Which of the following is the most important cause for animals and plants being driven to extinction?
- Economic exploitation
- Alien species invasion
- Habitat loss and fragmentation
- Drought and floods
Answer
(3) Habitat loss and fragmentation
Solution
As per NCERT, among the four major causes of biodiversity loss (‘The Evil Quartet’), habitat loss and fragmentation is the most important cause driving animals and plants to extinction.
Example: tropical rain forests, once covering 14 per cent of the land surface, now cover no more than 6 per cent.
Answer: (3)