Loss of Biodiversity – Definition, Causes and Consequences

Loss of Biodiversity: A decline in biodiversity within a species, an ecosystem, a certain geographic area, or the entire Earth as a whole is known as a loss of biodiversity. Biodiversity means a variety of living organisms found within a geographic region. So, loss in biodiversity means a gradual decline in the variety of species, genetic variability, and the biological components in the surrounding environment. This loss shows a descending impact on the functions of the ecosystem.

Some of the major threats to biodiversity are population increase, deforestation, over exploitation of natural resources, etc. Loss of biodiversity may cause decline in plant production in an area, lowered resistance to environmental perturbations, and so on. Read on to learn more interesting facts about loss of biodiversity.

Loss of Biodiversity Definition

Loss of biodiversity or biodiversity loss means the extinction of species worldwide and loss of different animal and plant species from a particular geographic location or region. 

What Are the Causes Loss of Biodiversity?

Loss of Biodiversity is caused due to:

1. Increase in Population: We know that our planet’s major part is covered by water and forests. However, an increase in the human population has negatively impacted the ecosystem because of the use of forest land for excessive agriculture and construction by deforestation. It is also found that nowadays, many natural water bodies are covered with soil to make rugged land for construction usage.
2. Deforestation: Deforestation is one of the reasons for biodiversity loss because the tree is home to many animal species, and when the trees are cut, many species lose their habitat.
3. Over Exploitation of Natural Resources: Overusing the natural resources available in the ecosystem forces loss of biodiversity. For example, uncontrolled fishing, hunting of wild animals, mining, cutting of trees can have a hard impact on the ecosystem.
4. Loss of Habitat: Habitat destruction can lead to the extinction of species. In the process of habitat loss, many species die. Climate change, cutting of trees, harvesting of natural resources, population growth, urbanization are the few reasons that can lead to loss of habitat for many species.
5. Invasive Alien Species: Invasive Alien species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms enter and establish their habitat outside their natural habitat. Reproduction in these species is so fast that they outcompete the native species and are responsible for their extinction. This can cause biodiversity loss.
6. Climate Change and Global Warming: Currently, climate change is a significant cause of loss of biodiversity. Rapid climate change and global warming is a substantial reason for the extinction of many species. Rapid climate change affects the ability of species to adapt to the changing environment and causes death which contributes to loss of biodiversity.
7. Pollution: Air pollution caused by Phosphorus and Nitrogen emissions impact the ecosystem that leads to loss of biodiversity; in the aquatic ecosystem, nutrients overloads can give growth to algae which can lead to loss of oxygen and cause loss of marine life. The other forms of pollution that can cause biodiversity loss are water pollution, soil pollution, etc.
8. Natural Calamities: Natural disasters like flood, droughts, forest fires, earthquakes can lead to loss of habitat for many living species, and that can result in loss of biodiversity.

Fig. Causes of Loss of Biodiversity

IUCN and Red Data Book

The IUCN is “International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources” is an international agency.

The headquarter of IUCN is at Morges, Switzerland. The International Union for Conservation of Nature maintains a Red Data Book or red list.

The Red Data Book is a catalogue of taxa in which a complete list of threatened species is present. The main objective behind this Red Data Book is to provide complete information for research and analysis of different species. Red lists contain nine categories of species:

Fig: Red Data List

1. Extinct (E): The last individual has died out. They cannot be seen anymore.
Example: Dodo.

2. Extinct in the Wild (EW): Attempts have been made to sustain these species through captive breeding or artificial breeding in zoos.
Example: Northern White Rhinoceros.

3. Critically Endangered (CR): The species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the near future.
Example: Asiatic Cheetah.

4. Endangered (EN): The species always runs the risk of extinction in the wild environment but not in the near future.
Example: Blue Whale.

5. Vulnerable (VU): The species can be eliminated completely from the face of our earth in the distant future.
Example: Red Panda.

6. Near Threatened (NT): The species may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, but it does not currently qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable status.
Example: Emperor Penguin.

7. Least Concern (LC): The species are not qualified for critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened because they do not appear to be facing any extinction in the near future.
Example: Platypus.

8. Data Deficient (DD): There is not sufficient information to make a direct or indirect assessment of conservation status in this category.

Not Evaluated (NE): This category has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.

Loss of Biodiversity Examples

The examples of species that are extinct or endangered due to loss of biodiversity are:

Fig. Examples of Extinct Animals

Is Loss of Biodiversity a Problem?

