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- Variety of all organisms in a particular habitat
- A high level is desirable because different organisms play different and crucial roles in their habitats
- Example: grass (producer), zebras (primary consumer) and leopards (secondary consumer) all support each other in a savannah ecosystem by forming a food chain, if one organism disappearance, the other organisms will be threatened

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Image

Photograph by Frans Lanting

Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans. Scientists have estimated that there are around 8.7 million species of plants and animals in existence. However, only around 1.2 million species have been identified and described so far, most of which are insects. This means that millions of other organisms remain a complete mystery.

Over generations, all of the species that are currently alive today have evolved unique traits that make them distinct from other species. These differences are what scientists use to tell one species from another. Organisms that have evolved to be so different from one another that they can no longer reproduce with each other are considered different species. All organisms that can reproduce with each other fall into one species.

Scientists are interested in how much biodiversity there is on a global scale, given that there is still so much biodiversity to discover. They also study how many species exist in single ecosystems, such as a forest, grassland, tundra, or lake. A single grassland can contain a wide range of species, from beetles to snakes to antelopes. Ecosystems that host the most biodiversity tend to have ideal environmental conditions for plant growth, like the warm and wet climate of tropical regions. Ecosystems can also contain species too small to see with the naked eye. Looking at samples of soil or water through a microscope reveals a whole world of bacteria and other tiny organisms.

Some areas in the world, such as areas of Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, the southwestern United States, and Madagascar, have more biodiversity than others. Areas with extremely high levels of biodiversity are called hotspots. Endemic species-species that are only found in one particular location-are also found in hotspots.

All of the Earth's species work together to survive and maintain their ecosystems. For example, the grass in pastures feeds cattle. Cattle then produce manure that returns nutrients to the soil, which helps to grow more grass. This manure can also be used to fertilize cropland. Many species provide important benefits to humans, including food, clothing, and medicine.

Much of the Earth's biodiversity, however, is in jeopardy due to human consumption and other activities that disturb and even destroy ecosystems. Pollution, climate change, and population growth are all threats to biodiversity. These threats have caused an unprecedented rise in the rate of species extinction. Some scientists estimate that half of all species on Earth will be wiped out within the next century. Conservation efforts are necessary to preserve biodiversity and protect endangered species and their habitats.

National Geographic Society

March 11, 2024

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. While Earth's biodiversity is so rich that many species have yet to be discovered, many species are being threatened with extinction due to human activities, putting the Earth's magnificent biodiversity at risk.

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Increased Demand of Area for Housing, Crop Plant Production and Livestock Production

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Increased Demand of Area for Housing, Crop Plant Production and Livestock Production

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1. Deforestation:
- The clearing and thinning of forests by humans
- Loss of forest benefits such as carbon sequestration and water regulation
- e.g. In Africa, Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire has lost over 80% of the forest since 1990s

2. Soil Degradation:
- The decline in soil condition caused by improper use or poor management by humans for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes
- Caused by intensive crop production practices such as tillage, monoculture, and excessive use of fertilisers
- Loss of soil fertility, soil structure and biodiversity

3. Water pollution:
- Contaminates water sources, degrades water quality and renders it toxic
- Can harm or kill aquatic organisms and disrupt ecosystems
- eg. India, The Ganges is the 5th most polluted river in the world, many citizens go there to excrete, shower and wash clothes, threatening wildlife (the Ganges River Dolphin has been endangered since 1996)

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1 football field of rainforest is destroyed every 6 seconds

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- Example of habitat destruction
- "Clearing or thinning of forests by humans" (Britannica) , basically destruction of forests via removal of trees
- Amazon rainforest: famous statistic of "1 football field disappearing per 6 seconds"

Reasons for deforestation:
- Agricultural expansion: more land to grow crops (fertile soil) and rear animals for meat and products
- Wood extraction: harvesting wood for furniture, paper, products etc.
- Infrastructure expansion: to urbanise the land taken up by forests to build settlements or use for other purposes (urban sprawl) (geo takers will know this well)

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Biodiversity. (n.d.). Biodiversity. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/biodiversity

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Deforestation | Definition, History, Consequences, & Facts. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/deforestation

A. (2022, September 20). Soil degradation. NSW Environment and Heritage. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/land-and-soil/soil-degradation

Resource extraction - Understanding Global Change. (n.d.). Resource Extraction - Understanding Global Change. https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/resource-extraction/

Agency, E. P. (n.d.). Freshwater and Marine. Freshwater and Marine | Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/freshwater-and-marine/

Contributor, G. (2022, January 20). The Ganges: river of life, religion and pollution. Geographical. https://geographical.co.uk/culture/the-ganges-river-of-life-religion-and-pollution

Marine Pollution. (n.d.). Marine Pollution. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/marine-pollution

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“Should We Bring Extinct Species Back From the Dead?” Science | AAAS, 6 June 2023, www.science.org/content/article/should-we-bring-extinct-species-back-dead.

