Extinction is a natural phenomenon. It is estimated that 99% of all species that ever lived are now extinct. Why then do we say that we are now experiencing an extinction (loss of biodiversity) crisis?

A) Humans are ethically responsible for protecting endangered species.

B) Scientists have finally identified most of the species on Earth and are thus able to quantify the number of species becoming extinct.

C) The current rate of extinction is high and human activities threaten biodiversity at all levels.

D) Humans have greater medical needs than at any other time in history, and many potential medicinal compounds are being lost as plant species become extinct.

E) Most biodiversity hot spots have been destroyed by recent ecological disasters.

The correct answer is C) The current rate of extinction is high and human activities threaten biodiversity at all levels.

Explanation:

Extinction is a natural process in which certain species extinct because of the lack of adaptability to the changing environment or by other reasons but today extinction rate is increased by human interference.

In a study on fossils, it was found that earlier on every 10,000 species 2 gets extinct every century and when the extinction that occurred during the last century was calculated then it was found that approximately 500 species got extinct in past 100 years which was largely high then it would be in case of natural extinction.

This extinction rate is increased because of habitat loss of species by human interference and by threatening biodiversity at all levels by human activities. So the right answer is C.