BRAINCAKEExtinction
A species is extinct when the last individual has died. Extinction is permanent: the species' unique combination of alleles is lost for ever. A species is extinct in the wild when it survives only in captivity or cultivation.
Extinction is a natural part of evolution. Species die out when they cannot adapt quickly enough to changes in their environment or to new competitors, predators or diseases. More than 99% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct. The normal, slow rate at which this happens is called the background extinction rate.
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More in Human Influence on Ecosystems
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All 29 lessons in Human Influence on Ecosystems · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics