---
cited_by: []
definition: 'mass extinction is a sharp decrease in the diversity and abundance of macroscopic life. They occur when the rate of extinction increases with respect to the rate of speciation. Because the majority of diversity and biomass on Earth is microbial, and thus difficult to measure, recorded extinction events affect the easily observed, biologically complex component of the biosphere rather than the total diversity and abundance of life.[1]'
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/gcmd_keyword/703d0c14-1978-4e7f-a51a-233c695823b9.yaml
identifier: 703d0c14-1978-4e7f-a51a-233c695823b9
label: MASS EXTINCTIONS
parent_identifier: c9a5b3eb-7556-41a8-a2b8-c015db80e5b2
uri: /gcmd_keyword/703d0c14-1978-4e7f-a51a-233c695823b9