GEOG 106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Vemal, Ecosystem Services, Habitat Destruction
Document Summary
Habitat destruction and degradation loss of habitat areas, such as forests, wetlands or coral reefs fragmentation of habitat into smaller patches: degradation, for example by the addition of pollutants. Overexploitation: overharvesting of species for any cause, including food, fuel, sport, the pet trade. Invasive or alien species: deliberate or accidental introduction of species to new habitat areas. Pollution and contamination: direct impacts include mortality or reduced fertility indirect impacts include habitat degradation, reduced food supplies and others. Climate change: may result in altered distribution, abundance, phenology, morphology and genetic composition of species, expected to cause catastrophic changes for many species. Genetic genetic diversity is fundamental to the variety of life and crucial to helping species adapt to change in the environment. Species or population the number of species in a defined region. Community or ecosystem the interacting group of species in an area.
