Final answer:
Endangered species are more likely to become extinct due to habitat loss and the disruption of natural disturbances. The rarity of a species also enhances the risk of extinction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Endangered species are more likely to become extinct than threatened species due to several factors. One of the main reasons is habitat loss, which is the leading cause of endangerment worldwide. When species are reduced to living in small, fragmented patches of habitat, they remain at a high risk of extinction.
Another factor is the disruption or elimination of natural disturbances, such as fires and floods, that are essential for maintaining the habitat of certain species. The elimination of these disturbances compounded with habitat destruction increases the vulnerability of the species.
In addition, the rarity of a species is a strong predictor of past and future extinctions. Species with small geographic ranges or low population densities face a higher risk of extinction.