6.3.6 Extinction

Factors Contributing to Extinction:

1. Environmental Changes:

• Rapid or significant changes in the environment, such as climate shifts, can occur faster than a species can adapt, leading to extinction.

2. New Predators:

• The evolution or migration of new predators into an area can lead to the decline and eventual extinction of species that are unable to defend themselves or escape.

3. Emergence of New Diseases:

• The introduction of new diseases can be devastating if a species lacks genetic diversity and does not have alleles that confer resistance, leading to widespread mortality.

4. Competition:

• When a species faces competition from another species with advantageous mutations, particularly for the same food source, it may be outcompeted and driven to extinction.

5. Catastrophic Events:

• Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, or asteroid impacts can instantly wipe out entire species, particularly those in localized areas.

6. Habitat Destruction:

• Human activities or natural processes that lead to the destruction of a species' habitat can result in extinction if the species cannot migrate or adapt to a new environment.