On the planet there are various factors that influence the development of life, among them we can highlight the great variety of living species that enrich the different ecosystems. Due to the changes caused by man, the loss of these precious species has been motivated, so let us know the Consequences of the Loss of Biodiversity described in the following article.
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety that all living beings possess within the planet earth, referring to the different organisms that are responsible for composing an ecosystem, not excluding any type of species present in the prairies, in the forests, in the jungles , in fresh and salt water, among others.
Referring to the great diversity of living beings found on earth, which are responsible for providing a set of natural patterns that have evolved over time, so they are considered as a result of thousands of years of evolution. in the different natural processes, also having an influence on all the activities carried out by the human being.
Biodiversity is responsible for composing the various ecosystems and granting a great variety of genetic diversity that over time were combined and generated different and multiple lives and species, being considered as the sustenance of life in the world, standing out for reaching interact with the various elements such as water, soil and air that surround it and influencing their respective evolution.
This diversity stands out as a factor of great importance because it has an intrinsic value that can generate a wide variety of services and goods that are very necessary for all human beings and their continued survival where they can benefit from water, the raw materials provided , natural resources, among others; drastically influencing the evolution and growth of rural communities.
Causes of Biodiversity Loss
The biodiversity that is currently on earth corresponds to the evolution of approximately four billion years, representing a great symbol of evolution and conservation of species on the planet, being of a very outstanding value because they represent a result of the evolution of antiquity and are characteristic of the existence of life. In addition, they are responsible for offering well-being to the different ecosystems, being composed of different elements that generate survival and balance.
Over time, the continuous loss of biodiversity has been observed, which represents a great problem for our entire planet; being one of the main factors the excessive and progressive consumption by man, of the various natural elements, where one of its main factors is to increase the standard of living of those who are part of the cities and the human system forgetting life nature and the development of the species.
The continuous expansion of cities and continuous domains of man has caused the disappearance of terrestrial ecosystems and with it all the biodiversity that is present and is part of it. Being estimated with an approximate loss of 47.000 species, representing approximately 36% of species extinction, noting that the statistics include even aquatic ecosystems, this loss of biodiversity can be influenced by the following factors to be highlighted:
Overexploitation of the Natural Environment
Man has been characterized by the constant evolution of society through the benefits he obtains from nature, which have caused the growth and development of society in different times and the life that is currently known. Highlighting a continuous exploitation of all resources.
With the passing of time, an overexploitation of natural environments has been highlighted, which have been in a very uncontrolled way of all natural resources that can negatively influence the different ecosystems, with a high rate of resource extraction occurring. influencing the regeneration rate because its recovery is not respected when the resource is already being exploited again.
In this case, it is highlighted that all the resources can be obtained by those same individuals that inhabit the ecosystem that is being evaluated, the extraction system being larger and more extensive than those that can reproduce, all of these can have a certain impact on population declines, reflecting that many exploited species such as deer, fish and whales.
Among the main activities that lead to overexploitation are those such as hunting, fishing, illegal trade, excessive felling of trees and also agriculture, being practiced in greater proportion causes a greater consumption of resources and without waiting for their Recovery. Where the main consequence of overexploitation and little control over excessive practices is the danger of extinction of most species.
Habitat Loss
Each of the species has natural habitats that allow it to have an adequate development according to the ideal conditions for each one. The loss of biodiversity causes species to lose their habitat or growth area, because they tend to change and try to meet all human needs, this can be seen in activities such as deforestation, drainage of wetlands, transformation of the jungles and the continuous manipulation of agricultural soils.
With the passing of time, it has sought ways to modify natural spaces according to the conditions they wish to obtain, these changes can lead to the fact that they should not be produced in an integral way and this is attributed to partial changes that have alterations in structure or the composition of the ecosystem, in this way it can affect all the species and the different benefits that are obtained from it.
The various natural transformations that these natural areas undergo can lead to fragmentation of habitats, generating a drastic negative effect known as the "edge effect", highlighting this type of phenomenon that usually happens in those areas where they are present by at least two completely different types of natural habitats being considered as communities that are structured in such a way that they are in contact.
The continuous or partial destruction of habitats can have a great impact on species, because it motivates their loss or else their displacement in search of a better and adaptable place for them, this motivates a great threat to the ecosystems present. either by not being able to move and in the compositions that ecosystems have, motivating an alteration of the species and of the different natural resources.
Pollution
Pollution is a much-discussed issue and taken into account corresponds to the accumulation of various substances found in the environment and usually negatively affect the environment and the different living conditions, even becoming very characteristic in health and the hygiene of people. Normally they are chemical substances that can have an impact on biodiversity, influencing the air, the water and also the soil.
Among some of the most prominent substances in influencing the environment are fertilizers and pesticides, in addition to the accumulation of previously manufactured products such as plastic or also all those agricultural waste from the different industrial manipulations that are also processed. in the field of livestock, agricultural and urban.
