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Biodiversity
The human-caused change that is the greatest threat to biodiversity is anthropogenic climate change, which is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This will create massive climate change, affecting the habitats where species live, causing significant issues that could affect their future survival, if they cannot adapt. This paper focuses on how these changes will affect biodiversity at the ecosystem level. The authors choose this focus because the ecosystem is a set of related entities -- individual species, for example -- but their interrelation is critical. If climate change affects a single species, it could disrupt the entire ecosystem even if the other species are not affected by the climate change. This example highlights the destructive capabilities of climate change.
One of the main points that the authors make is that a single species can and does affect an entire ecosystem. They discuss the removal of a single species, such as when the sea otter was hunted in Russia, leading to an explosion of sea urchins, which were the otters' main prey. Ecosystems exist in a state of delicate balance, so any individual species can have a significant...
The sea otter example is one. A single species, the sea otter, was removed from the ecosystem, but the cascade affected a far greater number of species. Sea urchins proliferated, and they would have crowded out competitor species, and whatever the urchins eat would have been depleted as well. This is an example of trophic cascade that was described in the paper.
Biodiversity also prevents invasion. Biodiversity is something that makes it more difficult for species to enter an ecosystem and succeed. When the ecosystem is in balance, it is less likely that an outside species can find a niche, when there are no available niches in a balanced ecosystem. An invasion species is generally thought to be more likely to flourish if there are available niches in an ecosystem. Alternations to biodiversity have had a negative impact on society. A good example can be found with the passenger pigeon. This bird outcompeted mice that carried the tick that transmitted Lyme disease. When humans killed off the passenger pigeon, those mice were able to flourish, so the ticks did…
Works Cited:
Chapin, F., Zavaleta, E., Eviner, V., Naylor, R., Vitousek, P., Reynolds, H., Hooper, D., Lavorel, S., Sala, O., Hobbie, S., Mack, M. & Diaz, S. (2000). Consequences of changing biodiversity. Nature. Vol. 405 (2000). 234-242.
Cardinale, B., Duffy, E., Gonzalez, A., Hooper, D, Venail, P., Narwani, A., Mace, G., Tilman, D., Wardle, D., Kinzig, A., Daily, G., Loreau, M., Grace, J., Larigauderie, A., Srivastava, D., Naeem, S. (2012). Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity. Nature. Vol. 486, pp. 59-67.
The modern separation from the means of production does not negate the fact that nearly everything we need to sustain us is provided by the earth, either by natural or artificial means. The earth gives us all the materials we need and many we desire and in turn she is changed. She becomes less able with each passing day and each lost natural acre to continue to provide. Though the
These restoration efforts affect natural wetlands that have been destroyed by mankind and then proposed to become urbanized. Conclusion Although the impact on the climate by humans has had several negative impacts, such impacts have the potential to be stopped and even reversed. Research clearly indicates that recent technological advances can be used in these cases as a valuable tool in determining whether natural processes can be restored, or whether other
When increased funding is made available via investments and tourism, the space problem can also be managed with greater ease. It is vitally important to preserve as much biodiversity as possible, and to do so particularly in countries where biodiversity is richest. For this reason, conservation managers need to put practices in place to target potential investors for the future preservation of the earth and its resources. Sources Brown, David. 1998.
Ecosystem Structure, Function and Change Lake Tahoe is located in Sierra Nevada and is a freshwater lake over 1600 feet deep and one of the largest lakes in America. The lake is at the heart of a comprehensive ecosystem and home to a range of native species and contains a rich aquatic life. For example, the lake is home to redside dace, suckers and chub. "The ecosystem of the Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe Biodiversity Lake Tahoe is hailed as one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States. Over the last century or two, the fish biodiversity of the area has been a sight to behold. However, biodiversity tends to change over time. This particular report focuses on fish and there is much to be said even about fish in particular. This report will consult multiple sources and will create a
The plan would be the result of the scientific method, through which the impacts and causes of the current environmental problems would be addressed. Additionally, the scientific method would sit at the basis of the future actions to be taken. These would traditionally include: The search for alternative sources of energy The search for renewable sources of energy The creation of an infrastructure which allowed the propagation and populous use of alternative energies The