Saturday, May 2, 2009

What Are the Causes of Biodiversity Loss?


Do you know what HIPPO is? It's the major direct cause of biodiversity loss!


H = Habitat Destruction
I = Introduced Species
P = Pollution
P = Population Growth
O = Over-consumption
H : Habitat Destruction - Forests and trees being cut down causes many of our animal species lose their homes. Therefore, thousands of animals are facing threats of going extinct. Habitat destruction - along with invasive species - pose the most threats to biodiversity.

I : Invasive Species - Because of the balance of nature, when a new species is taken from its natural environment and introduced to a new environment, it adapts to the new living conditions and invades the space of the native plants even killing them.

P : Pollution - Heavy metals, oils, and common household chemicals run off into our waterways Much of our skies and affect many wildlives in the world. Waters are becoming very polluted. The pollution is causing many of our species going extinct adding to our biodiversity loss.

P : Over Population - With the world's population estimated to double within the next 12 years, more people will be using natural resourses, and of course it will cause possible increase in habitat destruction and more waste generated. Thus we will end up losing even more of our animals diversities.

O : Overharvesting - With the increasing need for farmland much of our soil's quality are decreasing. When plants are harvested, it is found that the same soil most likely can't be used again. Instead of trying to salvage the land, many farmers clear more land to use. This is adding to the deforestation of forests, and clearing of animal's home. We are also decreasing the quality of our earth's soils and taking with it the nutrients. Also with less trees, we are making the soil more susceptible to erosion.

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