Final answer:
The five major human activities that threaten to reduce biodiversity are habitat destruction, overharvesting, introduction of exotic species, climate change, and pollution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The five major human activities that threaten to reduce biodiversity are:
- Habitat destruction: Activities such as farming, logging, fishing, and construction of roads and buildings result in the loss of natural habitats for many species.
- Overharvesting: Unsustainable hunting, fishing, and harvesting of plants can deplete populations of species, especially those that reproduce slowly or have low population sizes.
- Introduction of exotic species: When non-native species are introduced into new habitats, they can compete with and displace native species, leading to a decline in biodiversity.
- Climate change: Anthropogenic climate change, caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, is predicted to have significant impacts on biodiversity in the future by altering ecosystems and disrupting species' distributions.
- Pollution: Toxic pollution, such as chemical runoff into water bodies or air pollution, can harm and even kill many species, affecting their populations and overall biodiversity.