In addition, a set of activities are highlighted which have to do with the burning of fossil fuels that is normally used to obtain hydrocarbons used for the development of daily life for man. All this has generated a high environmental impact, generating changes such as the appearance of acid rain, generating harmful changes in ecosystems and influencing the reproductive systems and also the food systems of the different species.
All chemical substances can have a high impact as pollutants, drastically influencing the planet's biodiversity, among some of the most prominent types of pollution are the following:
Noise Pollution
It corresponds to the excessive and annoying sound that can be produced by the various practices of the human being such as traffic, airplanes, ships, among others. Normally, noise pollution can cause species to flee from the surroundings, mainly those species that have acute hearing abilities (bats, owls), being mainly species of birds that tend to be very sensitive and have difficulty communicating with each other. .
Light pollution
Corresponds to the introduction of light artificially causing the degradation of natural ecosystems, managing to have an impact on the different species, causing a disorder in some species such as certain birds that tend to sing at night due to the effect of the artificial light like a new day.
thermal contamination
All this happens when the temperature of the natural environment is altered, becoming harmful and unwanted, this time of contamination mainly affects the aquifer systems, affecting the level of oxygen and being influenced by increasing the temperature that causes the solubility of the gases in the water decreases. This factor has a great impact on reproduction and growth.
Introduction of Invasive Species
There are groups of species that become invasive and generate some kind of change for all ecosystems and in this way manage to move in the different ecosystems, all this can cause them to become invasive species because they come to interfere in the different compositions, structure and form that ecosystems have, influencing the different processes that species have.
The movement of the species is usually voluntary, causing them to become invasive species. The difficulty of this factor is that the species usually achieve complete competition from the other species that are within their natural habitat; causing native species to become displaced and causing their death and extinction, in addition to these migratory species can be contaminated by diseases and harm the health of the environment and man.
Climate Change
Climate change is a highly discussed topic today due to the great detrimental impact it has on our planet, where it is responsible for encompassing a set of alterations that alter the climatic conditions of each of the ecosystems on earth. Considering that it is the main factor for the loss of biological diversity in our world.
Seriously harming the survival of all species and forcing them to adapt to the different climatic conditions that are offered, this motivates the displacement of their natural habitats, changes in their behavior and genetic modifications for a period that encompasses the different generations. Due to climatic changes, there is a drastic increase in the species that are threatened, being a great example the polar bears that have been disappearing as their habitat is affected by the melting of glaciers.
Consequences of Biodiversity Loss
The loss of the various biological species can lead to very serious and drastic consequences in order to guarantee survival on the planet. The extinction of species can generate certain impacts on ecosystems, they can eliminate species from different food chains causing their total extinction, this can generate a domino effect in the environment where species and even beings are affected. humans.
One of the main cases of the extinction of animal species stands out bees, where they are considered one of the very few species responsible for carrying out pollination and where it corresponds to an important factor for the evolution of life in the planet, generating a set of chains dependent on one and the other.
The different imbalances that are part of the food chains correspond to a mechanism for the transfer of nutritional substances and the various organic materials that will be part of the evolution of ecosystems; By altering this food chain, it can generate an appearance of pests that alter the species and eliminate them, generating destruction of the different plant situations that cause consequences in the respective evolution of the system.
Currently there is no solution to prevent the extinction of species, where it can be observed that the feeding of human beings is threatened because the feeding of human beings is affected, including their health, well-being and other factors. Highlighting the fact that this extinction is not only observed in animal species and plant species.
Factors such as soil, water, and air are of paramount importance in influencing biodiversity on planet Earth. The fundamental role of the plant world is particularly important, as it carries out various biochemical processes essential for the development of life, in addition to serving as a food source for a vast number of species. Eliminating plant species affects the planet's atmospheric balance, specifically by disrupting the balance of atmospheric CO2 , thus contributing to climate change and the resulting temperature increases.
Also highlighting the importance that the soils found in the forests tend to facilitate the water found within them and allow filtering to the aquifer systems that will allow the water to be suitable for human consumption. This type of soil can become essential because they prevent it from losing moisture, at the time that some forest can cause the soil to erode, because they lose the cover that protects them and causes them to lose fertility and causing them to be arid zones.
Being of great importance of biodiversity, it is of the utmost importance for man because it is in charge of offering well-being, development and life necessary for the advancement of life.
Solutions for Biodiversity Loss
The loss of biodiversity has great consequences and is of significant importance within our entire system. Arousing doubt in many people and specialists on how to take care of biodiversity on the planet in order to have the loss that can recover the various areas in the world. Where countries, governments and institutions hold meetings to find solutions for biodiversity loss, highlighting some solutions to highlight:
- Do not favor any type of action that is involved in the extinction of species, animals and plants.
- Reduce excessive consumption that generates a negative impact on the environment in the diversity of species.
- Promote actions that can protect the diversity of species, without any kind of profit, in order to support the species that are in extinction.
- It is necessary to raise awareness and educate all people regarding the environmental impact.
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