Common Assesment 1

• Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms on the planet
• Biodiversity is measured by the number of species present in a particular ecosystem or region
• The Earth’s biodiversity is currently under threat, decreasing at a rate comparable to the mass extinction of the dinosaurs
• It is estimated that between 17,000 and 100,000 species reach extinction annually
• Dr. Richard Leakey compares the rate of species extinction to the impact of a giant asteroid slamming into the planet
• Loss of biodiversity not only impacts the natural environment but also has serious consequences for all human beings on Earth
• Ecosystem services like food, fibre, freshwater supplies, crop pollination, and protection against natural disasters are declining due to the loss of biodiversity
• The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assesses the likelihood of species becoming extinct, with 36% of almost 50,000 studied species considered threatened with extinction
• Birds and amphibians, like frogs, are particularly under threat
• Frogs are experiencing a dramatic decline in species due to factors like climate change and disease
• Frogs are losing breeding grounds due to drying ponds and disappearing water sources
• A parasitic fungus called amphibian chytrid, favored by warmer temperatures from climate change, is a significant threat to frogs worldwide
• Researchers believe frogs may serve as an early warning system for climate change impacts