Final answer:
The extinction of a species can destabilize ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt vital ecological functions and services. Keystone species' extinctions are especially damaging, and the current high rate of species loss has significant implications for human welfare through the loss of ecosystem services.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a species dies off, it can have significant impacts on the ecosystem it leaves behind. If the extinct species was a keystone species, such as a major predator or a vital plant species, its absence can lead to a domino effect, potentially causing other species to suffer or also go extinct. This can harm the ecosystem's stability and lead to a loss in biodiversity. Moreover, the loss of producers or decomposers could severely disrupt the energy flow and nutrient cycling within an ecosystem. Extinction is a natural part of evolution, but the current high rates of extinction are concerning because they mean losing tens of thousands of species within our lifetimes, often due to human activities, which can have profound consequences for ecosystem services such as food production, clean air and water, and even human health. Additionally, entire ecosystems such as prairies and rainforests are at risk, which not only means the loss of individual species but also the unique interactions and biological productivity these ecosystems support.