KALINDI COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY OF DELHI
NAME: RIMJHIM SINGH
ROLL NO.: 23583080
COURSE: B.SC. LIFE SCIENCES (IIIRD
SEM)
SUBMITTED TO: DR. AKANSHA RAI
ASSIGNMENT:
MAJOR THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY AND
HOW TO MITIGATE THEM
What is Biodiversity?
“Biodiversity is the variation among living organisms from different sources including
terrestrial, marine and desert ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they
are a part.”
Biodiversity describes the richness and variety of life on earth. It is the most complex and
important feature of our planet. Without biodiversity, life would not sustain.
Biodiversity includes the number of different organisms and their relative frequencies in an
ecosystem. It also reflects the organization of organisms at different levels.

Importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity and its maintenance are very important for sustaining life on earth. A few of the
reasons explaining the importance of biodiversity are:

Ecological Stability
Every species has a specific role in an ecosystem. They capture and store energy and also
produce and decompose organic matter. The ecosystem supports the services without which
humans cannot survive. A diverse ecosystem is more productive and can withstand
environmental stress.

Economic Importance
Biodiversity is a reservoir of resources for the manufacture of food, cosmetic products and
pharmaceuticals.

Crops livestock, fishery, and forests are a rich sources of food.

Wild plants such as Cinchona and Foxglove plant are used for medicinal purposes.

Wood, fibres, perfumes, lubricants, rubber, resins, poison and cork are all derived from
different plant species.

The national parks and sanctuaries are a source of tourism. They are a source of beauty and
joy for many people.

Ethical Importance
All species have a right to exist. Humans should not cause their voluntary extinction.
Biodiversity preserves different cultures and spiritual heritage. Therefore, it is very important
to conserve biodiversity.

Major Threats to Biodiversity:

Climate Change:
Climate change refers to the long term and irreversible change that occurs in the Earth’s
climate. This increase in the atmosphere’s temperature has major effects on the environment
such as the seasons, rising sea levels, and glacial retreats.

 Organisms’ biodiversity is affected by their population, distribution, level of the

ecosystem, and even the individuals’ morphology and function.
  Because of the increase in temperature, organisms have already adapted by expanding
their ranges in latitudes. Because of this behavior, many species’ populations have
declined. Aside from this, many animals have exhibited changes in the timings of
their physiological functions. These include the birds and insects migrating and
mating earlier than usual, resulting in some failure in the breeding and production of
young.

2. Habitat Loss and Degradation:

Habitat loss refers to changes in the environment that result to the rendering of a specific
habitat to be functionally valuable. The habitat can no longer accommodate and support the
life of the organisms present, thereby declining their population.

 Natural events like natural calamities, geological events, or anthropogenic activities

like deforestation and man-induced climate change may cause Habitat loss.

 In habitat degradation, the organisms that were once living in a particular area or
region are displaced and forced to relocate; thus resulting in biodiversity reduction.

Pollution:
Be it water, air, or land pollution, all forms of pollution appear to be a threat to all life forms
on Earth. However, it poses a major threat to biodiversity regarding the nutrient loading of
nitrogen and phosphorus elements.

 In Europe, atmospheric nitrogen is the only pollutant that has not decreased in
concentration since the implementation of legislation. Its mere presence poses huge
challenges to the conservation measures intended to natural habitats and species living
there.

 Furthermore, nitrogen compounds in water systems can cause eutrophication

(excessive plant and algal growth).
 The presence and accumulation of phosphorus in water systems can alter how food
webs function. Excessive phosphorus, like nitrogen, can result in the uncontrolled
growth of planktonic algae; thus increasing organic matter deposition in the seabed.

 Another form of pollution that can damage and kill living organisms is acid rain. Acid
rain, as its name suggests, is rain that is composed of harmful acids (i.e., nitric and
sulfuric acid). This rain is usually a result of pollution from the excessive burning of
fossil fuels.

Invasive Species:
An exotic or unnatural species can be any organism that has been introduced to a foreign
habitat. This introduction can cause major threats to the native species as they often become
subject to great competition for resources, disease, and predation. When these species have
successfully colonized the area, they are already called “invasive” ones.

 Next to habitat loss, invasive species are ranked as the second biggest threat to
biodiversity.

 The greatest threat that invasive species can bring is their capability to change an
entire habitat. These species are highly adaptable and can easily dominate a certain
area. Because many natural species survive only in a particular environment, they
tend to be displaced or perish.

Overexploitation:
Overexploitation refers to the act of overharvesting species and natural resources at rates
faster than they can sustain themselves in the wild. Because of this, the species population is
put at great risk of reduction.
 Overharvesting, overfishing, and overhunting are some examples of overexploitation.

 Additionally, some living organisms find it hard to reproduce when their number is
too small.

 So as a population or ecosystem continues to suffer from low species diversity, the

probability of getting wiped out completely when a natural disaster or other forces
increase.

Ways to Protect and Conserve Biodiversity

Even though the biodiversity of many habitats has become threatened there are many things
we can do to help reduce this danger. These are some of the steps you can take to conserve
biodiversity.

Protecting Natural Habitats

Governments have significant power to control and protect the habitats within their countries,
often through legislation. By enacting laws that prohibit harmful development, resource
extraction, or other forms of exploitation, they can help maintain natural biodiversity.
Protecting habitats before they are altered remains the most effective approach to biodiversity
conservation, with government regulations being vital in implementing these protections. The
establishment of protected areas such as nature preserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and marine
reserves is among the most widely used methods.

Sustainable Land and Water Use

By 2050 the world’s population will be close to ten billion. We will need to produce 60
percent more food than we do presently.

Producing more food without expansion into natural habitats and causing further
environmental degradation and pollution, which then causes even further loss of biodiversity
in an already precarious world is a daunting challenge to say the least.

That’s where a truly sustainable land use system comes into the play, as it should conserve
resources, promote biodiversity, and minimize environmental impact of our activities to
sustain our population.

Combating Climate Change

Another major threat to biodiversity is climate change. The Earth is warming rapidly, largely
due to fossil fuel burning, which releases excessive carbon into the atmosphere. This has
profound effects on ecosystems and species, disrupting natural balances that have taken
millennia to establish. That’s why this issue needs to be addressed if we focus on protecting
biodiversity worldwide.

High greenhouse gas levels trap heat and cause rapid warming that disrupts seasonal cycles
and habitats. This added strain forces plants and animals to change their behavior or relocate,
which often breaks the natural balance within ecosystems.

When we cut emissions, we slow these rapid temperature changes, giving ecosystems the
chance to function within their natural rhythms. Forests, oceans, and wetlands—key carbon
sinks—can better manage and store carbon. They help to stabilize habitats so species can
thrive without constantly fighting against climate-induced threats.

Controlling Invasive Species

As our natural environment continues to undergo damage and development around the world,
disturbed ecosystems are now becoming increasingly vulnerable to invasion by invasive
species. In disturbed ecosystems, introduced invasive species can take advantage of niches
that have been opened up that were previously occupied by native species.

Invasive species overwhelm native plants and animals and threaten biodiversity. Targeted
actions and public education are the best tools to prevent these harmful impacts.
Conservation Education and Public Awareness
As with most environmental topics, education is one of the keys to success. Educating
people about the importance of biodiversity conservation increases public awareness of the
issue. As public awareness increases people become more involved and eventually influence
their government representatives, pushing for more environmental protection.

Understanding how species interact within their environment is crucial to protecting them. As
we further understand species interaction we find new and more direct ways to help protect
organisms and maintain biodiversity.