Which term describes a population that is at risk of disappearing in the near future?

Which term describes a population that is at risk of disappearing in the near future?

• A. Extinction
• B. Endangered
• C. Light bulb
• D. Shelter

Answer: (B)

Conservation status descriptions tell us how close a population is to disappearing. An endangered population is one that faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future; its numbers are critically low and ongoing threats could wipe it out unless there is protection or recovery effort. This makes endangered the best fit for a population at risk of disappearing soon. Extinction would mean there are no individuals left at all, which is a more final outcome than simply being at high risk. The other options aren’t relevant to population risk status.

Conservation status descriptions tell us how close a population is to disappearing. An endangered population is one that faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future; its numbers are critically low and ongoing threats could wipe it out unless there is protection or recovery effort. This makes endangered the best fit for a population at risk of disappearing soon. Extinction would mean there are no individuals left at all, which is a more final outcome than simply being at high risk. The other options aren’t relevant to population risk status.