Causes of
Biodiversity
loss
Prepared by:
Abegail Rabosa
BPED 4-A
Habitat alteration and
destruction
Loss of habitat due to alteration and destruction has a
massive impact to biodiversity.
Factors such as deforestation, urbanization, fires, and
land conversion impacts 85% of all species under
threatened, or endangered category.
Some major repercussions of habitat loss to species are
relocation, predation, starvation or even death. In the
Philippines, one of our endemic species, the Philippine
eagle is critically endangered due to loss of habitat
brought about by deforestation. Sea cows or dugongs are
also losing their habitats due to coastal developments
Pollution
It is a condition wherein there is an abnormal
increase in the amount of natural- occurring
compounds such as heavy metals, nitrates,
cyanides, agricultural wastes, sewage,
pathogens, and gases, to name a few.
High concentrations of these substances
make for unfavorable environmental
conditions, leading to diseases and even death
of organisms.
Oil spills in bodiesof water cause the deathof
marine organisms.
Air pollution killsbirds and insects and
causes various respiratory and skin
diseases in humans and other animals.
Wastes such as plastics that are
improperly disposed of in oceans cause
the death of many marine organisms.
Over-exploitation
It is defined as the excessive or unsustainable
consumption of resources.
Some examples of over-exploitation include
illegal logging, which causes the decline of
hardwood trees.
Overfishing of the endemic fish tawilis found in
Taal Lake resulted in the decrease in its
population and eventual endangerment.
Global
warming
and Climate
change
“Global warming” refers to the rise in
global temperatures due mainly to the
increasing concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
“Climate change” refers to the
increasing changes in the measures of
climate over a long period of time –
including precipitation, temperature,
and wind patterns.
The gradual increase in temperature also
poses a major threat to biodiversity.
Melting of icebergs in the polar regions led
to sea-level rise and loss of habitat of
animals such as polar bears. Drastic
changes in climate, extreme weather
conditions, grass, and forest fires are some
of the impacts that we are currently
experiencing.
Illegal poaching and
wildlife trade
Illegal trade of flora and fauna is largely rampant
on a global scale.
These practices attributed not only to the
endangerment of some species but also to
extinction to some.
Animals found in the wild are poached to be sold as
exotic pets or for alleged medicinal purposes.
African elephants have been killed for their ivory
tusks.
Plants are also sold at high prices as being rare or
hard-to-find items for plant collectors.
Elephant tusks
KADUPUL FLOWER
Diseases
Some species are also under threat due to
diseases brought by climate change and as
an adverse result of various human
activities.
An example is a decline in the amphibian
population because of a fungal disease,
“Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis”, later
resulted in the extinction of the golden
toad
AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU)
Introduction of Invasive species
Invasive species- has been identified as the second-largest
threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. Invasive alien species
(IAS) are those species introduced whether by accident or
intentional to a place which is not their natural habitat.
Their introduction could become a threat as they may
outcompete the native species for food and other resources,
which may lead to the decline of population or extinction of
the latter.
Introduction of IAS are usually related to human interests,
mostly being introduced for economic reasons. An example of
IAS is the water hyacinth, commonly found in rivers and
swamps.
This plant species is native to South
America and has rapidly invaded tropical
regions. It can grow up to one meter long
and spread rapidly, causing oxygen
depletion, killing fishes such as what
happened in Laguna de Bay. Other
examples of invasive alien species found
in the Philippines are tilapia, Brazilian
mahogany, knife fish, and the golden
apple snail.
What are Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMOs)?
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are
organisms with foreign genes incorporated to
exhibit desirable characteristics that do not occur
naturally thru mating and natural recombination
(Key, 2008). GMOs have been engineered in the
laboratory through genetic modification.
Genomes are altered by including or inserting
genes from unrelated
