Steller’s sea cow and passenger pigeon got extinct from this earth. The main reason behind their extinction was:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Over exploitation
The four main causes of biodiversity loss are habitat loss and fragmentation, over-exploitation, alien species invasions and co-extinctions. Together they are called “The Evil Quartet”.
(1) Co-extinction — Incorrect. This is the loss of a species because a species it depends on has gone extinct, such as a parasite that loses its host.
(2) Over exploitation — Correct. Humans took more of these species than could be replaced, and they died out.
(3) Habitat loss and fragmentation — Incorrect. This is the loss or breaking up of living space. It is the main cause of loss today, but it is not why these two species disappeared.
(4) Alien species invasion — Incorrect. This happens when an introduced species harms native species. The Nile perch in Lake Victoria is an example.
NCERT Extract:
Loss of Biodiversity – “… (ii) Over-exploitation: Humans have always depended on nature for food and shelter, but when ‘need’ turns to ‘greed’, it leads to over -exploitation of natural resources. Many species extinctions in the last 500 years (Steller’s sea cow, passenger pigeon) were due to overexploitation by humans.”