Standard 2: Students will understand that the features of Earth’s evolving environment affect living systems, and that life on Earth is unique in the solar system.

Objective 3: Examine Earth's diversity of life as it changes over time.
c. Explain factors that contribute to the extinction of a species.
d. Compare evidence supporting various theories that explain the causes of large-scale extinctions in the past with factors causing the loss of species today.
e. Evaluate the biological, esthetic, ethical, social, or economic arguments with regard to maintaining biodiversity.