Tag: environmental conservation and biodiversity

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from a male part of a plant (anther) to a female part of a plant (stigma), enabling later fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by the wind. Hydrophily is a fairly uncommon form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by the flow of waters, particularly in rivers and streams. Epihydrophily is a pseudo hydrophily that occurs on the surface of the water. Vallisneria pollen grains are released on the surface of the water, which are passively carried away by water currents; some of them eventually reach the female flower.

Loss of biodiversity includes decline in plant production, lowered resistance to environmental perturbations and increased variability in processes of ecosystem.

Decrease or loss of biodiversity can be brought by pollution in environment and habitat, forest fires and loss of habitat and overgrazing. While afforestation or planting of forest trees cause conservation of natural habitat thus saving the biodiversity.

The major causes of biodiversity decline are land use changes, pollution, changes in atmospheric CO$ _2$ concentrations, changes in the nitrogen cycle and acid rain, climate alterations and the introduction of exotic species, all coincident to human population growth. The geometric rise in human population levels during the twentieth century is the fundamental cause of the loss of biodiversity. It exacerbates every other factor having an impact on rainforests. It has led to an unceasing search for more arable land for food production and livestock grazing, and for wood for fuel, construction, and energy. 

Biodiversity refers to the variety of organisms in an ecosystem. However, the biodiversity of an ecosystem is lost when there is fragmentation of the habitat or invasion by any alien species. The interference of the man with the nature and exploitation of its resources can result in the loss of the biodiversity. 

Man makes special efforts to conserve the animals, which are likely to become extinct without special efforts of man to conserve biodiversity and animals are a part of biodiversity. 

Habitat loss and fragmentation (habitat destruction) are the most important causes for driving animals and plants to extinction. 

Hunting for flesh & skin, destruction of habitats by deforestation & polluted air & water leads to extinction of wildlife.

When there are no more individuals of a species (plant or animal) alive anywhere in the world, the species is said to be extinct. Extinction is also known as the process of dying out. The process is a completely natural part of evolution. But sometimes extinctions happen at a higher and a faster rate than usual. Factors such as large body size, small population, massive habitat loss and position at a higher trophic level favor extinction