ASSIGNMENT # 05

SUBMITTED TO:
SIR Dr. ABBAS HUSSAIN SHAH
SUBMITTED BY:
KARISHMA
ROLL NUMBER:
177110
DEPARTMENT:
BOTANY
SEMESTER:
VII
TOPIC NAME:
CAUSES OF TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC HABITAT LOSS IN DISTRICT
MANSEHRA
COURSE NAME:
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Table of Contents
CAUSES OF TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC HABITAT LOSS IN DISTRICT MENSEHRA:......................................3
HABITAT LOSS:.............................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION:..........................................................................................................................................3
DEFINITION:.................................................................................................................................................3
MAJOR KINDS OF HABITAT LOSS:................................................................................................................3
HABITAT DESTRUCTION:......................................................................................................................3
HABITAT FRAGMENTATION:................................................................................................................3
HABITAT DEGRADATION:.....................................................................................................................3
CAUSES OF TERRESTRIAL HABITAT LOSS IN DISTRICT MANSEHRA:.............................................................4
AGRICULTURE:.......................................................................................................................................4
LAND CONVERSION FOR DEVELOPMENT:..........................................................................................4
DEFORESTATION:..................................................................................................................................4
FLOODS:..................................................................................................................................................4
WILDFIRES:............................................................................................................................................4
EARTHQUAKES:.....................................................................................................................................5
CAUSES OF MARINE HABITAT LOSS IN DISTRICT MANSEHRA:.....................................................................5
POLLUTION:...........................................................................................................................................5
UNSUSTAINABLE FISHING:...................................................................................................................5
CLIMATE CHANGES:..............................................................................................................................5
EUTROPHICATION:................................................................................................................................5
LACK OF PROTECTION FROM THE GOVERNAMENT:.........................................................................6
SUMMARY:..................................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES:...............................................................................................................................................6
CAUSES OF TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC HABITAT LOSS IN DISTRICT
MENSEHRA:

HABITAT LOSS:

INTRODUCTION:
Habitat loss—due to destruction, fragmentation, or degradation of habitat—is the primary
threat to the survival of wildlife in everywhere. When an ecosystem has been dramatically
changed by human activities—such as agriculture, oil and gas exploration, commercial
development, or water diversion—it may no longer be able to provide the food, water, cover,
and places to raise young that wildlife need to survive. Every day there are fewer places left
that wildlife can call home.

DEFINITION:
“Habitat loss is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its
native species”.

MAJOR KINDS OF HABITAT LOSS:

HABITAT DESTRUCTION: 

A bulldozer pushing down trees is the iconic image of habitat destruction. Other ways people
directly destroy habitat include filling in wetlands, dredging rivers, mowing fields, and cutting
down trees.

HABITAT FRAGMENTATION:

Much of the remaining terrestrial wildlife habitat has been cut up into fragments by roads and
development. Aquatic species’ habitats have been fragmented by dams and water diversions.
These fragments of habitat may not be large or connected enough to support species that need
a large territory where they can find mates and food. The loss and fragmentation of habitats
makes it difficult for migratory species to find places to rest and feed along their migration
routes.

HABITAT DEGRADATION:
Pollution, invasive species, and disruption of ecosystem processes (such as changing the
intensity of fires in an ecosystem) are some of the ways habitats can become so degraded, they
no longer support native wildlife.

CAUSES OF TERRESTRIAL HABITAT LOSS IN DISTRICT MANSEHRA:

AGRICULTURE: 

Much of the habitat loss from agriculture was done long ago when settlers converted forests
and prairies to cropland. Today, there is increasing pressure to redevelop conservation lands for
high-priced food and bio-fuel crops.

LAND CONVERSION FOR DEVELOPMENT:

The conversion of lands that once provided wildlife habitat to housing developments, roads,
office parks, strip malls, parking lots and industrial sites continues, even during the current
economic crisis.

DEFORESTATION:

Deforestation means the felling and clearing of forest cover or tree plantations to
accommodate agricultural, industrial or urban use. It involves the permanent end of forest
cover to make that land available for residential, commercial or industrial purposes.

As a result of deforestation, habitat loss occur for both animals and plants.

FLOODS:

Animals and plants do need water to survive, however, too much of it become deadly for them
as well. Many organisms can simply drown in floods and the variety of animals and plants in the
areas will be deminished.

WILDFIRES:
Wildfires are a severe problem for habitat loss since they can kill big areas of land. Thus, they
destroy the natural food sources for animals, which have to move to other areas or they will
die.

EARTHQUAKES:

Erthquakes are another serious natural cause of loss in habitat. They could kill large portions of
the local wildlife.

CAUSES OF MARINE HABITAT LOSS IN DISTRICT MANSEHRA:

POLLUTION:

There are some human activities which are responsible for the changes in the marine ecological
conditions and such may mean alteration or destruction and loss to the marine habitat. Such as
water pollution, air pollution, and land pollution which intoxicate the environment and makes
the water contaminated. Thermal pollution as a result of industrial activities also destroys
marine habits. The end result is the depletion of marine animal and plant species.

 UNSUSTAINABLE FISHING:

It is always important that the fishing activity has the ability to support the environmental
conservation attempts. Too much aggressive fishing activity can damage the marine habitat as
it leads to the loss of many fish and aquatic species.

CLIMATE CHANGES:

when there is higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the air, the water absorbs much of it.
The water gets contaminated and the level of heat in the water rises beyond the expectations
of life. When the river temperatures rise; the living species cannot exist in it.

EUTROPHICATION:

the process where the fertilizers from land are washed off into the waters. These fertilizers
always contain phosphate and nitrate ions and when they come into contact with the waters;
they form basic and acidic compounds thereby leading to dense growth of algal blooms, which
in return create intolerable environment that cannot support aquatic life.

LACK OF PROTECTION FROM THE GOVERNAMENT:

Where governments have failed to acknowledge the importance of conserving the natural
habitat, there is higher probability that negative impacts will be made. In the case of marine
habitats, when there are no policies regulating access to such areas, aquatic plants and animals
will shoulder the burden of irresponsible acts.

SUMMARY:
Habitat loss is a serious threat to our environment. Some are as a result of nature but majority
it is taken by human activities. We should have to control these facts. Without proper planning
we cannot establish a perfect environment around us. As a result of habitat loss, the species
move towards extinction which is major threat to biodiversity.

REFERENCES:
1. www.sciencing.com
2. www.eartheclipse.com
3. www.nationalgeographic.com
4. www.nwf.org