background extinction

Background extinction refers to the normal, ongoing process where individual species gradually disappear over time due to natural causes such as changing environmental conditions, competition, or disease. It’s a continuous, low-level loss of species that occurs worldwide, contrasting with mass extinctions, which are rare events causing the rapid disappearance of many species simultaneously. Background extinction is a natural part of the Earth's ecological balance, allowing for evolutionary adaptation and the emergence of new species over long periods.