When a species becomes extinct, it leaves behind an empty niche, or role, in the ecosystem. This gap can be filled by another species of similar adaptations and ecological interactions.
Evolutionary Adaptation:
- Over time, a new species could develop and acquire the features to replace the extinct species through mutations, adaptations, and natural selection.
Environmental Change:
- Changing conditions, such as a new or altering habitat brought about by climate change, may favor different species or allow the replacement of an extinct species by a better-adapted species.
Geographic Range Expansion:
- Neighboring species with a suitable trait to invade and spread could expand their range and substitute the role of the vanished species.