Biodiversity Loss new
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variation of living organisms across ecosystems, populations, or geographic scales. The term can be measured using a variety of metrics including species richness/diversity, genetic diversity within or between species, and population demographics.
Species Richness/Diversity: Species richness is the total number of species present within a certain region, while species diversity expands to include the relative abundance of these populations.
Genetic Diversity: The measured variety of genes within or between populations. This metric can be used to contrast diversity within populations of the same species, or the gene pool of differing species relative to the other.
Population Demographics: The measured variation of physical or demographic traits such as age, size, sex, reproductive status, etc, within or between biological populations.
Biodiversity as a Physical Risk:
Ecosystem health is inherently linked to biodiversity. Greater species diversity not only facilitates increased productivity and complexity, but also builds ecosystem resilience. Compared to their more homogenous counterparts, biodiverse populations are better equipped to preserver through disease and disaster. As our climate and landscape continue to evolve, the preservation of biodiversity is crucial in order to maintain the functionality of ecosystems and the services they provide. In the event of critical biodiversity decline, many industries that rely on ecosystem services will face significant hardship. Some examples include fisheries, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and ecotourism.
Ecosystem Services:
Ecosystem services are the benefits an ecosystem's functions provide humanity. These benefits fall into four main categories: provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.
Provisioning Services: The material benefits of an ecosystem including, water, lumber, food, natural fibers, and a variety of medicines.
Regulating Services: Functions which maintain the health of an ecosystem, including water filtration, waste decomposition, pollination, erosion control, pollution mitigation, nutrient runoff, and climate regulation.
Supporting Services: Functions which are fundamental to ecosystem health, including soil formation, the nutrient and water cycles, photosynthesis, and biomass production.
Cultural Services: The benefits derived from ecosystems which posses cultural importance, including ecotourism, outdoor recreation, as well as many places, species, phenomena, and practices which have cultural/religious value.
Biodiversity Loss
Like many aspects of ecology, levels of biodiversity naturally fluctuate over time as ecosystems change and life adapts. Species naturally go extinct at a rate of approximately ten percent every million years[1]. However, recent data has shown global trends in extinction and biodiversity to be declining at a rate above historic averages[2]. While estimates vary, some scientists argue that the increase is dramatic enough to be considered early signs of a mass extinction event, making it the sixth to occur in the history of life on earth.
As a result of climate change and human development, the biodiversity of ecosystems throughout the world has been declining. In 2022, the World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report found that populations of measured vertebrate species have declined by an average of 69% since 1970 [3]. This is in large part due to the repurposing of native habitats for human needs, like crop and livestock production. Poaching of already endangered species, deforestation, and overfishing are direct human activities that contribute to the 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.
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.
Projected Biodiversity Loss
Increasing efforts to measure and preserve biodiversity have aided in the understanding of how this valuable resource will change in the future, however, concrete estimates on future biodiversity decline are limited. Current estimates from an expert panel indicate that if trends continue, an estimated 37% of species could be under threat or extinct by the year 2100[4]. Over the coming decades, climate change is expected to play a larger role in biodiversity loss. As carbon emissions increase, temperature and habitat change will decrease nature's ability to sequester carbon and perform ecosystem services, thus feeding back into the cycle. The largest influence over this change is how countries and organizations across the world respond to the crisis. At current rates, biodiversity is predicted to continue falling at catastrophic rates. In their 2022 Living Planet Report, the World Wildlife Fund outlined their hope for a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2050 relative to a 2010 baseline. This pathway included an aggressive change in conservation measures alongside new sustainable consumption and development practices.
