Question

With an extinction rate of 100 E/MSY and an estimated 10

million species, how many extinctions are expected to

occur in a century?

a. 100

b. 10,000

c. 100,000

d. 1,000,000

Short answer

The correct option is (c).

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Given information

Given the rate of extinction- 100 E/MSY

Estimated species given- 10 million

Step 2. Description

Taking all variables into account, the approximated rate of extinction is around 100 per million species per year (E/MSY).

If 10 million species are currently estimated to exist, then the estimated rate of extinction for 10 million species is 1,000 per year.

Because a century is made up of 100 years, the number of extinctions will undoubtedly be greater than 100 and 10,000. Similarly, the number of extinctions would be less than one million.