Biodiversity and factors contributing to the recent loss of species

“The worst thing that can happen during the 1980s is not energy depletion, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, or conquest by a totalitarian government. As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired within a few generations. The one process ongoing in the 1980s that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats. This is the folly that our descendents are least likely to forgive us.”  E.O. Wilson, 1985

            Everyday the world is depleting its resources and negatively altering Mother Nature by the destruction of natural habitat.  Although the 1980s were a few decades ago, humans are forgetting the importance of biodiversity in an ecosystem and in our world. 

The world is made up of so many factors, all of which are relevant to one another.  When looking at the Earth and how natural resources make it function, it is crucial to understand the meaning of biodiversity.  Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life forms within any given biome, ecosystem, or planet; it includes all organisms, species, and populations.  Normally there are three levels of biodiversity and these groups are genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.  There are numerous threats to biodiversity such as: habitat loss and destruction, alterations in ecosystem composition, the introduction of exotic (non-native) species, over-exploitation, pollution and contamination, and global climate change.  The loss of biodiversity is a noteworthy issue that scientists are studying on a regular basis. After understanding what biodiversity is then it is easier to comprehend the significance of ecosystems in the world.

            The destruction of ecosystems in the world today is caused by both natural causes and human causes.  There have been a large number of factors that relate to the recent loss of species and the amount is continuously growing.  Many species are depleting because of resources such as food, land, and water.  Also, the food chain is playing a key role in constantly making certain species increase greatly in numbers or drastically become extinct.  These are reasons why it is vital for both humans and ecosystems to remember their value to one another and how important working together may be.

In comprehending ecosystems and the circle of life, it is necessary to recognize some facts.

·         Terrestrial species had declined by 31% between 1970-2003.

·         Roughly 1.4 million species are known to science, but because many species are undescribed, an estimated 10-30 million species likely exists at present.

·         “Habitat loss presents the single greatest threat to world diversity, and the magnitude of this threat can be approximated from species- area curves and rates of habitat loss.” http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html

Due to the influence of humans and species collapsing, it has been difficult for ecosystems to stay alive and prosper.  In order to keep the world a successful and flourishing place to live, humans need to do their part in playing a positive role rather than a negative one.  Not only do humans have an effect on an ecosystem but any ecosystem influences human life.  Every scenario is different; therefore, in recognizing the importance of each ecosystem and their factors, it may be beneficial to focus on a specific case at a time.