Human Impact on Biodiversity

Species Extinction

• Human activities such as deforestation, land development, and infrastructure construction lead to habitat destruction, causing many species to become extinct.

Ecosystem Balance

• Ecosystems are delicately balanced, and the removal of one organism can drastically alter the entire ecosystem.

Coral Reef Ecosystem

• Coral reefs are a perfect example of a balanced ecosystem, with corals and sponges providing structure, small fish (grazers) controlling algae, and large predators (sharks and eels) regulating grazing fish populations.

Shark Population Decline

• Shark populations are declining mainly due to overfishing practices, such as finning, and bycatch in large fishing nets.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

• The ESA was enacted in 1973 to protect species from extinction caused by human activities and development.

ESA Classification

• A species is classified as 'endangered' if it meets one of the following criteria: habitat destruction, overuse, declining population numbers, disease, or inadequate regulation.

Protection Process

• A 90-day waiting period is required for investigations, followed by a 1-year study and hearing to determine if a species is in need of protection.

Species Recovery

• Once listed, the FWS and NOAA create a Species Recovery Plan, which may include labeling habitats as protected areas and breeding programs through captive individuals.

ESA Successes

• Since the ESA's enactment, hundreds of species have been listed, and many have been removed from the Endangered Species List, including the bald eagle, whooping crane, and gray wolf.

ESA Criticisms

• The success rate of the ESA is only about 1% over 40 years, with some arguing it's not worth the time and money spent on recovery efforts.

World Conservation Strategy

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) publishes the Red List of Threatened Species and promotes the World Conservation Strategy, encouraging local communities to conserve habitats and species.