From Biodiversity to None of It

Ecological Damages

Researchers from around the world say that plummeting biodiversity is highly likely to damage ecosystems and disrupt their functionality. 30% of the species have been endangered or pushed to extinction since 1500, and the number could even increase by 7% by the end of the century. Tropical regions have the highest rate of species becoming threatened, despite these habitats having some of the highest amounts of biodiversity in the world.

Much of this endangerment can be attributed to human activity, including pollution, land and sea use, and other exploitation of natural resources. Habitat destruction, in particular, is detrimental to biodiversity. 50% of habitat loss can threaten 41% of species, while 90% of habitat loss threatens nearly double that amount. However, the expected global extinction rate can go down to 25% by heavily ramping up current conservation efforts.

Impacts on People

A key effect of degrading biodiversity is the resulting lack of utility and efficiency in ecosystems because interactions between different species are disrupted. This lowers the ecosystem services that can be provided to humans, such as filtered air and water, decomposed waste, and pollinated plants. The problem is exacerbated by pollution of the atmosphere and water bodies. Consequently, food production becomes less fruitful due to fewer nutrients and resources being available in the environment. This loss of food security is especially harmful to those in already-barren areas where agriculture is difficult to sustain.

Biodiversity reductions are associated with environmental injustice as well, since most biodiversity loss roots in developing parts of the world, including Nigeria. The twenty-five “disaster points” for biodiversity exist in the forests of Nigeria, the Indo-Burma area, and the Andes, while other disadvantaged communities also face injustice from biodiversity loss. Residents of these areas are reliant on ecosystem services for their daily living. For example, 47% of the GDP of the poorer bracket in India comprised ecosystem services. Women and members of marginalized communities are often excluded from decision-making regarding environmental conservation, preventing policy changes from fully benefiting those who are suffering most from the biodiversity crisis.

Solutions with Tech

Miniature radio transmitters can track the behavior of and interactions between various species of insects and other small organisms. Since these transmitters are so small, they can noninvasively investigate such species without disrupting their typical conduct. This can also remove the need for constant human involvement in tracking different organisms by remotely monitoring data collected by the miniature transmitters. Another prime application of this technology is observing parts of the world where it is difficult for humans to personally observe, including the deep sea, vastly expanding our potential for data collection and evaluation.

DNA and genome sequencing is also a valuable tool to analyze how different species react to changes in the biodiversity of their habitat. One sample from an ecosystem may store information about a multitude of the flora and fauna in that region, providing a detailed illustration of all the wildlife. Since just one sample can explain so much about an ecosystem, this also removes the need for people to excessively interfere in natural environments for the sake of data collection. It can also supply a variety of information about climate change, pathogens, and much more for researchers to learn more about increasing biodiversity.

Works Cited

Adebayo, Oladimeji. “LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: THE BURGEONING THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH.” Annals of Ibadan postgraduate medicine vol. 17,1 (2019): 1-3.

Bosman, Alison. “Global Biodiversity Crisis Is Actually Worse than We Thought.” Earth.Com, 18 July 2022, www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought.

Isbell, Forest, et al. “Expert Perspectives on Global Biodiversity Loss and Its Drivers and Impacts on People.” Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2022. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2536.

Mayers, James. “There’s Justice in the Battle for Biodiversity.” International Institute for Environment and Development, 21 Sept. 2021, www.iied.org/theres-justice-battle-for-biodiversity.

Snaddon, Jake, et al. “Biodiversity Technologies: Tools as Change Agents.” Biology Letters, vol. 9, no. 1, 2013. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2012.1029.