Video Transcript
Which of the following correctly
links extinction and biodiversity? (A) The more species that go
extinct from an area, the lower the biodiversity. (B) The more species that go
extinct from an area, the higher the biodiversity. Or (C) extinction has no effect on
biodiversity.
Let’s start by remembering that
biodiversity refers to the variety of different species present in an area. If there are many species present,
we say that area is high in biodiversity. If there are few species present,
we say that area is low in biodiversity.
Also, we may remember that
extinction refers to the end of the existence of a species, because all of the
members of that species have died out, leaving no offspring. When a species goes extinct, there
is of course one less species present in that area.
Let’s say, for example, that we
have an area with 12 different species of birds. We might compare that with an area
that has only six different species of birds. We would then say that the area
with 12 different species has a high biodiversity of birds, especially compared to
the other area. However, if, say, three species of
birds go extinct from that area, the number of different species present has been
reduced. So, we would say the biodiversity
has decreased or has been lowered. When species go extinct, that
reduces the number of species present, which lowers the biodiversity of the
area.
Therefore, the correct answer is
(A): the more species that go extinct from an area, the lower the biodiversity.
