Question

Which of the following are environmental factors that may contribute to an organism becoming extinct?

decrease in food source and other resources

increase in food source and other resources

destruction of habitat

loss of needed land space

increase in competition for food source

Answer 1

Those that can contribute to extinction:

- Decrease in food source and other resources — Yes. Reduced resources lower survival and reproduction.
- Increase in food source and other resources — No. More resources generally support populations, not cause extinction.
- Destruction of habitat — Yes. Removing or degrading habitat can eliminate the conditions a species needs.
- Loss of needed land space — Yes. Losing territory or breeding ground reduces population viability.
- Increase in competition for food source — Yes. Greater competition can reduce individual survival and reproductive success.

(Any of the "Yes" factors, alone or combined, can push a population to extinction.)