Scientists have used the fossil record to estimate the average length of time that a species inhabits the Earth. How can this estimate be useful for assessing the impact of humans on the Earth's biological diversity?
A) It can help determine how long the human species might survive.
B) It can determine which species might become extinct soon, even if humans aren't involved.
C) It can estimate how many species extinctions are caused by human activity.
D) It can assure us that human activity is not the cause of most species extinctions.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By estimating the average length of time a species inhabits the Earth, scientists can compare this to the current rate of extinction to determine if human activity is causing a significantly higher level of species loss than would be expected naturally. This can help us understand the impact of human activity on biodiversity and inform conservation efforts.

Scientists Have Used the Fossil Record to Estimate the Average