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HABITAT LOSS
An informational description of habitat loss.
What is it?
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Habitat loss is defined as “…the process by which natural habitat is damaged or
destroyed to such an extent that it no longer is capable of supporting the species and
ecological communities that naturally occur there. It often results in the extinction
of species and, thus, the loss of biodiversity” (animals.about.com/od/h/g/habitatdestruction).
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Statistically one of the greatest threats on the planet
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Causes ecological cascades and domino effects resulting in the loss of life across the
planet
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It has been identified by the IUCN red list as a main threat to over 85% of species.
The three types of habitat loss:
• Habitat
Destruction
• Habitat
Fragmentation
• Habitat
Degradation
Habitat Destruction
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The process of direct destructive involvement by the human species
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Caused through the processes of:
-dredging rivers
-cutting down trees (deforestation)
-slash and burn agriculture
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Known as the most prominent form of habitat loss
Habitat Fragmentation
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Primarily caused by the development of
roadways and urbanization
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. Achieved by cutting off certain areas of the
surrounding environment from the native
species.
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Results in species forced to relocate
•
Takes away natural recourses that are needed
to survive from the native species
Habitat Degradation
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The process of disrupting the current ecosystem
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Achieved through:
-invasive species
-pollution
-natural disruptions
-volcanic eruptions
-earthquakes
•
Can affect air, land, and water
What’s causing it? The reasons for habitat
loss:
•
To harvest materials for commercial goods
-paper
-furniture
-homes
-minerals
-medicinal components
What’s causing it? The reasons for habitat loss:
•
Increase in the world’s population
-As of August 2016, the world’s
population was estimated to have
reached 7.4 billion.
- population growth rate of
1.13% a year
- Causes an increase in the need
for fossil fuels such as oil and coal
- More people = more homes.
The need for space for urbanization to
take place is in great demand
-Demands for non man made
materials skyrockets
What’s causing it? The reasons for habitat
loss:
•
To make room for agricultural and
ranching practices
-Due to the population boom,
increase in the demands for food
-Slash and burn agricultures
ensue
What’s causing it? The reasons for habitat
loss:
•
Pollution and waste
-due to items not being recycled
-over use of plastics and non
degradable materials
-Air, land and water pollution
Who does it affect?
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Habitat loss affects all aspects of life
earth.
-humans
-plants
-animals
•
Due to biological and trophic cascades
all life has the possibility to be
threatened. With the loss of a single
species of plant or animal the entire
ecosystem surrounding that specific
area can potentially be destroyed
including the human population.
How to slow the process habitat loss
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Conscious purchasing
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Using renewable materials
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Using biodegradable materials
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Using sustainable products
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Recycling
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Sustainable forests
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Education on the topic of habitat loss
Sources and Works Cited
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Drum, Ryan G., et al. "Strategic Grassland Bird Conservation Throughout The Annual
Cycle: Linking Policy Alternatives, Landowner Decisions, And Biological Population
Outcomes." Plos ONE 10.11(2015): 1-16. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 OCT 2015.
•
Everythingconnects.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
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Lemmens, Pieter, et al. "The Impact Of Conservation Management On The
Community Composition Of Multiple Organism Groups In Eutrophic Interconnected
Man-Made Ponds." Plos ONE 10.10 (2015): 1-19. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Dec.
2015.
•
Lootvoet, Amélie Christelle, Justine Philippon, and Carmen Bessa-Gomes. "Behavioral
Correlates Of Primates Conservation Status: Intrinsic Vulnerability To Anthropogenic
Threats." Plos ONE 10.10 (2015): 1-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Sources and Works Cited cont.
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Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relocation>.
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"Morpho Butterflies Conservation." Tropical Rainforest Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 8
Nov. 2016.
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@nwf. "Habitat Loss - National Wildlife Federation." Habitat Loss - National
Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.https://www.nwf.org
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"U.S. and World Population Clock Tell Us What You Think." Population Clock: World.
N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2016. https://www.census.gov/popclock/world
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"Wildlife Habitat Canada." Wildlife Habitat Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.