EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Climate change The rising global temperature and sea levels have a negative effect on biodiversity. According to the WWF, half of the plant and animal species in the richest natural areas of the world could suffer local extinction by the end of the century due to climate change.

Detailed explanation-2: -Extinction occurs when species are diminished because of environmental forces such as habitat fragmentation, climate change, natural disaster, overexploitation by humans, and pollution, or because of evolutionary changes in their members (genetic inbreeding, poor reproduction, decline in population numbers).

Detailed explanation-3: -Species extinction at local or regional scales implies in general a decline in species richness (number of species) and a decline in biodiversity. There is strong evidence that species richness in an area enhances ecosystem productivity and stability. The loss of any species can be detrimental to the ecosystem.

Detailed explanation-4: -Habitat loss is the primary cause of higher extinction rates. Other causes include habitat changes, over-exploitation of wildlife for commercial purposes, the introduction of harmful nonnative species, pollution, and the spread of diseases.