Human Causes of Species Endangerment

#1 cause: Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, and Degradation

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

Habitat destruction

• Building roads, bridges, parking lots, buildings

• Clearing forests for agriculture or timber

• Marshes are drained for building

• Dams built and reservoirs formed

• Exploration and mining for minerals

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

Invasive

Species

•foreign species that spread rapidly in a new area where there are free of predators, parasites or other resource limitations

Human Causes of Species Endangerment Human Causes of

Species EndangermentInvasive Species• Biotic pollution,

unlike other forms of pollution is usually permanent

• Can be introduced accidentally or intentionally

• Islands are especially susceptible

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

According to a recent report describing invasive species in NJ:

• Two invasive organisms have nearly destroyed New Jersey’s oyster industry.

• Asian longhorned beetle infestations in Union and Middlesex counties have killed more than 21,000 mature trees.

• About 1,000 plant species, or about 30 percent of such species, are nonnative.

• Invasive plants probably cover hundreds of thousands of acres in New Jersey.

• Next to the destruction of habitat, invasive species are considered the second greatest threat to biodiversity.

• Confronting the invasive species challenge will require “newly dedicated resources and strong commitment from all stakeholders.”

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

Pollution

1. Acid rain

2. Ozone depletion

3. Global climate change

4. Industrial and agricultural chemicals

5. Biological waste

6. Thermal pollution

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

Pollution

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

Overexploitation of species

• Deliberate attempts to eradicate species

• Hunting

• Illegal commercial hunting or capture

Human Causes of Species Endangerment

Overexploitation