Question

List four causes of biodiversity loss.

Answer 1

Hint: Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life i.e. plants, animals and microorganisms present on this Earth. It is a measure of variation at the genetic, species and ecosystem level.

Complete Answer:
- Biodiversity is also called biological diversity. It is the variety of life found on this Earth or in a place – the variety of plants, animals, microorganisms, etc. Each of these species and organisms make ecosystems and work together.
- Biodiversity maintains balance in nature. It supports everything in this nature that we need to survive i.e. food, water, shelter, etc.

- Biodiversity Loss: Loss of biodiversity means decrease in biodiversity of an area, an ecosystem, within a species, or on the Earth. It is decline in number, variety of species, genetic variability, etc. The loss in variety of life can cause disturbances in the ecosystem.

Four causes of loss of biodiversity are-
1. Habitat loss and degradation: Habitat loss and degradation includes the existing natural habitat of life inhabited in that particular area. This inturn reduced the food resources and living space for many species which resulted in their death and decline.
2. Invasive species: Invasive species are those species which are no-native to that area. They can disrupt the ecosystem as they may compete with native species for food and habitat due to which there will decline in the number of native species. Invasive species can arrive in any area through migration or through human activities.
3. Overexploitation: Overexploitation means the harvesting or use of any animal or any other organism beyond a limit. It results in rapid declination in the number of species.
4. Pollution: Pollution is the addition of any toxic substance to the environment, which is harmful to life in several ways. This can also cause declination by creating health problems in exposed organisms.

Note: Loss of biodiversity can also be attributed by the influence of humans. Human activities such as poaching, hunting, cutting trees, etc. can also lead to biodiversity loss.