Final answer:
Option D.
Sudden environmental changes lead to species extinction by causing habitat loss, inability to adapt, and fierce competition for dwindling resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Sudden Environmental Change Can Lead to Extinction
A sudden and drastic environmental change, such as a volcanic eruption or a sudden increase in temperature, can lead to the extinction of a species due to several interconnected factors.
These include the loss of habitat and resources, which may occur when the natural environment is altered to a point where it cannot support the species' needs, leading to a decrease in biodiversity.
Another factor is the inability to adapt to the new conditions, which is crucial since not all populations can successfully evolve quickly enough to cope with rapid environmental shifts.
Additionally, there is the issue of increased competition for the limited resources that remain, often exacerbating the survival challenges for less well-adapted species.
Human activities contribute significantly to this problem. They cause habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, which are major causes of extinction.
The introduction of invasive species can also lead to a decline in native species due to increased predation and disruption of the community structure.
Thus, it is understood that a combination of these factors is responsible for pushing a species towards extinction following abrupt environmental change.
Please mention correct option in final answer: d) All of the above.
Sudden environmental changes can lead to extinction due to habitat loss, inability to adapt, and increased resource competition.