mass extinction

A mass extinction is a widespread and rapid loss of many different species across the Earth’s ecosystems, significantly reducing biodiversity. These events usually happen due to major changes such as drastic climate shifts, volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, or other environmental stresses. They disrupt habitats and food sources, making survival difficult for numerous plants, animals, and microorganisms. While individual species may go extinct naturally over time, mass extinctions are characterized by a much higher rate of loss, often wiping out large percentages of living organisms in a relatively short period—shaping the course of Earth's biological history.