Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. Biodiversity includes the diversity of ecosystems, species and genes, but also includes the genetic diversity of human populations. While biodiversity has often been understood as being about nature conservation and protecting species or ecosystems, it also means protecting genetic diversity within species (such as crop varieties). The term can be used in reference to a number of phenomena:
Habitat loss
Habitat loss is one of the major threats to biodiversity. It’s caused by human activities such as agricultural expansion, logging and mining, urbanization and other types of land use change. Habitat loss occurs when natural habitats are converted into other land uses such as agriculture or urbanization. This can be a direct result of development (such as building housing), or indirect (changes in land management practices). For example, if you clear trees from an area so that you can grow crops on the land then this would be habitat conversion where there was once forested habitat for wildlife.
If humans continue to develop new areas at the same rate we have in recent decades then we could lose half our native species by 2050—and even more by 2100!
Invasive species
The second major threat to biodiversity is invasive species. These are plants, animals, or pathogens that have been introduced into a new environment. They can disrupt the native species in their new environment and cause problems for human health. Some examples of invasive species include:
- Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera), which are a type of honeybee with more aggressive behavior than European bees
- Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), an aquatic mollusk that attaches itself to hard surfaces like boats and docks
- Asian carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), which outcompetes native fish for resources
Pollution
- What is pollution?
- How does pollution affect the environment?
- How does pollution affect humans?
- What can be done to prevent pollution?
- How can you reduce your own pollution footprint and help save biodiversity, too?
The Nigerian city of Port Harcourt used to be known as “The Garden City”, since late last year, black soot has been falling from the sky, scaring and angering residents who claim nothing is being done to protect their health. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)
Over-Exploitation
Over-exploitation is a threat to biodiversity that occurs when animals are removed from the wild in a way that causes them to become extinct. Over-exploitation can be caused by hunting, poaching, or capturing animals for food. It can also happen when fishing, logging and mining operations remove too many resources from ecosystems.
Over-Exploitation:
- Hunting for sport or for food has resulted in the extinction of many species over time. In some cases it was done intentionally; in others, it was accidental but still caused a decline in predator numbers that led to other species being affected negatively as well.
- Poaching is another form of over-exploitation where animals are taken from the wild illegally for trade purposes such as selling meat or animal parts on black markets or selling them directly onto consumers worldwide (for example ivory).
Climate change
Climate change is a global phenomenon that has been caused by human activity. It has already had an impact on biodiversity and is predicted to have a significant impact in the future.
In response to climate change, many species are shifting their geographic ranges, which can cause them to encounter new competitors and predators. For example, some species may be moving northward into areas where they have never lived before (and vice versa) due to changing temperatures. Because climate change generally affects large areas at once instead of small patches, it can prove difficult for species that are unable to adapt quickly enough or migrate easily enough across these new boundaries in order to avoid extinction from habitat loss or competition from invading species from other regions with whom they were previously separated by natural geographical barriers such as oceans or mountain ranges.
Biodiversity is what makes life on planet earth possible. It’s the variety of life in all its forms, from bacteria to birds and bees, from microorganisms to mammals, from single-celled organisms to complex ecosystems. Biodiversity is essential for human health and well-being; it provides food security for billions of people around the world, and it provides water security by regulating climate change and rainfall patterns.
It is clear that biodiversity is a precious resource, and we need to be more conscious of how we can protect it. The best way to do this is by reducing our carbon footprint and becoming more active in our communities.
