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What happens when species go extinct? - Summary
Living things play important roles in the ecosystems they are part of. In this KS2 explainer from The Regenerators, pupils discover what extinction means, why some species become endangered and how changes to habitats can affect entire ecosystems.
In this video, students will learn:
- What extinction means.
- What makes a species endangered.
- What mass extinctions are.
- How human activities can affect species and habitats.
- Why healthy ecosystems are important for people and wildlife.
Classroom video - Living things
We need to protect living things
Our explainers are engaging, collage-style animations which explain many of the issues and themes around sustainability.
This video is a fun, concise answer to the question: What happens when species go extinct? It is the perfect springboard for classroom discussions.
Narrator: Imagine if all the cats in the world suddenly disappeared. That would make cats extinct.
Extinction is when there are no more individuals of a certain species left alive anywhere in the world! But extinction is part of life on Earth.
In fact 99 percent of all living things that have ever existed are extinct. Species come and go all the time, but there are moments in Earths history when living things have died out at a much faster rate.
These are called mass extinctions and they've been caused by things like asteroids, giant volcanic eruptions and ice ages.
Some scientists think human activity might be causing a mass extinction now. Humans are destroying natural habitats and global warming is causing environments to change rapidly! And this is causing more and more species to become endangered.
A species is endangered when the number of individuals is going down. So they are at risk of becoming extinct. If a species goes extinct its role in the eco-system is often filled by another species. This unbalancing of an eco-system can lead to problems for humans too.
Healthy eco-systems clean our water and air; as well as provide food and protection from disease. So, although cats are not likely to disappear any time soon, there are lots of plants and animals that need us to change, so they can keep living happily and maintain a healthy, balanced eco-system.
Quick facts about extinction
- Extinction happens when no individuals of a species remain alive anywhere in the world.
- Around 99% of all living things that have ever existed are now extinct.
- Mass extinctions have been caused by events such as asteroid impacts, volcanic eruptions and ice ages.
- A species is endangered when its population is decreasing and it is at risk of extinction.
- Healthy ecosystems help clean air and water, provide food and support human health.
Let's discuss: Why do you think protecting habitats is important for preventing species from becoming endangered?
More resources for this video can be found in the Green Classroom: What is extinction? lesson page.
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