Write a detailed note on the factors affecting biodiversity. Also, explain that either these factors increase or decrease biodiversity?




Biodiversity

The variety of life in different ecosystems with different adaptations is called biodiversity. Biodiversity term was given by E.O. Wilson in 1985. Biodiversity has both living and non-living things which are directly or indirectly valuable for human beings
In biodiversity, there are different kinds of organisms called species diversity, among these species each organism have different kind of genetics and genetic material called genetic diversity and this genetic material make each species to adopt suitable location and habitat called ecosystem diversity
Biodiversity has many economical value for the satisfaction of human beings by conserving biological resources. Biodiversity maintain ecosystem and disturbance in it cause climate changes. Biodiversity play an important role in economy of world that is use to maintain the ecosystem of world. Biodiversity maintain the biochemical cycles like nitrogen cycle, Carbon cycle and Sulphur cycle etc. the climate of ecosystem rely upon the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
The hotspots of biodiversity are diversity rich and threatened area in the ecosystems. About 70 percent area in hotspot of biodiversity is natural and contain many natural resources. There are 36 hotspots of biodiversity in the world containing endemic species (1500 species of vascular plants) which is the main component of biodiversity. Hotspots were the 12% of land but in now a days it remain 1.4% of land.

Factor affecting biodiversity

There are different areas in biodiversity depending upon factor that may cause destruction in species or bring variations in species. Among these factors some are according to diversity areas and species relation that increase biodiversity, many other factors are habitat destruction, climate changes, pollutions, catastrophic geographic changes, species invasions, over exploitation that decrease biodiversity. If one type of biodiversity decrease it automatically decrease another type of biodiversity, for example if genetic diversity decrease then species diversity also decrease and then ecosystem diversity automatically decrease

Factors increasing biodiversity

There are many factors that have increasing diversity influence in biodiversity. For example if we explore more area to species then variety of life also increase, or if species make a good relation then biodiversity may be increase.

latitude gradients

Species of terrestrial and marine organisms increase from poles to tropics called diversity latitude gradients. This is true only for some taxanomic groups, regions, and ecosystem, if we study the vertebrates which are less than 5% Of species on earth then many mammals are rich in species in tropics. But this richness concept in tropics is reverse for insects. Tropics have less seasonal environment and more interpretation of solar energy to land. Tropical ecosystems have many biological interactions like mutualism, predation parasitism that cause niche specialization and increase species diversity. Climate changes are also among the reasons of latitude gradients toward tropics.

species area relationship

The number of species in an area according to adaptation leads to species area relationship. This is one of the oldest concept, in this concept as we increase the area the number of species also increase to a limit depending upon; immigration-extinction balance, disturbance in area, predator-prey relation and on competition among organisms of same specie.
The species area relationship is classified according to the habitats of species, we can easily construct a species area relationship for a single type of organisms in a specie. Specie –area relationship was first discussed among the communities of palnts for vascular plants in a specific area.

Factors decreasing biodiversity

There are many factors that have decreasing influence on the biodiversity, if one type of biodiversity is affected then other types of biodiversity also affect. For example if species diversity decrease then genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity also decreases. There are many factors that cause decreasing in diversity if they are not in control.

Habitat destruction

Loss of habitat to support species is habitat destruction. Habitat destruction is the main factor in decreasing of species in tropical areas. Species mainly depend upon the size of habitat and relation with other species. In habitat destruction species may be destroyed or displaced from that place
Genetic pollution, fire, climate changes, habitat fragmentation, diseases are natural cause of habitat destruction and over exploitation, random population, changes over population, making of roads are human causes of habitat destruction.
The number of plants and animals decreases and moved to the endangering when habitat destruction take place. It estimated that about 14,000 to 35,000 species are at the level of extinction. According to WWF 85% of total species are in Red List due to the destruction of habitat.
Habitat fragmentation or isolation of habitat bring changes in the movement of species that comply the species to move from one habitat to another habitat and competition become increase among species. Fragmentation is caused by natural disturbance, land change, loss of habitat and clearing of natural forests for road construction which divide the habitat. In this way small fragment of habitat support only a small population and therefore, this habitat is more close to destruction. Habitat fragmentation can affect all the ecosystem but major to freshwater system and forests.
To overcome habitat-destruction we should participate in the conservation of land and deforestation by obeying scientific protection laws and by cooperation with organizations.

catastrophic geological events

Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, floods and winds are catastrophic events that cause the decreasing in biodiversity by destruction of habitat. These catastrophic events decrease oxygen depletion in the aquatic ecosystem due to which many aquatic species are killed. These events also disturb the respiration system of both plants and animals in the forest ecosystem.
We can reduce the catastrophic changes little bit by following the rules and regulations set by world organizations to cope with such a changes.

