Biodiversity and Conservation

Over-fishing occurs when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce, leading to a depletion of fish stocks and threatening the long-term viability of the fishing industry.

Poaching is the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, which is a major driver of species extinction. While hunting and killing are general terms, poaching specifically refers to the illegal, often commercial, act that threatens biodiversity.

Extinction refers to the complete loss of a species. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life, while evolution describes the change in species over time.

Extinction is primarily driven by human activities that destroy habitats or reduce populations directly, such as excessive hunting and fishing. Mitosis and apoptosis are biological cellular processes, not causes of species extinction.

Habitat destruction involves the removal or alteration of an environment to the point where it can no longer support the native species. Cutting down trees for a subdivision is a clear example of this.

Pollution is a major human-driven factor that degrades ecosystems and reduces biodiversity. Note: The option contains a spelling error (polution vs pollution).

Pollution is defined as the presence or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects. It is an unwanted change caused by human or natural activity.

While River Valley Projects can lead to environmental destruction, they are a cause, not a direct outcome of environmental destruction. Severe droughts, biological loss, and cultural loss are direct consequences of environmental degradation.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees to create a forest. It is a conservation activity that increases biodiversity, not a cause of its decline.

Vulnerable species are defined as those whose population has declined to levels that make them likely to become endangered in the near future if the negative factors continue. They are at risk but not yet critically endangered.

Endangered species are those that are in immediate danger of extinction. Their survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue to operate.

Biodiversity increases the resilience of an ecosystem by providing multiple pathways for energy flow and nutrient cycling. Higher biodiversity ensures that the ecosystem can better withstand environmental stressors.

Habitat destruction removes the physical space and resources necessary for organisms to survive. This is widely recognized as the single greatest threat to global biodiversity.