Question

1. What are the 5 potential different mechanisms by which biodiversity is being reduced throughout the world? Be sure to provide example with your descriptions.

Answer 1

Ans: 5 different mechanisms by which biodiversity is being reduced is mentioned below-

1. Deforestation (change in land use pattern)- Deforestation done for urbanization leads to habitat loss as it eliminates natural flora and fauna to create highly controlled and managed systems. When trees are cut, animals leaving over there loose their natural habitat and this leads to a change in biodiversity of that area.

Example- Habitat loss of many bird species and animals like orangutan due to deforestation.

2. Pollution- Burning of fossil fuel like coal, oil results in atmospheric pollution. Pollution causes a change in biodiversity.

Example- Eutrophication is caused due to nitrogen pollution.

3. Industrialization- Release of industrial effluents like toxic chemical and hospital discharge into water bodies leads to a change in the biodiversity of that area.

Example- Salmonids require freshwater streams to survive. Water pollution led to a change in the biodiversity of Salmonids.

4. Invasion of alien species- Introducing genetically modified crops, alien and exotic trees lead to a change in the biodiversity of that area.

Example- Introduction of Parthenium hysterophorus from the U.S.A led to a reduction in native crop production.

5. Climate change- the release of CO2 by burning fossil fuels is the major contributor to global warming. Global warming leads to a change in biodiversity or biodiversity loss.

Example- Pygmy possum is a highly threatened Australian animal by global warming.