Causes of the loss of biodiversity
The main cause of the loss of biodiversity can be attributed to the influence of human beings on the world’s ecosystem, In fact human beings have deeply altered the environment, and have modified the territory, exploiting the species directly, for example by fishing and hunting, changing the biogeochemical cycles and transferring species from one area to another of the Planet. The threats to biodiversity can be summarized in the following main points:
- Alteration and loss of the habitats: the transformation of the natural areas determines not only the loss of the vegetable species, but also a decrease in the animal species associated to them. Refer to “Alteration and loss of the habitats”.
- Introduction of exotic species and genetically modified organisms: species originating from a particular area, introduced into new natural environments can lead to different forms of imbalance in the ecological equilibrium. Refer to, “Introduction of exotic species and genetically modified organisms”.
- Pollution: human activity influences the natural environment producing negative, direct or indirect, effects that alter the flow of energy, the chemical and physical constitution of the environment and abundance of the species;
- Climate change: for example, heating of the Earth’s surface affects biodiversity because it endangers all the species that adapted to the cold due to the latitude (the Polar species) or the altitude (mountain species).
- Overexploitation of resources: when the activities connected with capturing and harvesting (hunting, fishing, farming) a renewable natural resource in a particular area is excessively intense, the resource itself may become exhausted, as for example, is the case of sardines, herrings, cod, tuna and many other species that man captures without leaving enough time for the organisms to reproduce.
Special reports
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15 March 2008
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31 August 2013
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10 February 2014
Coral turns pale!
The delicate balance of the coral reef “When looking at a coral reef, we are fascinated by the enormous variety…
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5 February 2007
Biological products
Sustainable agriculture Biological products are foodstuffs of vegetable and animal origin (apples, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, pasta, bread, cheese, salami and…
3 November 2006
GMO
Genetically modified organisms Two months ago some lots of rice reached Europe from the United States by sea, and were…
5 January 2005
Tsunami in the Maldives
The tsunami On the 26th December 2004, an earthquake that took place 300 km west of the Island of Sumatra…
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29 April 2013
Intruders in the Mediterranean
Mare Nostrum The Mediterranean Sea (Mare Nostrum, Latin for “Our Sea”) has always been considered of fundamental importance for the…
8 July 2011
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11 June 2012
Bats, facts and fiction
Legend or fact? In ancient Rome, bats were nailed to the door of the house as a protection from witches…
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15 March 2008
Biodiversity
Defining biodiversity Much is said about biodiversity and of the need to protect it. But what is biodiversity? And why…
31 August 2013
The Red List of Italian animals
Biodiversity in Italy Italy has a rich biodiversity due to its distinctive geographic, climatic and historical characteristics. In particular, there…
-
10 February 2014
Coral turns pale!
The delicate balance of the coral reef “When looking at a coral reef, we are fascinated by the enormous variety…
5 February 2007
Biological products
Sustainable agriculture Biological products are foodstuffs of vegetable and animal origin (apples, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, pasta, bread, cheese, salami and…
-
3 November 2006
GMO
Genetically modified organisms Two months ago some lots of rice reached Europe from the United States by sea, and were…
5 January 2005
Tsunami in the Maldives
The tsunami On the 26th December 2004, an earthquake that took place 300 km west of the Island of Sumatra…
-
15 March 2008
Biodiversity
Defining biodiversity Much is said about biodiversity and of the need to protect it. But what is biodiversity? And why…
-
31 August 2013
The Red List of Italian animals
Biodiversity in Italy Italy has a rich biodiversity due to its distinctive geographic, climatic and historical characteristics. In particular, there…
-
10 February 2014
Coral turns pale!
The delicate balance of the coral reef “When looking at a coral reef, we are fascinated by the enormous variety…
From the Multimedia section
Facts
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The whale shark
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The biggest animal
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17 May 2011
Let’s save the baby seals
In Canada, Norway and Greenland, baby seals are killed for their skin and fur, to be sold all over the…
16 May 2011
Farewell to turtles
The hawksbill turtle certainly is a dying species: this reptile is not captured for its meat but for the so-called…
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3 April 2012
The whale shark
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the biggest fish in the world, in fact it can reach a length of…
The biggest animal
The biggest living animal is the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). It can reach a length of 33 metres and weigh…
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The biggest tree
The tallest tree in the world is called Hyperion . It is a Sequoia sempervirens and is 115.55 metres tall,…
Animal records
Long jump Snow leopard : 13 metres Springbok: 10 metres Kangaroo: 9 metres Flea: 35 cm, in other words, 220…
-
17 May 2011
Let’s save the baby seals
In Canada, Norway and Greenland, baby seals are killed for their skin and fur, to be sold all over the…
-
16 May 2011
Farewell to turtles
The hawksbill turtle certainly is a dying species: this reptile is not captured for its meat but for the so-called…
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3 April 2012
The whale shark
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the biggest fish in the world, in fact it can reach a length of…