Species Extinction Flashcards
Why do animals go extinct?
• Pollination
• Invasive Species
• Habitat Destruction
• Climate Change
• Natural Disasters
• Competition
• Hunting
What happens if pollinators go extinct?
Extinction of pollinators would cause a global extinction level event. If the pollinators go extinct there is no one to keep the earth alive.
Pollinators are one of the most important groups of animals on the planet. Without them the planet would not be able to sustain itself as almost every species in the world relies on pollinators to grow plants.
If they disappeared plants would no longer be pollinated to the extent, we need and eventually we would begin to run out of oxygen on the planet resulting in almost all life on earth dying out
What happens if non- native species are introduced?
The introduction of an invasive species often results in some species going extinct in their area. These new animals can bring diseases which the natives may not be immune to, they could out compete the natives for food or habitats, the invasive animals may also hunt the natives to extinction.
How does habitat destruction play a role in extinction?
Habitat destruction is a major cause for species extinction, this can occur naturally however it is more common for habitat destruction to be caused by human development.
The destruction of the habitat reduces the available space and resources for animals to survive. If the animals can’t adapt to the new habitat or relocate, they can go extinct.
How will climate change impact extinction?
Climate change will impact animal all over the world but in some cases the change is so drastic that the animals cannot evolve fast enough resulting in their extinction.
Climate change is a natural occurrence and reshapes the landscape. During the Ica Age, the planet’s temperature dropped drastically causing large portions to turn into arctic tundra. People often assume climate change is a man-made problem, however it is completely natural, what humans have done is sped up the climate change process causing our planet to begin it’s shift earlier than it should have, resulting in species going extinct
How does natural disasters cause extinction?
Natural disasters are events caused by nature which causes immense destruction in an area which can lead to extinction. Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, wildfires, meteors etc. It is theorised that a natural disaster of a giant meteor hitting earth is what caused the Dinosaurs to go extinct
How does competition play a role in extinction?
Animals can go extinct due to competition from another species, this can be for food, territory and other resources.
This is linked to non-native species introduction in some cases however not always. It can be also due to migratory competition and some species adapting to require the same resources as others
How does hunting cause extinction?
Hunting is a common cause of extinction for prey species. Usually because of humans, animals can be over hunted to the point where they are killed off. Although this isn’t always caused by humans, humans are the largest cause of extinction by hunting than any other species on the planet.
