCAKEEndangered Species
An endangered species is one at high risk of becoming extinct in the wild in the near future. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assesses species and publishes the Red List of Threatened Species.
The IUCN categories, from lowest to highest risk, are:
• Least Concern
• Near Threatened
• Vulnerable
• Endangered
• Critically Endangered
• Extinct in the Wild (survives only in captivity or cultivation)
• Extinct
Species that are Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered are together described as threatened. Species with too little information to assess are classed as Data Deficient.
A species is placed in a category using criteria such as:
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More in Human Influence on Ecosystems
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- Fish Farming and Aquaculture
- Extinction
- Human Causes of Extinction
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All 29 lessons in Human Influence on Ecosystems · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics