Final answer:
An example of antagonistic interactions between two causes of biodiversity loss is how habitat fragmentation disrupts predator-prey dynamics and plant-animal mutualisms, leading to further declines in species and interactions, thus exacerbating biodiversity loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of antagonistic interactions between two causes of biodiversity loss is the impact of habitat fragmentation on predator-prey dynamics. As natural habitats are fragmented, predator and prey species may become isolated from one another, disrupting their interaction cycles. For instance, suppose the habitat of the lynx and snowshoe hare is fragmented, leading to a decrease in hare populations due to lack of suitable habitat. This decline would subsequently affect the lynx population, which relies on the hares for food.
As the lynx population decreases, the hare population might increase due to reduced predation pressure; however, habitat fragmentation limits their resurgence, leading to a different cycle than what would occur in an intact habitat. This interaction showcases how habitat fragmentation can exacerbate the effects of predation to further reduce biodiversity. Similarly, habitat fragmentation can affect plant-animal mutualisms by reducing pollinator abundance, hindering the reproductive success of both plants and their pollinators and potentially leading to a loss in biodiversity.