Threats to Biodiversity There are natural threats to biodiversity, such as disease or natural disaster. Humans present a large threat to biodiversity. The following pages will show many threats to biodiversity. Record notes on your Threats to Biodiversity worksheet. H= Habitat Destruction Reasons humans destroy habitats: ● Building homes and communities ● Agriculture (farming) ● Harvesting of timber (wood) Why is this a problem? ● Plants and animals which previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. ● Habitat destruction is currently ranked as the primary cause of species extinction worldwide. I= Invasive Species Species introduced by humans often become invasive, in which they exclude native species. Native species: live in an area naturally Invasive species: introduced by humans Why is this a problem? Invasive species often “win” in the competition for resources, driving out native species Watch this--> P= Pollution the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects. P= Population (human population growth) Global human population growth amounts to around 75 million annually, or 1.1% per year. The global population has grown from 1 billion in 1800 to 7.6 billion in 2018. O= Overexploitation harvesting species from the wild at rates faster than natural populations can recover. Ex. overfishing and overhunting Reflect…. What are 3 ways humans could reduce the impact of these threats? How can humans protect biodiversity?
