EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Nature loss can also weaken the biodiversity that collectively dilutes and defends against some disease threats. For instance, scientists say that more diverse bird populations can help buffer humans against the effects of West Nile virus. Deterioration of nature hurts our ability to heal, too.

Detailed explanation-2: -As species go extinct, they are taken out of the food chain. Animals that ate the newly-extinct species have to find new food sources or starve. This can damage the populations of other plants or animals. Furthermore, if a predator goes extinct, its prey’s population can proliferate, unbalancing local ecosystems.

Detailed explanation-3: -When you hear the word extinction, you might immediately think of dinosaurs, woolly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers. Or you might think of a more recent species gone from Earth, like passenger pigeons, Tasmanian tigers, Carolina parakeets and Pyrenean ibex.

Detailed explanation-4: -Biodiversity loss can have significant direct human health impacts if ecosystem services are no longer adequate to meet social needs. Indirectly, changes in ecosystem services affect livelihoods, income, local migration and, on occasion, may even cause or exacerbate political conflict.

Detailed explanation-5: -Biodiversity loss is caused by five primary drivers: habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation (extreme hunting and fishing pressure), pollution, climate change associated with global warming.