Question

1. what occurs during a mass extinction?

Explanation:

A mass extinction is a significant, sudden, and widespread decrease in biodiversity. It involves the rapid loss of a large number of species across various ecosystems. This can be caused by factors like asteroid impacts (e.g., the event that likely led to the extinction of non - avian dinosaurs), large - scale volcanic eruptions (such as the Siberian Traps eruptions which may have contributed to the Permian - Triassic extinction), climate change (e.g., rapid warming or cooling), and oceanic anoxia (lack of oxygen in the oceans). During a mass extinction, ecological niches are emptied, and the evolutionary trajectory of life on Earth is drastically altered. New species may eventually evolve to fill these niches in the aftermath.

Answer:

During a mass extinction, a large number of species die out relatively quickly across multiple ecosystems. This event can be triggered by various catastrophic events (e.g., asteroid impacts, massive volcanic eruptions) or rapid environmental changes (e.g., climate change, oceanic anoxia). It leads to the collapse of food webs, the loss of ecological interactions, and a major reshuffling of the Earth's biodiversity. In the long - term, it can also open up ecological niches for new species to evolve and diversify.