Week 5 - Earth Systems Module Revision for Class Test

What is the normal extinction rate?

10% per million years

30% per 10 million years

What is the definition of a mass extinction?

Where 75% of all organisms currently on the planet to go extinct over a short period of geological time (normally 2.8 million years of time).

What % of all species in Earth’s history have now gone extinct?

98%

What % of all marine invertebrate genera went extinct during the Late Ordovician mass extinction event?

60%

What % of all families genera went extinct during the Late Ordovician mass extinction event?

25%

What is carbon sequestration?

The removal of carbon from the atmosphere.

what is the definition of the biosphere?

The place on Earth’s surface where all life dwells (organisms as well as organic matter not yet decomposed).

What is the average surface temperature of Venus?

460 degrees C

What is the average surface temperature on Mars?

-50 degrees C

What is the average surface temperature on Earth?

15 degrees C

What is the average temperature range on Earth?

-50 degrees C to +50 degrees C

What is carbon fixing?

The process of fixing carbon into useable forms by primary producers.

What are phototrophs?

Organisms that make their energy through photosynthesis.

What is an example of a high production area?

Tropical rainforests.

What is an example of a low production area?

• the poles

• mountain ranges

• deserts

What are the 3 stages of the development of life?

1. Monomers

2. Polymers

3. Cells

What does RNA stand for?

Ribonucleic Acid

What does DNA stand for?

Deoxyribonucleic Acid