Data
| Indicies | Description | Data Access |
|---|---|---|
| Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) | GBIF is an international data network that collects biodiversity related occurrence data from thousands of different sources including governments, museums, studies, journals, and popular consumer tools such as EBird and INaturalist. The site contains vast amounts of data that can be refined to singular regions or species. | GBIF Homepage |
| Living Planet Index (LPI) | The LPI is a large scale biodiversity database that collects information on documented vertebrate populations. It is a key component of the WWF 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. | LPI Homepage |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | 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, 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. | IUCN Homepage |
| Habitat Suitability Index | ||
| Encyclopedia of Life? | ||
| Biodiversity Heritage Library? | ||
| Biodiversity Data Library? | ||
| United States Geographical Survey (USGS)
Data Tools |
The USGS builds and contributes to a variety of biodiversity related tools and indices. These include the Tagged Animal Movement Explorer, GBIF, Amphibian and Reptile Species Distribution Explorer, Integrated Taxonomic Information Systems, the US Protected Areas Database, the World Terrestrial Ecosystems Explorer, and the US Introduced and Invasive Species Map. | USGS Biodiversity Tool Selection |
| Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Program | Earth Data, by NASA, is a satellite based remote monitoring tool which collects data into four main categories: vegetation characteristics, spectroscopy, human impacts, and species distribution. Data from these categories can be fine tuned to assist in the analysis of many sustainability challenges including air quality, agriculture and water management, biological diversity and ecological conservation, water quality, and many more. | Biological Diversity and Ecological Conservation Data Pathfinder |
| UN Biodiversity Lab | The UN Biodiversity Lab is an open source spatial data tool that combines data from a variety of sources including satellites, scientists, and indigenous communities to construct a global modeling tool. Layers can be applied to filter data interests toward almost any conservation goal, ranging from water scarcity to above ground woody carbon density to chlorophyll concentration in sea water and many more. | UN Biodiversity Lab Map |
Population and Existence of species
The pie chart visually represents the distribution of endangered species across various classes. Each segment of the pie chart represents the proportion or percentage of existing species within different classes as categorized by the LPI (Living Planet Index).
Below are the maps displaying the United States and the world, marked with scattered points representing the presence of these species. The color-coded points indicate their distribution across these geographical regions.
IUCN Red List [5]
Perimeter of presence of species categorized by IUCN
The bar chart illustrates the distribution of species categorized by the IUCN based on their presence perimeter. Each section of the bar chart corresponds to the perimeter of species presence within different classifications according to the IUCN.
The IUCN Dataset
The IUCN dataset offers a comprehensive insight into the conservation status and distribution of various species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It contains valuable information on taxonomic classifications, conservation categories, habitat types, and geographic presence or absence of species.
This dataset serves as a critical resource for understanding the threats to biodiversity, highlighting species at risk of extinction, and guiding conservation efforts worldwide. It enables researchers, conservationists, policymakers, and the general public to access and analyze data crucial for prioritizing conservation actions, identifying regions of high biodiversity significance, and tracking changes in species' statuses over time.
By leveraging this dataset, one can explore trends in species conservation status, identify patterns in threatened species distribution across different habitats, and strategize conservation initiatives targeted towards safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems and species. The dataset's rich information on taxonomic classifications, conservation categories, and geographic distributions provides a foundation for informed decision-making, advocacy, and initiatives aimed at preserving and restoring global biodiversity.
The dataset is explained in detailed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jhCuZr-1bdh3AafpuxNPIMKIbEQKCH-z/view?usp=drive_link
Access the complete dataset here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14eseGYDiRcC5vmV3gFRR_zb0QlIH0bJz/view?usp=drive_link
Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) change database for Marine Animals [6]
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.
Access the complete dataset here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KPMP6N2j-tZvqbSbnugVMPt6NJWjLzWT/view?usp=drive_link
HSI Index plots for Gulf Area
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).
frameless|500x500px|White Dolphin distribution in the Gulf area 500x500px|Sea Cow distribution in the Gulf area
500x500px|Sea Turtle distribution in the Gulf area 500x500px|Hawksbill Sea Turtle distribution in the Gulf area
References
- ↑
Hannah Ritchie (2022) - “There have been five mass extinctions in Earth's history” Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/mass-extinctions' [Online Resource] - ↑ Ceballos, G., Ehrlich, P. R., Barnosky, A. D., García, A., Pringle, R. M., & Palmer, T. M. (2015). Accelerated Modern Human–induced Species losses: Entering the Sixth Mass Extinction. Science Advances, 1(5).
- ↑ Living Planet Report 2020 | Official Site | WWF. (2020). WWF; World Wide Fund For Nature. https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-us/
- ↑ Isbell, F., Balvanera, P., Mori, A. S., He, J., Bullock, J. M., Regmi, G. R., Seabloom, E. W., Ferrier, S., Sala, O. E., Guerrero‐Ramírez, N. R., Tavella, J., Larkin, D. J., Schmid, B., Outhwaite, C. L., Pramual, P., Borer, E. T., Loreau, M., Omotoriogun, T. C., Obura, D. O., & Anderson, M. (2022). Expert perspectives on global biodiversity loss and its drivers and impacts on people. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 21(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2536
- ↑ Pauly, Daniel et al. (2019). Data from: Climate change impacts on marine biodiversity, fisheries and society in the Arabian Gulf [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.mt588k1
- ↑ Resources. (n.d.). IUCN. https://www.iucn.org/resources
5. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Biodiversity