Threats of Biodiversity

A. Explain the following threats of biodiversity

1. Habitat loss- renders entire habitats functionally unable to support the species
present; biodiversity is reduced in this process when existing organisms in the habitat
are displaced or destroyed. The primary cause of species extinction worldwide is habitat
destruction.
2. Invasive species- can change the functions of ecosystems. For example, invasive
plants can alter the fire regimen, nutrient cycling, and hydrology in native ecosystems.
Invasive species that are closely related to rare native species have the potential to
hybridize with the native species.
3. Population- The core threats to biodiversity are human population growth and
unsustainable resource use. To date, the most significant causes of extinctions are
habitat loss, introduction of exotic species, and overharvesting. ... Habitat loss occurs
through deforestation, damming of rivers, and other activities.
4. Pollution- may impact biodiversity if it: (1) alters genetic diversity within populations;
(2) reduces the reproductive potential of biota; (3) reduces crop or natural vegetation
production; and (4) impairs the structure and function of ecosystem
5. Climate change- Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are expected to
make existing habitats inhospitable for many animal species. Biodiversity is also under
threat from land-use change caused by agriculture, deforestation and land degradation.
6. Overexploitation- means harvesting species from the wild at rates faster than natural
populations can recover. Two birds that were victims of overhunting are passenger
pigeons and great auks (a type of bird). Both were hunted to extinction.

B. Enumerate and give examples of Charles Darwin's Theory

Evolution- Charles Darwin's theory of evolution states that evolution happens by natural
selection. Individuals in a species show variation in physical characteristics. ...
Individuals with characteristics best suited to their environment are more likely to
survive, finding food, avoiding predators and resisting disease.
A species is a population of organisms that interbreeds and has fertile offspring.
- Living organisms have descended with modifications from species that lived
before them.
- Natural selection explains how this evolution has happened:
- More organisms are produced than can survive because of limited resources.
- Organisms struggle for the necessities of life; there is competition for resources.
- Individuals within a population vary in their traits; some of these traits are
heritable -- passed on to offspring.
- Some variants are better adapted to survive and reproduce under local
conditions than others.
- Better-adapted individuals (the "fit enough") are more likely to survive and
reproduce, thereby passing on copies of their genes to the next generation.
- Species whose individuals are best adapted survive; others become extinct.