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Question

Which scenario would most likely result in the extinction of one or more species?

The water temperature of a pond decreases slightly, and the members of the pond populations adapt to the change.
The conditions are abnormally dry for one season in a desert, resulting in the deaths of a few members of a snake population.
A predatory fish is introduced into a lake, resulting in a dramatic decrease in the populations of smaller fish.
A new plant species begins growing in a forest, resulting in a new food resource for many animal populations.

Answer 1

The scenario that would most likely result in the extinction of one or more species is:

A predatory fish is introduced into a lake, resulting in a dramatic decrease in the populations of smaller fish.

The introduction of a new predatory species can disrupt the existing ecological balance, leading to significant declines in the populations of prey species. If the smaller fish populations decline dramatically, it can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem, potentially leading to the extinction of species that rely on those smaller fish as a food source.