Wealth of life on earth (all plants, animals and microorganisms), the genes they contain and the intricate ecosystems they help build

Conceders the wealth of species on the plant or at some more local or geographical level

Areas with suites of interacting populations of plants, animals and microbes “all living organism in a place combined with the non-living characteristics”

The number of species counted in a local community

The number of species counted across multiple communities

Each individual needs to consume other organisms to survive and all of these come from the world’s biodiversity.  Humans are the ultimate predator. It is unknown when we will hit carrying capacity and if we will have eliminated majority of the worlds biodiversity before we do so

Human population keeps grown and need space: clear cutting of rainforest, draining of wetlands, coral bleaching.  Biodiversity is lost if habitat is lost, species can’t survive without their habitat.

Second leading cause to loss of biodiversity, people transport non-native species around the world and majority of the time they don’t know they are doing it

Result of large scale pollution of the atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other compounds.  Habitats are changing due to climate change such as precipitation patterns, ice caps melting, sea level rising, ocean currents changing

Excrement’s of human life effecting the environment, toxic chemicals being put into the natural environment.  Many acts have been passed to attempt to protect species and habitats from pollution, but much is still at risk.

Causes of Biodiversity decline (5)

Human population growth

Habitat destruction

Alien species

Climate change

Pollution

A plant species that lives on another plant, but is not a parasite and does not derive any nutrients from the host plant