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What Happens to an Ecosystem When One Species Becomes Extinct?

When a plant or animal disappears forever, it can really change things in nature. Here’s how:

  1. Food Web Problems: If a predator (an animal that hunts others) goes extinct, the animals it used to eat might multiply quickly. This can lead to too many of them eating plants, which harms those plants. On the other hand, if a plant species goes extinct, the animals that eat that plant may have a tough time finding food and could struggle to survive.

  2. Less Variety of Life: Every species has its own special role in the environment. When one species disappears, it reduces the number of different living things around. This makes the ecosystem less able to handle changes, like shifts in climate.

  3. RIPPLE Effects: When one species goes extinct, it can cause a chain reaction, leading to more extinctions. For instance, animals that rely on the extinct species for food or shelter may not find what they need to live.

In short, everything in nature is connected. The loss of one species can create big changes in the whole ecosystem!

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What Happens to an Ecosystem When One Species Becomes Extinct?

When a plant or animal disappears forever, it can really change things in nature. Here’s how:

  1. Food Web Problems: If a predator (an animal that hunts others) goes extinct, the animals it used to eat might multiply quickly. This can lead to too many of them eating plants, which harms those plants. On the other hand, if a plant species goes extinct, the animals that eat that plant may have a tough time finding food and could struggle to survive.

  2. Less Variety of Life: Every species has its own special role in the environment. When one species disappears, it reduces the number of different living things around. This makes the ecosystem less able to handle changes, like shifts in climate.

  3. RIPPLE Effects: When one species goes extinct, it can cause a chain reaction, leading to more extinctions. For instance, animals that rely on the extinct species for food or shelter may not find what they need to live.

In short, everything in nature is connected. The loss of one species can create big changes in the whole ecosystem!

Related articles