Topic 4

Threats to Genetic Diversity

YAP YIN YING

2 PISMP SN2
 Development

Degeneration Invasive
and Pollution species

Fragmentatio Destruction of Natural

n Habitats disasters
Fragmentation
• Process during which a large expanse of habitat is
transformed into a number of smaller patches of smaller
total area isolated from each other by a matrix of habitats
unlike the original.

• This can occur naturally, as a result of fire or volcanic

eruptions, but is normally due to human activity.

• A simple example is the construction of a road through a

woodland.
 Loss of
• Destruction of habitat leaves
total species with less space to find
habitat everything they need to survive
area

• As a habitat is broken into smaller

Effects Of
sections, the proportion of edge -
where one habitat meets another -
Reduction
Habitat
increases
in habitat • Some species can thrive along habitat
edges, others struggle to survive

Fragmentation
quality • For instance, species that have evolved
to live in the interior of a wood are less
suited to its edge

Increased • Lead to inbreeding and a loss of

genetic diversity
extinction • Fragmentation limits wildlife
risk mobility
Degeneration and Pollution
• Pollution that causes habitats to be destroyed because it changes the quality of
air, water, and land while becoming a breeding ground for toxins.

• Freshwater wildlife are most impacted by pollution. Pollutants such as untreated

sewage, mining waste, acid rain, fertilizers and pesticides concentrate in rivers,
lakes and wetlands and eventually end up in estuaries and the food web.

• Through agricultural processes or the illegal dumping of industrial waste, the soil
may become polluted in a serious manner. Since plants are usually quite
sensitive to changes in their natural living conditions, chances are that many
plant species will significantly decrease in population and natural habitats may
be altered or even destroyed.
Development
• Land conversion for development from growing populations is one of
the causes of habitat loss.
• During the process of urbanisation some animal species will disappear
from the newly urbanised habitat.
• For example, birds that feed on specific natural food sources will fly to
other areas to search for food. Species that cannot move as fast as
urbanisation is expanding will disappear.
• Urbanisation leads to habitat fragmentation, where larger continuous
habitats are divided into smaller unconnected patches.

• It also causes habitat loss, through an increase in roads and buildings

that are not producing any biomass.

• This exposes wildlife to new man-made stress. Physiological and

ecological constraints affect organisms directly, but also change host-
parasite and predator-prey interactions.
Invasive species
• A non-native species that has become naturalized and negatively alters
its new environment.
• Although their spread can have beneficial aspects, invasive species
adversely affect the invaded habitats and bioregions, causing ecological,
environmental, and economic damage.
• Invasive species can change the food web in an ecosystem by destroying
or replacing native food sources.
• The invasive species may provide little to no food value for wildlife.
• Invasive species can also alter the abundance or diversity of species that
are important habitat for native wildlife.
• For example, Asian Carp introduced into the United States outcompete
native fish for both food and space, leading to large declines in native
fish populations.
• Invasive species are the second largest cause of species extinctions in
the United States
Natural disasters
• Through natural disasters, large areas of land may be destroyed.

• Examples of natural disasters that can be devastating include

earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes.

• Earthquakes can physically move the land, and may be associated

with subsequent tsunamis.

• Floods can destroy the vegetation and cause erosion of the land.
• Tornadoes can physically rip trees out of the ground and crush
vegetation with debris that is strewn about.

• This implies the destruction of natural habitats, since many animals

and plants may no longer be able to survive due to these adverse
conditions.