What is the Greatest Threat to Plant Diversity

Question

What is the greatest threat to plant diversity?
A) insects
B) grazing and browsing by animals
C) pathogenic fungi
D) competition with other plants
E) human population growth

Accepted Answer

Human population growth is the greatest threat to plant diversity as it leads to deforestation, habitat destruction, and fragmentation, which reduces the area available for plants to grow and reproduce. Agricultural expansion, urbanization, and industrialization all result in the loss of plant diversity. Additionally, overharvesting of plant species for human use and the introduction of non-native species can also have negative impacts on plant diversity. While insects, grazing animals, pathogenic fungi, and competition with other plants can all pose threats to specific plant species, they are not as widespread or significant as human-caused threats.