Question

Among ‘The Evil Quartet’, which one is considered the most important cause driving extinction of species?

Options

• Over exploitation for economic gain

• Alien species invasions

• Co-extinctions

• Habitat loss and fragmentation

Answer 1

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Explanation:

‘The Evil Quartet’ is a concept that describes the causes of species extinction. The most important causes identified are habitat loss and fragmentation. It is the process by which continuous patches of land are broken into smaller fragments due to human activities such as urbanisation and agriculture. It disrupts ecosystems, creating a barrier to the movement of species. This, in turn, leads to the isolation of populations, decreased genetic diversity, and increased vulnerability to extinction.