Final answer:
The habitat characteristics most likely to lead to extinction for the California Spotted Owl would be a large, high-quality patch with no connectivity, as isolation can prevent gene flow and increase the risk of local extinctions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The combination of habitat characteristics that would likely lead to the highest probability of extinction for the California Spotted Owl population living on a patch can be influenced by a variety of factors. However, when considering the broadest set of risks, option D – a large, high-quality patch with no connectivity to other patches – poses a particularly high risk of extinction. Connectivity to other patches is critical for maintaining genetic diversity and for the owls to have a chance at recolonization in case of local extinctions.
Studies show that small, isolated populations have increased extinction risks. Moreover, habitat quality and topographical variety are important, as seen with the Bay checkerspot butterfly, whose populations in heterogeneous fragments had lower extinction rates. Lastly, allopatric speciation, as evidenced by the genetic differences between northern and Mexican spotted owls due to geographical separation, underlines the importance of habitat connectivity and the impact of environmental factors on species divergence.