Final answer:
Extinction can occur from factors such as competition for resources, habitat loss and fragmentation, and changes in predation pressures. Global climate change, pollution, and the introduction of non-native species are additional threats contributing to species extinction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that may contribute to the extinction of a species include:
- Competition for resources: More individuals fighting over the same limited resources can lead to some species not getting enough to survive. This is especially true if there is interspecific competition, where species competing for similar resources result in the less adapted species potentially going extinct.
- Habitat loss and fragmentation: The loss of an environment in which an organism's needs are met can be catastrophic. This is often due to human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and mining which destroy or alter habitats to the extent that they can no longer sustain the species that live there.
- Predation pressures: The introduction of new predators into an area can dramatically change the survival odds for native species. Similarly, sometimes the lack of predators can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem, which can also have negative effects on species survival.
Other significant factors include global climate change, pollution, the introduction of non-native species, and human overpopulation, all of which can exacerbate the threats to biodiversity. Global climate change is particularly alarming as it has severe implications for many species' survival.