Question

List some threats to ecosystems.

Accepted Answer

An ecosystem can be defined as a unit of all the biotic and abiotic factors interacting among themselves. A natural ecosystem is a self-sustained unit. Since human is also a part of the biotic community, the anthropogenic activities have resulted in a major loss to the ecosystem. These are described as follows:

1. Habitat loss – various human activities like hunting, animal poaching, cutting of trees, construction of building for urbanisation, mining, etc has resulted in the removal of a natural cover of the earth that affects the habitat of various organisms from smaller microorganisms to larger plants and animals.

2. Pollution-Any kind of unwanted and harmful agents when added to the air, water or soil leads to pollution. It results in the killing of living organisms and is a threat to their survival.

3. Eutrophication-Water pollution leads to eutrophication changing the complete ecosystem from aquatic to terrestrial habitats over time. The addition of pesticides and other chemicals drained out of the irrigated fields leads to biomagnification and harms the aquatic animals.

4. Biodiversity loss- There are various reasons for the loss of diversity. In an ecosystem, every species occupy a particular niche and plays its own role in the ecosystem. Invasive species or alien species if introduced for the welfare of mankind they may not always have a positive effect, these can behave as predators or as competitors for the native species are creating a threat.

5. Climate change and global warming are leading threats to ecosystems. Changes in climates and global temperatures directly impact the abiotic factors essential for sustaining the biotic elements.

Mary Jones, Richard Fosbery, Dennis Taylor and, Jennifer Gregory Solutions for Chapter: Classification Biodiversity and Conversation, Exercise 14: Question

Mary Jones Biology Solutions for Exercise - Mary Jones, Richard Fosbery, Dennis Taylor and, Jennifer Gregory Solutions for Chapter: Classification Biodiversity and Conversation, Exercise 14: Question

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