Vulnerability to Extinctions

Question 1

Define endemism.

Answer 1

Found naturally in only one place.

Question 2

What factors lead to extinction?

Answer 2

• Hunted by humans
• Limited distributions
• Only one or a few populations
• Small population size (biggest impact!)
• Animals which require large home range
• Animals with large bodies
• Poor at dispersing and overcoming barriers we have created
• Seasonal migrants
• Very specialised niche requirements
• Not afraid of humans
• Species that require pristine, undisturbed environments
• Species that form aggregations
• Species with a close relative that’s gone extinct.

Question 3

What features of a species cause it to be considered rare?

Answer 3

• Lives in narrow geological range
• Occupies only one or a few specialised habitats
• Found in small population.