Sottosanti, Karen. “Food Web | Definition, Ecosystem, Food Chain, and Examples.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Dec. 2022, www.britannica.com/science/food-web.

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Fahad, and Fahad. “How Does Deforestation Lead to Frequent Floods and Droughts?” Earth Reminder, Mar. 2022, www.earthreminder.com/how-does-deforestation-lead-to-floods-and-droughts.

Ho, Sally, et al. “Amazon Rainforest: The Devastating Impact of Brazil’S Pro-Deforestation Policies.” Green Queen - Award-Winning Impact Media - Alt Protein & Sustainability Breaking News, 29 June 2021, www.greenqueen.com.hk/research-devastating-impact-of-brazilian-governments-pro-deforestation-policies.

“How Plants Use Carbon Affects Their Response to Climate Change.” Imperial News, 20 July 2018, www.imperial.ac.uk/news/187327/how-plants-carbon-affects-their-response/#:~:text=Plants%20take%20in%20%E2%80%93%20or%20'fix,down%20sugars%20to%20get%20energy.

Mulhern, Owen. “We Lost a Football Pitch of Primary Rainforest Every 6 Seconds in 2019.” Earth.Org, Nov. 2020, earth.org/data_visualization/we-lost-a-football-pitch-of-primary-forest-every-6-seconds-in-2019/#:~:text=Nearly%20a%20third%20of%20that,seconds%20for%20the%20entire%20year.

NASA Earth Observatory. Tropical Deforestation. earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Deforestation/deforestation_update3.php#:~:text=Direct%20causes%20of%20deforestation%20are,single%20direct%20cause%20for%20deforestation.

National Geographic Society. “Save the Plankton, Breathe Freely.” National Geographic Society, 30 Jan. 2023, www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/save-the-plankton-breathe-freely/#:~:text=Ask%3A%20Where%20does%20the%20oxygen,oxygen%20comes%20from%20other%20sources.

Pimm, Stuart L. “Deforestation | Definition, History, Consequences, and Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 June 2023, www.britannica.com/science/deforestation.

Wcmc. “Earth’s Biodiversity Depends on the World’s Forests - UNEP-WCMC.” UNEP-WCMC, www.unep-wcmc.org/en/news/earths-biodiversity-depends-on-the-worlds-forests.

“What Is Erosion? Effects of Soil Erosion and Land Degradation.” World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degradation#:~:text=Deforestation,can%20actually%20worsen%20soil%20erosion.

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All organisms in a food web are interconnected via their predator-prey relationships

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- Food chains are inaccurate
- Organisms interact with more than just one or two other organisms in its habitat
- Organisms act as a food source for organisms above its trophic level as well as population control for organisms below it
- Natural balance is key for a healthy ecosystem

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Oil rigs harvest non-renewable oil from the seabed in deep water

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- Definition: Withdrawal of materials from the environment for human use, including fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal), rocks and minerals

- Many countries that contains a lot of resources under their land would create underwater pipes to extract raw materials such as crude oil underwater
- It takes up space, disrupts animals, and destroy their habitat via foreign materials and construction
- These would also pollute the ocean if the pipes leak out oil and contaminate the surrounding water

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The extinction of wooly mammoths likely caused its predators to starve themselves into extinction

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- Humans deliberately (hunting) or indirectly (land reclamation) affect the populations of organisms
- Organism becomes endangered (at risk of extinction) or extinct
- Predators of the organism lose a food source and are significantly affected; their populations will dwindle
- Prey of the organism lose a predator and many can survive and reproduce without risk of being eaten; their populations will explode
- Therefore, removing an organism from the food web disrupts balance of predators and prey in their habitat

- For example, when humans hunt sharks for their fins in certain areas, the stingray population booms because they lose their natural predators

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Sewage and drainage pipes often directly lead into the ocean and release toxic chemicals, affecting sealife

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Definition: Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the ocean. (National Geographic)

- The main threat to water quality is the presence of too much nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen
- Primarily comes from agriculture and waste water.
- Cause an increase in the growth of plants and algae, such as algal blooms.
- Blocks sunlight from reaching other plants, depletes the oxygen in the water as they decay
- Leading to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms.
- imbalanced ecosystems and reduced biodiversity.

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Many organisms such as this raccoon will lose their habitats from deforestation, although ironically raccoons are very adaptable so they'll be fine

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Effects and Consequences of Deforestation

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Effects and Consequences of Deforestation

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- Reduced biodiversity and extinction: habitat, provides food and shelter for organisms
- Loss of soil: rooting of trees protects soil from erosion; soil is swept into rivers, new plants cannot grow

- Flooding: roots of trees resist for floods on surface; underground: roots bring water to underwater reservoirs, for example Bangladesh's land has gone from 15% to 5% in forest cover, and thus more flooding occurred in recent years

- Increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere: trees and plants take in carbon dioxide, therefore net increase of carbon dioxide; greenhouse effect in which carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps heat from the sun and causes global warming (think Amazon)