Yellowstone National Park in the United States has a caldera, essentially a super volcano, lying beneath its picturesque surface. When the caldera erupts again, it will blanket all of North America in varying depths of volcanic ash in addition to temporarily changing the atmosphere for at least a decade. This alteration of continental ecosystems will likely result in the extinction of some species. Which of the following species would be the most likely to become extinct?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The salamander species endemic to the Ozark region of Missouri and known only from the Mark Twain National Forest is the most likely to become extinct because it has a very limited distribution and is already considered endangered. The other species have much broader ranges and are more likely to have populations that survive outside of the affected area.

Yellowstone National Park in the United States Has a Caldera