The West African black rhino, one of four subspecies of rhinoceros, was declared extinct in 2006. Their horns were believed by many to hold medicinal value. What is the most likely reason for the extinction of the West African black rhino?

Question

A.  habitat loss
B.  overexploitation
C.  introduced species
D.  pollution
E.  climate change

Clarify Question

· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
     
 
Gather Content

· What do you already know about causes of extinction?
        
 
Choose Answer

· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 
Reflect on Process

· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

B.  overexploitation

Clarify Question

· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses causes of extinction.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
 
Gather Content

· What do you already know about causes of extinction?
        o A variety of causes are responsible for extinctions. Habitat loss is the major problem for most animals today. Introduced species and over exploitation are two more major causes.
        o Many other factors contribute to species extinctions as well, including disruption of ecosystem interactions, pollution, loss of genetic variation, and catastrophic disturbances, either natural or human-caused.
        o More than one of these factors may affect a species. In fact, a chain reaction is possible in which the action of one factor predisposes a species to be more severely affected by another factor.
 
Choose Answer

· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o The West African black rhino was a victim of widespread poaching (over exploitation) due to a common belief that their horns could cure cancer and male infertility problems.
 
Reflect on Process

· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question required you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
        o Did you recognize that even an incorrect belief about the medicinal value of an animal part can lead to the extinction of a species by over exploitation?