What is the difference between a mass extinction and a regular (background)? extinction?
A. mass extinction can be caused by ecological factors like climate change and loss of habitat
B. Mass extinction occurs over a long period of time
C. Mass extinction is ongoing and is a regular process that results from evolution
D. Mass extinction involves many species over a short period of geologic time
D. Mass extinction involves many species over a short period of geologic time.
A mass extinction event is characterized by a significant and rapid decline in the number of species on Earth, often caused by catastrophic events such as volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, or climate change. In contrast, regular (background) extinction occurs at a slower pace and is a natural part of the evolutionary process, typically affecting only a few species at a time.