If you could help me with this I would appreciate it
In Europe, three lineages of bears evolved from a common ancestor. Two of those lineages led to present-day black bears and brown bears. The third lineage led to cave bears that went extinct 24,000 years ago. Which of the following could explain why only one group of bears went extinct?
Individual cave bears must not have been able to adapt to changing conditions as quickly as brown or black bears.
One group of bears was less highly evolved than the other groups and was destined to die out
Some environmental change severely threatened cave bear survival but not the survival of brown or black bears.
Random chance led to extinction of cave bears and survival of brown and black bears
Bobpursley gave you a big hint for this answer.
I'll be glad to check your answer.
^^sorry this was my first time posting this question lol
What is your answer?
To determine which of the following options could explain why only one group of bears, specifically the cave bears, went extinct, we need to evaluate each option.
1. Individual cave bears must not have been able to adapt to changing conditions as quickly as brown or black bears.
This option suggests that cave bears were less capable of adapting to changing environments compared to brown and black bears. If the environment experienced significant changes, such as climate shifts or scarcity of resources, the cave bears may have been unable to cope and adapt as effectively as the other bear lineages. This incapacity to adapt could have resulted in their extinction.
2. One group of bears was less highly evolved than the other groups and was destined to die out.
This option implies that cave bears were inherently less "evolved" than brown and black bears. However, it is important to note that the term "evolved" may not accurately reflect the concept of adaptability and survival in this context. Evolution does not necessarily imply superiority or inevitability of extinction. Therefore, this option is less likely to be the sole reason for the extinction of cave bears.
3. Some environmental change severely threatened cave bear survival but not the survival of brown or black bears.
This option suggests that a specific environmental change, presumably unique to the cave bear habitat, posed a significant threat to their survival. If the cave bears were more reliant on specific environmental conditions or resources compared to brown and black bears, any alteration in those conditions could have resulted in their extinction. This option seems plausible as a potential explanation for the extinction of cave bears.
4. Random chance led to the extinction of cave bears and the survival of brown and black bears.
This option suggests that the extinction of cave bears was purely a result of random chance, rather than being influenced by any inherent characteristics or environmental factors. While random chance cannot be entirely ruled out as a contributing factor in the extinction event, it is less likely to be the primary reason for the extinction of cave bears.
Based on logical reasoning and the understanding of how species adapt and go extinct, option 3 - "Some environmental change severely threatened cave bear survival but not the survival of brown or black bears" - appears to be the most probable explanation for why only one group of bears went extinct specifically the cave bears, while the other lineages, the black and brown bears, survived.