Pollution

Pollution is a other factor of biodiversity decreasing which includes; household sewage, effluents of industries, agriculture effluents, sediments of fertilizers, smog, acid rain, fire smoke, excess energy and heated water of plants. All of these contain many organic and inorganic elements that cause infection to species.
When these pollutants move in rivers or in other aquatic ecosystems they destroy aquatic biodiversity as some of the pollutants are very toxic. Many chemicals like insecticide, pesticides and fertilizers damage ground covers along with organisms. air bring breeding and respiratory problems in the species of biodiversity. Acids rain increase mucus in the gills of fish, oil spill is very dangerous to oceans species.
We can reduce the pollution by conserving energy and using public transport. To reduce pollution Environmental Protection Agency provides guidelines.

species invasions

Increasing of non-native species in a new habitat that affect the existing species is called species invasion which is also known as biological pollutants. These species act as a barrier in the growth and development of existing species by using their resources. This is one of the major cause of destruction of freshwater habitat and islands habitat. In freshwater habitat the increasing of alien species is the second major cause of species extinction.
Species invasion was noted in 1900s. species invasion bring competition and disturb the original ecosystem by disease transmission. species invasion increased the local diversity (alpha diversity), decrease turnover of beta diversity and as a result overall diversity (gamma diversity) lowered and become extinct. many fauna and flora are decreased in Canada due to introduction of kudzu in Canada for ornamental concern, hunting and for spoiling activities.
We can prevent the introduction of invasive species by creating a system and detect the newly invader and eradicate it

Over exploitation of biological resources

Resources become over exploit when we use them at unsustainable rate. Overhunting, poor soil protection, overpopulation, illegal trading of wildlife and overfishing are the mains factor of over exploitation. Over exploitation is at high rate in the tropical forests which range from trade of live animals for food.S
If we look in the fishing industries about 25% of world fishing is overfished which mean that overall biomass is less than the sustainable use of fisheries. As the population is increasing as dramatically the species and their natural resources are decreased.
In increasing of over exploitation, minimum number of species have to survive with existing resources and biodiversity automatically decrease.

To overcome the over exploitation we should aware the surrounding environment from over hunting and overfishing

climate changes

Climate changes are also one of those factor that are in the race of decreasing species of biodiversity, Climatic changes are of great concern in affecting biodiversity. It is estimated that biodiversity in future would be main factor of biodiversity losing.
The change in climate increase the risk of extinction of many species, decrease the availability of water in arid areas, increase the risk of floods and droughts, increase the diseases, decrease the agricultural product
Changing in climate especially change in temperature has a significant impact on biodiversity which cause change in species distribution, population size and in timing of reproduction. The increasing of CO and CO2 due to human activities is one main climate change, when CO increase the atmosphere become warmed and temperature of earth also increase that result in melting of glaciers. The increasing in temperature due to global warming is threating the biodiversity because it is assuming that increase in temperature from 1 to 3 degree Celsius will increase the sea level from 1 to 2 meter in the next centuries and some islands will be sunk. This increase in global warming is decreasing biodiversity.

Severe weather events like thunderstorm, ice storms, hail storms and tropical storms are climatic factor that decreased the biodiversity of forests, glacier and hydrological diversity.
Individuals can take many steps to fight against climate changes such as less use of personal transport, reduce the carbon footprints.

Nutrient Loading

From the past few years nutrients loading has become one of the most important cause in change of ecosystem especially in terrestrial and in freshwater ecosystem. Nutrients have both beneficial and adverse effect, as nutrients in the form of fertilizers increase the production of food but 50 percent of these nutrients lost to environment and effect ecosystem
The phosphorus accumulate in the soil and become cause of eutrophication in freshwater lakes. The nitrogen also accumulate cause air pollution that extinct the biosphere of air.

Conservation of biodiversity

The conservation of biodiversity is very important because biodiversity participates in many aspects of life of human beings. The services provided by biodiversity may be direct or indirect such as security, good social relations and cultural signs.
We should maintain a balance between over exploitation and conservation of biodiversity. If we overexploit the biological resources then they will change the biodiversity ecosystem and many human being experience decline and move toward poverty.
Nowadays biodiversity is conserved in many ways such as gene banks, seed bank, national gardens and botanical gardens that are providing protection to biodiversity.