Biodiversity What do you see when you hear the word biodiversity? You might think of iconic animals such as African elephants, gray wolves, and humpback whales. Multicolored coral species that form a reef system? Or bacteria and microbes which regulate the soil’s nutrients, or oxygen-releasing phytoplankton living in the ocean’s sunlight zones.
Although biodiversity encompasses all living things
it also includes species diversity and abundance. Crested Birds It encompasses all the genes that enable animals and plants to adapt to and survive as well as the variety of planet ecosystems and the various functions these ecosystems perform in our interconnected world.
Biodiversity is simply the living web of ecosystems and species that forms the basis for life on Earth. While humans are a part of biodiversity, they also contribute to biodiversity loss. Homo sapiens have a variety of ways to negatively impact ecosystems and species, but we also depend on biodiversity for our food, energy, and medicine as well as our overall well-being.
It can be difficult to comprehend the extent
of human impact on biodiversity, which encompasses so many organisms, ecosystems, and genes. This is especially true when we only have 20% of the species. However, there are many indicators that indicate that humans are putting extraordinary pressure on biodiversity.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services estimates that 77% of the earth and 87% of its oceans have been altered by humans. This has resulted in the loss of 83% of wild mammals and half the world’s plant biomass. The IPBES also indicates that over a million species of animal and plant species are at risk of extinction. This could lead to the sixth mass extinction.
Scientists are puzzled by the question
When will humanity have outgrown biodiversity to the point where it can recover? If so, this could threaten Earth’s stability and put humanity and all life on Earth at risk.
Since the planetary boundaries framework was developed, researchers have wrestled with this question. Are Bats Birds This theory argues that Earth has nine subsystems or processes that are biophysical and can withstand anthropogenic pressure. The theory says that life can flourish if humanity keeps within the “safe operating area” of these boundaries. Humanity can cross the thresholds and force Earth into a dangerous, new state that isn’t as welcoming to life as it knows.
Although there have been several attempts to establish a global
threshold for biodiversity loss, there has not been any consensus. Researchers agree that it is difficult to quantify and determine biodiversity loss on a global level. However, this doesn’t mean biodiversity is not in danger. There are many ways to see how humanity is putting extreme pressure on biodiversity and, in turn, threatening the integrity of our environment.
