EXTINCTION

EXTINCTION occurs when a species no longer has any surviving individuals. It can be caused by many different factors including:

• ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES: A significant change in an organism's environment can lead to HABITAT LOSS.
• NEW PREDATOR: A new animal can eat and kill the organism.
• NEW DISEASE: A new disease can wipe out a species if they have no resistance to it.
• COMPETITION: Other species compete for food and resources and the less adapted species will not have enough to survive.
• HUMAN ACTIVITY: Overhunting, deforestation, and pollution are modern causes of extinction.
• NATURAL DISASTERS: Events like volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts can lead to mass extinctions.