CAUSES
When a species goes extinct it means that there are no longer any living organisms of that species. There are several different causes as to how a species becomes extinct.
Predation
One cause of extinction is predation. Predation occurs when a species is prey of another species. The predator of the species consumes all of the living organisms in that species resulting in extinction. These predators could be animals, insects, or humans. Humans hunting animals can result in the extinction of a species. Also species of plants could become extinct by humans or other animals eating all of the living organisms in that species.
competition
Another way species could become extinct is by competition between members of the species. In many species of animals the males will compete against each other for their mates. It is possible that over time this competition between the species could lead to extinction of the species.
Disease
Disease is also a factor that can lead to extinction of a species. If a disease occurs within a population and the disease is highly contagious it could lead to the extinction of a species.
Coextinction
Another way that species can become extinct is due to coextinction. The term coextinction refers to a species becoming extinct due to a different species becoming extinct. This may happen because the species that first became extinct was the prey of another species. Without the first species the second species would not have a food source, therefore leading to their extinction as well. An example of coextinction that has occurred in the world is between a species of ants named Myrmica sabuleti and the Large Blue Butterfly. When the species of ants became extinct so did the Large Blue Butterfly because the butterfly needed the ant to act as a host for its larva.
sexual selection
Sexual selection is another way that a species can become extinct. During sexual selection females in a species will choose males with a certain trait. Overtime this trait may become so over exaggerated that it results in death leading to the extinction of that species.
habitat Loss
Species can also become extinct by habitat loss. When a species habitat is taken over the resources they need to survive are unavailable to them, and they no longer have a place to live. An example of this would be animals who live in rain forests that are being cut down.
pollution
Pollution is another factor that can result in extinction. The bad air in a habitat could kill off an entire species.
climate change
Another reason as to why a species can go extinct is due to climate change. Drastic difference in climate that species cannot adapt to could result in extinction.