Among ‘The Evil Quartet’, which one is considered the most important cause driving extinction of species?
Over exploitation for economic gain
Alien species invasions
Co-extinctions
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Habitat loss and fragmentation have significant impacts on biodiversity and are often cited as the primary driver of species extinction. This process disrupts ecosystems, reduces available habitat, and can lead to isolation of populations, making species more vulnerable to various threats. The other factors in the 'Evil Quartet' (over exploitation for economic gain, alien species invasions, and co-extinctions) also contribute to species decline, but habitat loss and fragmentation are often seen as the underlying driver.
Therefore, The correct option is (D): Habitat loss and fragmentation
The term ‘biodiversity’ is derived from the two words- ‘bios' which means life and ‘diversity’ i.e, differentiation or variation. Edward Wilson, the sociobiologist was the first to popularise the term ‘biodiversity’ in the year 1992. The term implies the occurrence of various plants and animals along with their variants such as biotypes, ecotypes and genes on earth. In our biosphere, the immense diversity or heterogeneity remains not only at the species level but also, at every level of biological organization that ranges from macromolecules in the cells to biomes.
Biodiversity and Conservation is a topic covered under the fifteenth chapter and Unit 5 of NCERT class 12 biology.