Loss of biodiversity

Biodiversity change is caused by a range of drivers. A driver is any natural or human-induced factor that
directly or indirectly causes a change in an ecosystem. Adirect driver unequivocally influences ecosystem
processes. An indirect driver operates more diffusely, by altering one or more direct drivers. Important direct drivers
affecting biodiversity are habitat change, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution.
Changes in biodiversity and in ecosystems are almost always caused by multiple,
interacting drivers. Changes are driven by combinations of drivers that work over time (such as population and
income growth interacting with technological advances that lead to climate change) or level of organization (such as
local zoning laws versus international environmental treaties) and that happen intermittently (such as droughts, wars,
and economic crises).
Habitat Destruction & Conversion
Habitat destruction occurs whenever humans change a landscape and alter the ecosystem that resides there. This occurs
whenever a forest is cut down for pasture or a wetland is filled in to build a parking lot. Tropical rainforests are at high risk for this,
as they are frequently cut down to create cropland and pasture for cattle.
Invasive Species Introductions
Introduction of invasive species can do irreparable damage to an ecosystem that is not prepared to cope with the intruders. A
foreign plant might be able to out-compete all others in a given environment, driving out the other species and replacing them with
a monoculture. Humans introduce microbes and soil particles relatively easily and unknowingly when they travel, and we have
also introduced foreign species as pest controls at times.
Climate Change
Biodiversity is threatened by climate change largely because of loss of habitat. As sea levels and temperatures rise, plants and
animals, just like humans, will be forced to relocate, to leave the places where they live and move into new areas.

Ecosystem Destruction
Loss of diversity in an ecosystem can cause environmental changes. Loss of one species may cause a
chain reaction, resulting in a change to the ecosystem itself. Every organism has its niche in the
environment. Once it is gone, it may not be able to be replaced by any other organism. As we do not
know what each specific organism contributes to its environment, we cannot predict how the ecosystem
will be affected. The whole ecosystem may be weakened by this process.
Medicinal Benefits

A second important consideration is that plants and animals produce defense

mechanisms. These are often chemicals used to either repel predators or to aid in
elimination of their competition. These chemicals are vitally important to humans
because many cures for human diseases have been found in these compounds. If a
species is lost due to our interference in its ecosystem, we also lose the ability to
study it for possible benefits to mankind