Refer to the figure to interpret the relative contribution of various risk factors toward the possible local extinction of a species. Which of the following would be most likely to cause the local extinction of a population of kelp with 100 individuals?

Question

Refer to the figure to interpret the relative contribution of various risk factors toward the possible local extinction of a species.  Which of the following would be most likely to cause the local extinction of a population of kelp with 100 individuals?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A change in temperature, water quality, or sunlight availability would have the greatest impact on the local extinction of the kelp population because it is directly related to the species' ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. Random changes in birth or death rates (A), low genetic variation associated with small populations (B), disadvantages associated with low population density (D), and complex interactions between demographic variation and genetic effects (E) could all contribute to a population's decline, but not to the same extent as a significant change in the environment.

Refer to the Figure to Interpret the Relative Contribution of Various