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Threats to Biodiversity

Threats to Biodiversity

There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...

What is Biodiversity?

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity describes the variety of living things at multiple organizational levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Species diversity includes all branches of the evolutionary tree from single-celled prokaryotic organisms, bacteria, and archaea, to the eukaryotic kingdoms: plants; animals; fungi; and protists. To date, there have been about 1.75 million species identified, and new species are discovered every week.

What is Conservation Biology?

What is Conservation Biology?

Conservation biology is a scientific field that focuses on the preservation of biodiversity in order to protect ecosystems while meeting the needs of the human population. Humans require properly functioning ecosystems to maintain our supply of natural resources, including food, medicines, and building materials.

Biodiversity and Human Values

Biodiversity and Human Values

Human civilization relies on biodiversity in many ways. Sudden changes in species biodiversity result in environmental changes that can modify weather patterns and therefore human civilizations.

Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.

Conservation of Declining Populations

Conservation of Declining Populations

Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

The future of biodiversity.

S L Pimm, G J Russell, J L Gittleman

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|July 21, 1995

Summary

Modern extinction rates are alarmingly high, 100-1000x pre-human levels. Future extinctions may increase tenfold, driven by biodiversity loss in endemic-rich regions, despite technological advances in monitoring habitat destruction.

Area of Science:

Ecology
Conservation Biology
Biodiversity Science

Background:

Current extinction rates significantly exceed pre-human levels, ranging from 100 to 1000 times higher.
These elevated rates are observed across diverse taxonomic groups and varied environmental settings.
Endemic-rich regions are disproportionately represented in global extinction patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze current extinction rates and project future biodiversity loss.
To identify key drivers of extinction, particularly the role of endemic species.
To assess the impact of habitat loss on future extinction trajectories.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of recent and historical extinction rates.
Modeling future extinction scenarios based on current 'threatened' species data.

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Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

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Utilizing new technologies to detail habitat losses and their correlation with extinction patterns.

Main Results:

Extinction rates are currently 100 to 1000 times higher than pre-human baseline rates.
A projected tenfold increase in extinction rates is possible if all currently 'threatened' species perish within the century.
Species extinction patterns are strongly influenced by regions with high concentrations of endemic species.

Conclusions:

The current biodiversity crisis is unprecedented, with extinction rates far surpassing natural baselines.
Future extinction events are likely to accelerate, particularly impacting endemic species.
Accurate prediction of future extinctions requires improved understanding of endemic species distribution and habitat vulnerability.