Mini Project Biodiversity The study of biodiversity can be as small as studying
ID: 235779 • Letter: M
Question
Mini Project Biodiversity The study of biodiversity can be as small as studying the pond in your back yard to studying the diversity of organisms on an entire continent. The size of biodiversity depends on the type of ecosystem. A pond, for example, is going to have a much smaller diversity of organisms than the rain forests. Regardless of the size, biodiversity can be fragile so we must be cognizant of how we affect the balance of ecosystems in the world around us. Using the library, Internet and other credible resources, research biodiversity and write a report (500-550 words) that addresses the following questions: How does each of the following activities affect biodiversity? Habitat loss Over exploitation Climate change Pollution Spread of invasive species Which of the activities you addressed in the first question are natural and which are man-made? For each activity discuss how we make a change in our daily lives that will impact the well-being of biodiversity within our ecosystems.
Explanation / Answer
Bio diversity: the variations in the living organisms in aquatic, terrestial and marine ecosystems of which they are a part.
Habitat loss: It is the damage or destruction of natural habitat and it is no longer capable of supporting the ecological communities or species that occur naturally which in turn leads to species extinction and hence loss of biodiversity. It is caused mainly by directly or indirectly by human activities like clearing of land for urbanisation, hydrolelectric dams, mining, agriculture, logging. Also by pollution, climate change, fragmentation, introduction of invasive species. It can also result from natural events like floods, volcanic eruptions etc.
For that we should conserve habitat in order to protect and preserve biodiversity. ex. Biodiversity hotspot programmes are launched to protect fragile habitats around the world thus protecting threatened species.
Overexploitation: overuse of wildlife and other natural resources by man for food, clothes, medicines, shelter etc by mainly activities like fishing, hunting and excessive forestry. Over last 50 years there has been a decline in land based species as well as marine species because of mainly overexploitation by man and thus resulted in loss of biodiversity. Due to increase in population, demands also increases thus overexploitaion also increases.
There are various programmes like Endangered Species Act, which prevents overexploitation of species. Also Convention on International trade of flora and fauna also works in order to prevent global trade of wildlife. But still there are also some species which are not being protected form illegal trades or harvest.
So there is need to enforce some strict laws regarding conservation of natural resources. Also there is need to ensure that illegal trade or poaching is not taking place. Efforts should be made to discover new options or substituitons for food sources as well as for income to discourage illegal trading
Climate change:Climate change has a potential and long term threatening effects on bidoversity of an area. The biodiversity of an area is adversly affected by climate changes like extreme temperatures, reduced water availablity, change in rainfall patterns, floods. Since species evolve in a certain range of temperature and if it exceeded they cannot adapt with the changes and hence their survival is threatened. SInce after the industrial revolution global warming is increasing which results in melting glaciers, sea ice and permafrost, bleaching and drying of corals, heat waves, droughts, flooding has been taking place which in turn major shift of the organisms range and their biological cycles.
To protect biodiversity of the species priorites for biodiversity adaption to climate changes have been developed by OEH and involve:
Understanding likely responses to biodiversity change and re-adjusting management programmmes wherever required
building of comprehensive ,adequate and representative public reserve system and focussing mainly on under represented bioregions
species which are most likely to be at risk from climate change, adation options can be applied
by protecting habitat and create connections across landscapes through working with partners and community in order to increase opportunities species to move across landscapes
Pollution spread due to invasive species: invasive species are any organisms or species which are not native to the environment and cause harm to it. They are mainly spread by human activities by ships, ornamental plants, wood products, pet trade. They can harm the environment, economy or even human health . Invasive species can harm native species through predation and causing disease in the native species and sometimes they rapidly multiply and hence displacing the native species because they have developed adaptations to the new environment
To protect from the invasive species
Chemical control: Use of chemical pesticides to eliminate them
Mechanical control: use of machinery and humans efforts to remove them
Biological control: introduction of enemy of the invasive plants to reduce their population