The Consequences of loss of biodiversity are:

1. Food Production: Biodiversity loss impacts food production by decreasing the nutrient level of the food and the growth of food crops.
2. Spread of Disease: The loss of biodiversity causes degradation of the ecosystem, which leads to exposure to disease in animals, plants, and human beings.
3. Loss of Habitat: The biodiversity loss may cause loss of habitat for many species that may lead to the extinction of many species. In addition, deforestation may cause the destruction and displacement of many species.
4. Natural Disaster: The loss in biodiversity can form an unsustainable ecosystem which can lead to natural disaster like floods, droughts, forest fire, earthquake.
5. Pollution: The declining biodiversity can increase the pollution level, which may lead to an unhealthy environment. 
6. Soil Erosion: The intensive usage of soil for agriculture may lead to soil erosion.
7. Economic Effects: We get many substances from a healthy environment that have economic value, but due to loss of biodiversity, the ecosystem fails to provide the valuable natural elements.

Loss of Biodiversity Solution

The solutions to Loss of Biodiversity are:

1. Protection of Species: Hunting of animals and poaching of birds should be restricted. But, unfortunately, to fulfil our greed, we kill animals and ignore the consequences of our actions.
2. Protection of Habitat: Due to the increase in human population, we need more space to survive and agriculture, which leads to the destruction of natural habitats of many animals and plants. Therefore, we should take measures to control the population to protect the habitat of animals and plants to keep them safe from extinction.
3. Prevention of Deforestation: Many animals, plants, and tiny organisms stay in tropical rainforests. However, these species are endangered due to deforestation, which will have a negative chain impact. So, we should make sure that we can save our forests and preserve them and keep the species safe.
4. Controlled Usage of Natural Resources: We should keep control of the usage of natural resources by using alternative options of cooking, fuel, and mineral usage.
5. Prevention of Species Invasion: We should stop the invasion of species because they will lead to the displacement of local species from their habitat, and this will cause the extinction of many species.
6. Pollution Control: We should control pollution levels as it affects the biodiversity in adverse and high pollution may lead many species to extinction.
7. Government Regulatory: Government should make laws that can protect or conserve the natural variety of plants and animals from getting extinct.
8. Education: People should be educated about the importance of the ecosystem and the preservation of biodiversity. They should also know the consequences of declining biodiversity so people can seriously take part in the growth of healthy biodiversity.
9. Conservation of Species: Species of the various living organisms should be preserved by In-situconservation by protecting them in natural habitats for growth and Ex-situ conservation by protecting the species outside their natural habitat.

Summary

Biodiversity loss is a significant concern in the present time. It creates a negative impact on the environment. It results in loss of habitat, extinction of species, increase in natural calamities. This article gives a glimpse of the causes of biodiversity loss and its consequences. It is necessary to preserve our ecosystem, so we should find an effective solution to protect the species and other biological elements of the ecosystem.

FAQs

Q.1. How does an increase in the human population affect biodiversity?
Ans: We know our planet’s major part is covered by water and forests. However, an increase in the human population has negatively impacted the ecosystem by using forest land for excessive agriculture and construction by deforestation. It is also found that nowadays, many natural water bodies are covered with soil to make rugged land to do construction usage.

Q.2. What are the \(5\) major causes of diversity loss?
Ans: The \(5\) major causes of diversity loss are as follows:
a. Increase in Population.
b. Deforestation.
c. Loss of Habitat.
d. Invasive Alien Species.
e. Climate Change and Global Warming.

Q.3. What is the loss of biodiversity?
Ans: Loss of biodiversity or biodiversity loss means the extinction of species in a specific geographical region. It also exhibits a decline in many varieties of species, genetic variability, and biological elements. Thus, the loss of biodiversity harms the structure of the ecosystem.

Q.4. How can we solve the loss of biodiversity?
Ans: The solutions to Loss of Biodiversity are:
1. Protection of Species.
2. Protection of Habitat.
3. Controlled Usage of Natural Resources.
4. Government should make laws that can protect or conserve the natural variety of plants and animals from getting extinct.

Q.5. How does the loss of diversity affect the environment?
Ans: Climate change is a significant cause of loss in biodiversity. Rapid climate change and global warming is a substantial reasons for the extinction of many species; rapid climate change affects the ability of species to adapt to the changing environment and causes death which contributes to loss of biodiversity.

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