Question

List and describe four major environmental changes that humans have brought about and the consequences/threats of each of these changes to biodiversity?

Answer 1

Humans have caused major changes to the environment such as habitat loss, overharvesting, introduction of exotic species, and climate change, all of which pose serious threats to biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

Step-by-step explanation:

Human activities have led to significant environmental changes with serious consequences for biodiversity. Four major changes are:

1. Habitat loss: Due to deforestation, damming of rivers, and urban expansion, habitats are being destroyed, leading to the loss of species that depend on these areas.
2. Overharvesting: The unsustainable hunting, fishing, and gathering of wildlife at rates faster than populations can recover threaten many species, particularly in aquatic ecosystems and the humid tropics for bushmeat.
3. Introduction of exotic species: Non-native species can become invasive, outcompete local species, and cause the extinction of native species, especially on islands and in lakes.
4. Climate change: Caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, climate change is altering habitats, changing species distributions, and affecting the timing of biological events, which can lead to extinctions.

The consequences of these changes range from loss of genetic diversity to disruptions of entire ecosystems, which can impact human welfare. As biodiversity declines, so does the resilience of ecosystems to recover from disturbances, making it crucial to address these human-caused changes.