If a species cannot adapt to environmental changes, what might happen?

The option indicating that a species may become extinct is valid in the context of biological diversity and environmental change. When a species cannot adapt to changes in its environment—such as shifts in climate, habitat destruction, or the introduction of new predators or competitors—it may struggle to survive. This inability to adjust can lead to decreased reproductive success, reduced population sizes, and ultimately, if conditions do not improve or if alternative adaptations do not arise, the species can face extinction.

Adaptation involves changes in behavior, physiology, or structure that increase an organism's chance of survival in a given environment. If a species lacks the genetic variation necessary for adaptations or if the changes are too rapid, the species may not have sufficient time to evolve. As habitats change, species that cannot keep pace with these alterations often experience population declines, leading to a critical situation where extinction becomes a plausible outcome.

Understanding this concept highlights the importance of biodiversity and the resilience of ecosystems. The loss of a species can have cascading effects on its ecosystem, impacting other organisms and overall ecological balance.