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B7 K) A Growing Population
B7 K) A Growing Population
Biodiversity is the variety of different species of organisms on earth or within an ecosystem. Biodiversity is important for a variety of different reasons.
One of these reasons is that we (humans) obtain a huge quantity of resources from ecosystems. According to the Convention of Biodiversity’s website, 40% of the world’s economy and 80% of the needs of the poor come from biological resources.
One of these reasons is that we (humans) obtain a huge quantity of resources from ecosystems. According to the Convention of Biodiversity’s website, 40% of the world’s economy and 80% of the needs of the poor come from biological resources.
Biodiversity and ecosystems are important with respect to food security. This is because all of the organisms in an ecosystem are necessary for the ecosystem to be stable. The removal of one species or a few species can result in an ecosystem going into decline. For example, the Amazon rainforest has very rich soil with lots of nutrients. The Amazon rainforest is being deforested so that crops can be grown on the cleared land. The soil that the crops grow in is very fertile for the first few years after the deforestation, but the soil quickly loses its nutrients after a few years, which means that crop yields fall. The soil on the cleared rainforest becomes so unfertile because no organic matter is being broken down in the soil (before the deforestation, there was lots of organic matter being broken down in the soil, which resulted in the soil being very fertile).
Biodiversity is also very important for the services that it provides us with. For example, ecosystems (especially forests) provide us with clean air/ oxygen from photosynthesis, clean water, many other resources and healthy soil.
There are also many health benefits of biodiversity. This is because there are many species of organisms and plants that may provide us with chemicals that can be used in drugs to treat illnesses. As species become extinct, we will lose the potential medical benefits of any chemicals from these extinct species.
A final point on why biodiversity is important is because of ethical reasons. Should we allow ourselves (humans) to have such a great impact on the environment that it affects both our lives and the lives of other organisms? Furthermore, spending time in the environment/ outside has a variety of mental health benefits and allows individuals to become more creative; think about how essential getting outside to exercise has been during the lockdowns across the world.
Some scientists and ecologists are worried that if biodiversity falls below a certain level, there will be irreversible damage and the services that ecosystems provide us with will decrease or cease, which will have huge implications for humans across the whole world.
There are a variety of human activities that puts strain on ecosystems and can cause biodiversity to fall. In this section and the next few sections, we will look at some of the different human activities and the effects that these activities have on the environment and biodiversity.
Biodiversity is also very important for the services that it provides us with. For example, ecosystems (especially forests) provide us with clean air/ oxygen from photosynthesis, clean water, many other resources and healthy soil.
There are also many health benefits of biodiversity. This is because there are many species of organisms and plants that may provide us with chemicals that can be used in drugs to treat illnesses. As species become extinct, we will lose the potential medical benefits of any chemicals from these extinct species.
A final point on why biodiversity is important is because of ethical reasons. Should we allow ourselves (humans) to have such a great impact on the environment that it affects both our lives and the lives of other organisms? Furthermore, spending time in the environment/ outside has a variety of mental health benefits and allows individuals to become more creative; think about how essential getting outside to exercise has been during the lockdowns across the world.
Some scientists and ecologists are worried that if biodiversity falls below a certain level, there will be irreversible damage and the services that ecosystems provide us with will decrease or cease, which will have huge implications for humans across the whole world.
There are a variety of human activities that puts strain on ecosystems and can cause biodiversity to fall. In this section and the next few sections, we will look at some of the different human activities and the effects that these activities have on the environment and biodiversity.
Rising Population
The population of the world has increased exponentially over the last 100 to 200 years. Global population is expected to continue increasing in coming decades.
The population of the world has increased exponentially over the last 100 to 200 years. Global population is expected to continue increasing in coming decades.
Global population has increased so quickly during the past few centuries because of modern medicine and modern farming practices. Modern medicine has decreased the number of deaths from preventable diseases/ situations (there has been a massive decrease in the number of deaths from childbirth). Modern farming methods have increased the amount of food that we produce, thus meaning that fewer individuals die from hunger or have negative health effects from malnutrition.
The increasing population is placing a greater pressure on the environment in terms of the resources that we are using. Also, economic growth around the world has led to countries becoming wealthier. As countries become wealthier, their citizens consume a greater quantity of goods and services, which results in more resources being used. These resources are used for phones, houses, cars, changes in diet (a more western diet with more beef and dairy) etc. The greater demand for resources is putting more pressure on land to produce more, which is leading to habitat destruction and many other issues.
The increasing population is placing a greater pressure on the environment in terms of the resources that we are using. Also, economic growth around the world has led to countries becoming wealthier. As countries become wealthier, their citizens consume a greater quantity of goods and services, which results in more resources being used. These resources are used for phones, houses, cars, changes in diet (a more western diet with more beef and dairy) etc. The greater demand for resources is putting more pressure on land to produce more, which is leading to habitat destruction and many other issues.
Habitat Destruction
An increasing population is creating more demand for resources, which is causing habitat destruction. An example of habitat destruction is deforestation, which is taking place in many locations around the world especially in the Amazon rainforest. Peatbogs are another example of habitats that humans are destroying. The effects of deforestation and clearing peatbogs is explored in a separate section; click here to be taken to this section.
An increasing population is creating more demand for resources, which is causing habitat destruction. An example of habitat destruction is deforestation, which is taking place in many locations around the world especially in the Amazon rainforest. Peatbogs are another example of habitats that humans are destroying. The effects of deforestation and clearing peatbogs is explored in a separate section; click here to be taken to this section.
Hunting
Fishing is an example of hunting. Most fishing works by dragging a net behind a boat to catch fish. The overfishing of a particular fish will result in the population of that fish declining. This overfishing will also have an impact on the rest of the food chain/ ecosystem because all of the organisms in food webs/ ecosystems are very interdependent, so a decrease in the population of one organism will affect the populations of other organisms. This will result in a loss of biodiversity.
Fishing is an example of hunting. Most fishing works by dragging a net behind a boat to catch fish. The overfishing of a particular fish will result in the population of that fish declining. This overfishing will also have an impact on the rest of the food chain/ ecosystem because all of the organisms in food webs/ ecosystems are very interdependent, so a decrease in the population of one organism will affect the populations of other organisms. This will result in a loss of biodiversity.
In addition to hunting for food, hunting also happens for fun, trophy hunting and for the materials that the animals have. For example, elephants and rhinos are hunted for the ivory that is present in the horns of rhinos and the tusks of elephants. Rhinos have been hunted so much that they are now an endangered species. The reduction in the numbers of these animals due to hunting can affect the whole ecosystem because of how interdependent different organisms in food chains/ ecosystems are.