Question

what is Four most significant causes for extinction (as recognised by the IUCN and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment)

Answer 1

The four main causes of species extinction are habitat loss, the introduction of exotic species, overharvesting, and climate change. These factors are largely driven by human activities such as deforestation, urban expansion, unsustainable hunting and fishing, and the use of fossil fuels.

Step-by-step explanation:

The four most significant causes for extinction recognized by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment are:

1. Habitat loss, which is primarily driven by human activities such as agriculture, forestry, mining, and urbanization, leading to the disturbance or destruction of natural habitats.
2. Introduction of exotic species, which can outcompete, prey upon, or bring diseases to native species, often resulting in the decline or extinction of those native species.
3. Overharvesting, which affects both terrestrial and aquatic species, as humans harvest flora and fauna at rates faster than their populations can recover.
4. Climate change, driven by anthropogenic activities, that is predicted to have an increasing impact on species extinction in the future through changes in habitat, resources, and the timing of ecological interactions.