Biodiversity Loss Old

Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms that exist and thrive in the world, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. As a result of climate change and human development, the biodiversity of ecosystems throughout the world has been lost. In 2022, the World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report found that global populations of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians have declined an average of 69% since 1970 [1]. This is in large part due to repurposing of native habitat for human needs, like crop and livestock production. Poaching of already-endangered species, deforestation, and overfishing are direct human activities that contribute to a loss of organismal populations. Climate change has only exacerbated these problems, resulting in habitat loss after climate disasters, water pollution, and rising temperatures that increasingly make lands and waters uninhabitable to native species. These factors combine to cause population decline or extinction of biological life.

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Biodiversity loss refers to the reduction or disappearance of biological diversity, including the loss of species, habitats, and genetic diversity within ecosystems. This phenomenon is a significant environmental concern, as biodiversity plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance and health of ecosystems.

Causes

The primary causes of biodiversity loss include:

• Habitat Destruction: The alteration or destruction of natural habitats due to human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture.
• Climate Change: Changes in climate patterns can alter habitats and ecosystems, making them inhospitable for certain species.
• Pollution: Pollution of air, water, and soil can harm wildlife and plant species.
• Overexploitation: Excessive hunting, fishing, and harvesting of species can lead to their decline or extinction.
• Invasive Species: Non-native species introduced to an ecosystem can outcompete native species for resources.

Consequences

The loss of biodiversity can have far-reaching consequences, including:

• Ecosystem Instability: Reduced biodiversity can lead to weakened ecosystem resilience and functionality.
• Loss of Services: Ecosystems provide essential services like pollination, water purification, and climate regulation. Biodiversity loss can impair these services.
• Economic Impact: Many industries, such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals, rely on biodiversity. Its loss can have economic repercussions.

Mitigation and Conservation

Efforts to mitigate biodiversity loss include:

• Protected Areas: Establishing and managing protected regions to conserve habitats and species.
• Sustainable Practices: Promoting sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fishing to reduce environmental impact.
• Conservation Programs: Implementing species-specific conservation programs and breeding endangered species in captivity.
• Policy and Legislation: Enacting laws and policies to protect biodiversity and regulate activities that contribute to its loss.

Living Planet Index [2]

The Living Planet Index is a measure designed to assess the state of the world's biological diversity and ecosystem health. It is a key component of the Living Planet Report, which is produced by the World Wildlife Fund in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London and other partners. The Index provides insights into trends in global biodiversity by tracking changes in populations of vertebrate species over time. It is a valuable tool for understanding the impact of human activities on wildlife. The index tracks population trends of thousands of vertebrate species, normalizing the data to account for variations in population size. The data spans from the year 1970 to the present, and describes vertebrate populations from locations across the globe.

IUCN Red List [3]

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species describes the global extinction risk status of plant, animal, and fungus species. It is managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a global organization that works on environmental conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The IUCN Red List assesses the conservation status of species based on criteria such as population size, distribution, and trends, placing them into one of seven threat categories: Least Concerned, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, or Extinct. This dataset is widely used by scientists, conservationists, policymakers, and the general public to understand the status of biodiversity and direct conservation efforts.

Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) change database for Marine Animals

Marine biodiversity loss refers to the decline or reduction in the variety and abundance of life forms within marine ecosystems. It encompasses the diminishing diversity of species, populations, and habitats in oceans, seas, and other saltwater environments. This loss can occur due to various factors, including human activities, climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, and invasive species.

Habitat Suitability Index

It's a measure used in ecological and environmental studies to assess the suitability of a particular habitat for a species or a group of species. The HSI considers various environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, food availability, and other habitat characteristics, to determine how suitable an area is for the survival, growth, and reproduction of a specific species.

Sample Data

This data set contains how HSI has changed in recent years for five marine species: Chelonia_mydas/Sea Turtle, Dugong_dugon/ Sea cow, Eretmochelys_imbricata/Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Sousa_chinensis/White Dolphin, Tursiops_aduncus/Bottleneck Dolphin. The researchers have also predicted future existense of these species with the model.

Visualization

These geo-plots display the distribution of five endangered marine animals in the Gulf area. The intensity of the plot colors indicates the degree of change in the Marine Habitat (Habitat Suitability Index).

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References

1. https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-US/

2. https://www.livingplanetindex.org/data_portal

3. https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.mt588k1 (HSI Index)

4. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Biodiversity Loss

5. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Biodiversity