Biology 3442F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Introduced Species, Habitat Destruction, Sharkwater
Document Summary
Iucn red list provides status of species throughout the world: major causes threatening species, habitat loss = 80 , hunting/harvesting = 30 40 % Introduced species = 40 : pollution = 10 % If humans were to decline 60: emptying n. america, s. america, africa, europe, chine and oceania. Where did this exploitation begin: hunter-gatherers exploited resources at a local scale, but their population size was small compared to the resource. Over time, human populations spread: humans begin to kill species faster than they can be replaced, either through reproduction or immigration, healthy population is able to replace itself via reproduction, non-sustainable use if reproduction cannot replace harvested individuals. Large herbivores na ve to human threat = easy picking. International trade exacerbates the problem no longer local: there was a point where humans lacked the knowledge of sustainable use, but we cannot blame ignorance anymore.