Biodiversity

• Biodiversity

  • The variety of different species of organisms on earth.
  • High biodiversity means ecosystems are more stable as species depend on each other for shelter and food.
• Factors that put biodiversity at risk:

  • Availability of water
  • Temperature
  • Atmospheric gases
• Waste management

  • As the human population increases, the volume of waste pollution increases.
  • Polluting the ecosystem harms or kills the organisms that live within it.
• Water pollution

  • Open sewers can lead into water courses such as streams and rivers which can cause serious illnesses for humans if they drink contaminated water.
• Air pollution

  • Combustion of fossil fuels release carbon dioxide which contributes to the greenhouse effect and leads to global warming.
• Land use

  • When land is cleared for humans such as buildings, biodiversity is reduced.
  • The larger the human population, the more land we require.
  • More houses built, more resources, more food grown and more waste produced.
• Deforestation

  • Leads to destroying habitats of organisms and kills many species.
  • Up to an estimate of several hundred species lost each day as a result of deforestation.
• Greenhouse effect

  • The increased release of greenhouse gases creates an enhanced greenhouse effect.
  • Leading to global warming.
• Consequences of global warming

  • melting of polar ice caps
  • the rise in sea levels
  • weather patterns changing
  • species becoming extinct
  • animals will migrate to find other suitable habitats.
• Maintaining biodiversity

  1. Breeding programs
  2. Protection and development of new endangered habitats
  3. Reducing deforestation
  4. Recycling waste