4.5.1 Threats to Biodiversity

• What does biodiversity encompass within an ecosystem?

  Species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity
• Diverse ecosystems are more resilient to environmental changes
• Biodiversity supports ecosystem services like pollination and water purification.
• What is an example of a natural disaster that threatens biodiversity?

  Volcanic eruptions
• Climate change can lead to extreme weather events and temperature shifts
• Match the natural threat with its impact on biodiversity:

  Natural Disasters ↔️ Habitat destruction

  Climate Change ↔️ Disrupts ecosystems

  Disease Outbreaks ↔️ Reduces population sizes

  Invasive Species ↔️ Alters ecosystems
• Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.
• What are four key human-induced threats to biodiversity?

  Habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, climate change
• Deforestation for palm oil plantations is an example of habitat destruction
• Match the human-induced threat with its impact on biodiversity:

  Habitat Destruction ↔️ Loss of ecosystems

  Overexploitation ↔️ Depletion of populations

  Pollution ↔️ Toxic effects on organisms

  Climate Change ↔️ Shifts in species ranges
• What is an example of overexploitation that threatens biodiversity?

  Overfishing of cod stocks
• Coral bleaching due to ocean warming is an effect of climate change on biodiversity.
• What is habitat loss and why does it reduce biodiversity?

  Destruction or fragmentation of natural environments, reducing living spaces for species
• Clearing forests for urban development is an example of habitat loss
• Match the consequence of habitat loss with its description:

  Species Extinction ↔️ Reduced living spaces increase extinction risk

  Ecosystem Degradation ↔️ Loss of keystone species disrupts functions

  Reduced Genetic Diversity ↔️ Smaller populations lead to less variation

  Increased Species Competition ↔️ Limited resources heighten competition
• The relationship between habitat size and species richness is S \propto A^{0.3}</latex>.
• Steps in the process of biodiversity conservation

  1️⃣ Identify threats to biodiversity

  2️⃣ Develop conservation strategies

  3️⃣ Apply conservation principles

  4️⃣ Monitor and evaluate efforts
• What three components does biodiversity encompass?

  Species, genetic, ecosystem diversity
• Ecosystem services such as pollination and nutrient cycling are supported by biodiversity
• What are two economic benefits of biodiversity?

  Agriculture, fisheries, tourism
• Biodiversity enriches cultural heritage.
• Match the natural threat with its impact on biodiversity:

  Natural Disasters ↔️ Habitat destruction, species extinction

  Climate Change ↔️ Disrupts ecosystems, changes species ranges

  Disease Outbreaks ↔️ Reduces population sizes, can lead to species extinction

  Invasive Species ↔️ Decreases native species diversity, alters ecosystems
• Arrange the steps in the relationship between ecosystem resilience and natural threats:

  1️⃣ Identify natural threat

  2️⃣ Assess severity of threat

  3️⃣ Measure ecosystem resilience

  4️⃣ Determine impact on biodiversity
• Ecosystem resilience is inversely proportional to the severity of the natural threat
• What is the primary impact of habitat destruction on biodiversity?

  Loss of ecosystems
• Overexploitation of natural resources leads to depletion of populations and species extinction.
• Pollution introduces harmful substances into the environment, disrupting ecosystems and affecting biodiversity
• How does climate change impact biodiversity?

  Shifts species ranges
• Human-induced threats are primarily caused by human activities.
• Arrange the causes of habitat loss from most direct to most indirect:

  1️⃣ Mining

  2️⃣ Agricultural Expansion

  3️⃣ Urban Expansion

  4️⃣ Deforestation
• What are two effects of habitat loss on biodiversity?

  Species extinction, reduced genetic diversity
• $S \propto A^{0.3}$ expresses the relationship between species richness and habitat area.
• Pollution reduces species diversity by eliminating sensitive organisms.
• What three factors contribute to overexploitation?

  High demand, economic incentives, inadequate management
• What is one consequence of population depletion on biodiversity?

  Increased vulnerability to extinction
• The loss of a keystone species can disrupt food chains in an ecosystem.
• Smaller populations lead to less genetic variation
• What is an example of overfishing that led to population depletion?

  Overfishing of cod stocks
• Elephants are poached for their ivory
• Match the harvesting type with its characteristics:

  Sustainable harvesting ↔️ Balances harvest with regeneration

  Unsustainable harvesting ↔️ Exceeds regeneration capacity