Question

What are the two largest threats to biodiversity and why? What are possible solutions to minimizing the effects of these factors?

The written response should be approximately 200-300 words. You could use definitions, concepts or examples – you can choose these! This part of the assignment is an open-ended response, meaning there is no absolute right or wrong answer – I want you to compose a response that is justified with simple concepts from 1st year biology – so be creative, and ensure you include the necessary information.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

The largest threats to biodiversity are

1.CLIMATE CHANGE:Changes in climate throughout our planet's history have, of course, altered life on Earth in the long run — ecosystems have come and gone and species routinely go extinct.But rapid, manmade climate change speeds up the process, without affording ecosystems and species the time to adapt. For example, rising ocean temperatures and diminishing Arctic sea ice affects marine biodiversity and can shift vegetation zones, having global implications.Overall, climate is a major factor in the distribution of species across the globe; climate change forces them to adjust. But many are not able to cope, causing them to die out.

2.DEFORESTATION:Deforestation is a direct cause of extinction and loss of biodiversity. An estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost each year, due in part to logging and other human practices, destroying the ecosystems on which many species depend. Tropical rainforests in particular, such as the Amazon, hold a high percentage of the world's known species, yet the regions themselves are in decline due to humans.

3.OVER EXPLOITATION:Overhunting, overfishing and over-harvesting contribute greatly to the loss of biodiversity, killing off numerous species over the past several hundred years. Poaching and other forms of hunting for profit increase the risk of extinction; the extinction of an apex predator — or, a predator at the top of a food chain — can result in catastrophic consequences for ecosystems.