Extinction

Extinction refers to the disappearance of an animal group (e.g. a species), from the evolutionary period. It is not an unusual event, but rather a natural phenomenon. It is estimated that 99.9% of all species that ever lived on earth are now extinct. 

Extinction appears to be the ultimate fate of all species. The rate of extinction spikes in occasional mass extinction events. The 2 ways in which species may become extinct are:

• negative role of environmental selection in evolution (species develops a way of life such that a change in environment would prevent its persistence). 
• a species may become extinct as it is transformed into another. 

Major Extinction events:

1. Permian-Triassic extinction - Though it is less known, it was the most severe and approximately 96% of species were driven to extinction. 
2. Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction - The non-avian dinosaurs went extinct.
3. Holocene extinction - Ongoing mass extinction associated with humanity's expansion across the globe over the past few thousand years. Present-day extinction rates: 10-1000 times greater than the background rate. 

Application of Physical Anthropology in Sports

The cultural aspect of sports is undeniable, but the biological aspect is considerably responsible for performance in any sport, i.e. factors like body size, proportions, physique, and nutrition. Many of the required traits are acquired through heredity, but they are also influenced by the environment to a large extent. Psychological factors like motivation, training, etc. play a role in moulding sportive behaviour.

Hence, cultural, biological, environmental and psychological aspects must be understood to understand sports and performance. Thus, laying the foundation for the anthropological role in this field. 

Kinanthropometry is a specialized branch of physical anthropology that evaluates an individual's physical structure. It focuses on selecting the fit genotypes which is suitable for a particular sport, to attain its full potential, because -

training and other external influences can change a person's morphological status only within narrow limits set by genotype. It is impossible to alter the capacity of the genotype.

hence, Kinanthropometry enabled anthropologists to classify humans into different somatotypes and suggest the right sport for them.

Physical anthropometry also plays a constructive role in designing sports equipment using anthropometric techniques.

Reference: IGNOU Study Materials