Final answer:
The covariance between the destruction of the rainforest and species loss is a negative correlation, meaning as rainforest destruction increases, the number of species decreases. This is due to the loss of necessary habitats for species survival and is backed by studies on the species-area relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the destruction of the rainforest leads to a loss of species, the covariance between the rainforest and species would be negative correlation. A negative correlation indicates that as one variable increases (in this case, rainforest destruction), the other variable (species numbers) decreases. Several biological studies support this conclusion, demonstrating that habitat loss, specifically deforestation, leads to species extinction. This is further understood through the species-area relationship, which shows that as habitat area decreases, the number of species supported by that habitat also decreases. The overwhelming loss of biodiversity from deforestation is primarily due to human activities, which eliminate the habitats necessary for various species to survive.
Additionally, the loss of rainforest can lead to various negative consequences, including alterations in climate regulation, which can negatively affect even those species not immediately lost due to habitat destruction. Predictions based on current trends suggest that further destruction would lead not only to a loss of biodiversity but to broader ecological repercussions, such as difficulty in food production, scarcity of clean water, and a slower rate of development for new medicines.