What human activities led to many wildlife losses in the late 1800s and early 1900s?

The choice highlighting market hunting and habitat destruction accurately reflects the significant human impacts on wildlife during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Market hunting refers to the large-scale hunting of animals for commercial sale, which led to drastic declines in populations of various species as hunters targeted them for profit rather than sustenance. This practice, combined with habitat destruction—resulting from extensive activities such as urban development, agriculture expansion, and industrialization—created critical threats to wildlife populations.

As natural habitats were altered or completely destroyed to make way for farms, cities, and infrastructure, many species lost their homes and food sources, contributing to their decline. This combination of overexploitation through market hunting and severe habitat loss was a major factor in the significant reduction of wildlife during this period, leading to many species facing extinction or endangerment.

While other options touch on valid points regarding human activities, they do not capture the full extent of the impact on wildlife as succinctly as the chosen answer does. For example, while farming and logging impacted wildlife, they don’t encompass the targeted hunting practices that were widespread during that era.