Threats to Biodiversity

There are natural threats to biodiversity, such as disease or natural disaster. Humans present a large threat to biodiversity. The following pages will show many threats to biodiversity. Record notes on your Threats to Biodiversity worksheet.

H= Habitat Destruction● Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered unable

to support the species present. In this process, the plants and animals which previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity.

● Habitat destruction by human activity is mainly for the purpose of harvesting natural resources for industry production and urbanization.

● Habitat destruction is currently ranked as the primary cause of species extinction worldwide.

I= Invasive SpeciesSpecies introduced by humans often become invasive, in which they exclude native species.

Native species: live in an area naturally

Invasive species: introduced by humans (often accidentally)

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P= Pollutionthe presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.

P= Population (human population growth)Global human population growth amounts to around 75 million annually, or 1.1% per year. The global population has grown from 1 billion in 1800 to 7 billion in 2012.

O= Overexploitationharvesting species from the wild at rates faster than natural populations can recover. Overfishing and overhunting are both types of overexploitation.

Reflect….What are 3 ways humans could reduce the impact of these threats? How can humans protect biodiversity?