Extinction More Complex Than Realized

A study on brachiopod fossils has revealed that the species did not follow the normal path to extinction. Steven Holland, professor of geology in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences said that "It turns out that a lot of extinction events are idiosyncratic; there are a specific set of circumstances that come together and dictate whether something goes or doesn't." This is a much different understanding and reasoning than our usual, 'larger population, better chance of survival; smaller population, better chance of extinction' thinking.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508112844.htm