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Biodiversity and Evolution
Biological diversity or biodiversity in short, refers to the existence of many species of plants and animals in a specific environment or habitat. It is indicated by the number of different varieties of species that you can find.
The more diverse species that you can find in a habitat, the better is the biodiversity of the place. But the less diverse species of animals and plants that you can find in an environment, the greater is the vulnerability of the habitat to change.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization founded in 1948 that promotes researches and specific studies related to the preservation of the threatened species of flora and fauna all over the world. In 1964, the IUCN formally released its Red list of Threatened Species, which is a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
There are nine (9) categories of species in this Red list:
Extinct- no living species anymore of this kind.
Extinct in the wild- survives only in captivity or in a controlled environment. Critically endangered- with extremely high risk of extinction. Endangered- with high risk of extinction. Vulnerable- with high risk of endangerment. Near threatened- likely to become endangered in the near future. Least concern- can still be found abundantly in the environment. Data deficient- not enough submitted data for evaluation. Not evaluated- no data available as of date.
Causes of Extinction A species is considered extinct if it is already eliminated and when no other member of the species remain alive anymore anywhere on Earth. The extinction of species may be traced to two general factors: (a) natural factors; and (b) anthropogenic or man-made factors
Natural Factors 1. Climate change alters the natural conditions that many plants and animals rely on for survival. When temperatures rise, habitats like coral reefs, forests, and wetlands can become less suitable for the species that live there. For example, coral reefs experience bleaching when ocean temperatures rise, which destroys habitats for countless marine species. Changes in climate can also affect food availability, water sources, and migration patterns. Species that cannot adapt quickly enough to these changes may face increased risks of extinction. The rapid pace of climate change is especially challenging because it doesn’t give species the necessary time to evolve or relocate to survive in new conditions.
2. Changes in the sea levels or currents, The melting of polar ice
and glaciers due to global warning can directly add water volume in the ocean. Such increase in the sea level will eventually affect the habitat in the low-lying and other coastal marshes.
3. Meteors, comets, and asteroids can contribute to species
extinction through catastrophic events that drastically alter Earth's environment. When a large meteor, comet, or asteroid collides with Earth, it can release an immense amount of energy, causing massive fires, tsunamis, and a dramatic shift in the climate. The impact could throw up dust and debris into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and leading to a "nuclear winter" effect. This would lower temperatures globally, disrupt plant life, and collapse food chains, making survival difficult for many species. The most famous example of this is the asteroid impact believed to have contributed to the mass extinction of the dinosaurs around 65 million years ago.
4. Diseases and epidemics A research article in Science (2006) highlights the link between global warming and the increased risk of species extinction due to disease outbreaks. Rising temperatures have led to the spread of pathogens like the chytrid fungus, which caused the extinction of the Monteverde Harlequin frog and the golden toad in Costa Rica. This climate-driven spread of infectious diseases, including foot and mouth disease, bird flu, Ebola virus, and salmonella, is affecting various animal and plant species, accelerating their decline and contributing to the ongoing mass extinction.
Anthropogenic Causes
1. Habitat destruction, Habitat destruction is the leading cause of modern-day extinction. The destruction of a habitat may result in the eradication of the species living in it. The following human activities cause habitat destruction: a. Deforestation is the human activity that has the greatest negative impact on habitats. If 90% of the land area of a habitat undergoes deforestation, half of the species living in the place will die.
b. Uses of insecticides, Insecticides are ideally supposed to kill
pests. However, there are insecticides which also kill non-target insects, including beneficial insects necessary for pollination. Thus, animals who are herbivores can also be affected when they eat plants that are sprayed or treated with insecticides.
c. Habitat fragmentation refers to the subdivision of large areas of natural habitat. This threatens the survival of large predators, like tigers, which need large hunting areas.
2. Pollution, Air, water, and soil pollution have extremely adverse effects on the populations of species. They can disrupt the life cycles of species and can cause biodiversity decline. Species extinction can occur when a natural habitat becomes polluted to the point when it can no longer sustain life.
3. Overexploitation occurs when there is a high demand for certain species for commercial purposes. Examples of overexploited species include elephants (for their tusks), shark (for their fins), and varied species of shells and corals.
4. Introduction of invasive species, Sometimes, man can intentionally
or accidentally introduce an invasive species to a new environment. An invasive species competes with the native species for food and other resources and tends to reproduce quickly. This rapid increase in their population causes the gradual decline of the native species.
