What is the relationship between biodiversity and extinction?
Biodiversity and extinction are closely related concepts in ecology. Biodiversity refers
to the variety of living species in an ecosystem, whereas extinction is the complete
disappearance of a species from the planet. The loss of biodiversity significantly
increases the likelihood of extinction, and vice versa. Species extinction reduces the
overall biodiversity of an ecosystem, leading to cascading effects on other species
and ecological processes.
Human-driven activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change
have increased the rate of species extinction to an unprecedented level. According
to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), around 27% of
mammal species, 13% of bird species, and 41% of amphibians are currently at high
risk of extinction due to human activities. The loss of these species would have
significant consequences on the functioning and stability of their respective
ecosystems.
Current extinction rates are estimated to be 1000 times higher than natural
background extinction rates, highlighting the urgent need to conserve biodiversity.
Conservation measures, including habitat restoration, protected area management,
and sustainable resource management, are essential to combat the ongoing loss of
biodiversity and prevent further extinctions.
Overall, the maintenance of healthy biodiversity is crucial for the survival of all
species, including humans, and requires global efforts to preserve the natural world
for future generations.
References:
Dirzo, R., Young, H. S., Galetti, M., Ceballos, G., Isaac, N. J. B., & Collen, B. (2014).
Defaunation in the Anthropocene. Science, 345(6195), 401-406.
IUCN. (2020). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved from
https://www.iucnredlist.org.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. (2005). Ecosystems and human well-being: Biodiversity
synthesis. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute.