Since the origin and diversification of life on Earth, there have been five episodes of mass extinction of species. How is the sixth extinction which is in progress, different from the previous episodes ?

Step-by-step solution

According to the standard biological literature, during the long period since the origin and diversification of life on Earth, there have been five episodes of mass extinction of species. The 'Sixth Extinction' presently in progress is different from the previous episodes primarily in terms of the rate of extinction. The current species extinction rates are estimated to be 100 to 1000 times faster than in the pre-human times, and human activities are responsible for these accelerated rates. Answer: The present spec