Question

UPSC Prelims 2018 Question:

The term "sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction" is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of

1. Widespread monoculture practices in agriculture and large-scale commercial farming with indiscriminate use of chemicals in many parts of the world that may result in the loss of good native ecosystems.
2. Fears of a possible collision of a meteorite with the Earth in the near future in the manner it happened 65 million years ago that caused the mass extinction of many species including those of dinosaurs.
3. Large scale cultivation of genetically modified crops in many parts of the world and promoting their cultivation in other parts of the world which may cause the disappearance of good native crop plants and the loss of food biodiversity.
4. Mankind's over-exploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4: Mankind's over-exploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.

Detailed Solution

Explanation:

A mass extinction is a short period of geological time in which a high percentage of biodiversity, or distinct species- bacteria, fungi, plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates die out. The planet has experienced five previous mass extinction events, the last one occurring 65.5 million years ago which wiped out the dinosaurs from existence. Experts now believe we’re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.
Unlike previous extinction events caused by natural phenomena, the sixth mass extinction is driven by unsustainable use of land, water and energy by mankind and human led fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.