Biodiversity and species extinction

Along with climate change, species extinction is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. You can find out about other threats in the Netflix documentary "Breaking Boundaries." We covered this in our previous blog post . But what do the terms "biodiversity" and "species extinction" actually mean, and what can we do about it? You can find out all about it here!

But let's start from the beginning and explore what biodiversity, or biological diversity, actually means. The word "biodiversity" is derived from the Greek word "bios" (life) and the Latin word "diversitas" (variety) and is generally divided into three levels:

1. the diversity of species - the variety of different organisms within an ecosystem, which are distinguished by respective names
2. the diversity of different genes - i.e. the genetic diversity within a species or several species in an ecosystem
3. the diversity in the characteristics of different species—what makes a species unique and ensures its survival. For example, an animal species that lives in a dark environment has dark fur.

Currently, around 1.2 million different species are known. However, researchers estimate that there are another 8.7 million undiscovered species on our planet. To date, only about 14 percent of land-living animals and only 9 percent of marine animals have been identified and catalogued. Around 6,200 new species are discovered each year. Among them are, for example, the fluffy bat and the rainbow snake.

In general, biological diversity is divided into animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and so-called protists. Protists are microscopic organisms, such as certain algae or paramecium.

There is a so-called natural extinction of species, with the rate being 0.1-1 species per million per year. However, this rate is currently at an alarming 10-100 species per million. This is why it is also referred to as the sixth extinction. Currently, around 38,500 species are threatened with extinction , or about 28 percent of all known species. Amphibians are most at risk, followed by sharks and rays, conifers, and coral reefs.

But what is leading to the rapid increase in ecosystem diversity loss? Generally, a distinction is made between two types of causes:

Indirect causes refer to fundamental processes that, while not directly linked to species extinction, drive processes that have devastating consequences for biodiversity on this planet. These include, among others, rapid population growth , economic demand for certain products, political decisions , conflicts, and epidemics.

The direct causes can be more clearly attributed to species extinction and are usually the consequences of the indirect causes. We have listed the most important causes for you below:

A large part of biodiversity is caused by the loss of habitats. These include, for example, deforestation of rainforests, increasingly unsuitable climatic conditions, the destruction of coral reefs , and an ever-expanding global population. Currently, around 87 percent of the ocean is affected by the direct influence of humanity; on land, the figure is 75 percent . According to current estimates, this could endanger the long-term survival of more than 500,000 species . Particularly affected habitats for many animal and plant species are coral reefs, savannas, and rainforests. The coronavirus pandemic is a recent example of how interference with the habitats of some species can also have direct consequences for us humans, and especially for our health.

In addition to the well-known environmental pollution and contamination of ecosystems such as the ocean by our plastic waste , there are many other threats to biodiversity in this category. These include the use of pesticides in agriculture, which, in addition to being perceived as pests, also pose a danger to other plant species or insects and can thus accelerate their extinction. The same applies to fertilizers , which not only threaten biodiversity in the respective fields, but can seep into the groundwater or be carried into rivers and lakes via rain. Other problems caused by pollution arise from, among other things, chemicals emitted by industry , air pollution , noise pollution and light pollution , which can have a major impact on animal behavior.

Unfortunately, there are far too many species threatened by the lucrative trade and hunting of these creatures. Examples of this are frighteningly easy to find: the trade in rhino horn, the ivory trade, the scales of pangolins, the trophy hunt for lions. Some of our "oceanmata" animals are also affected by this problem. Sharks, such as the thresher shark on Alor , are hunted for their fins , which are considered a delicacy in many countries and can therefore be sold for relatively good money. Turtle soup is also a common dish in some countries, and the shells of these adorable little creatures are used to make eyeglass frames and jewelry.

Closely linked to the wildlife trade and poaching is the exploitation of natural resources. The most prominent example of this is overfishing in the world's oceans. This actively interferes with the food chain of marine life, and predatory fish are consequently threatened with extinction because they lack food or are becoming increasingly difficult to find. This also includes the processing of certain species into jewelry, medicine , or souvenirs , as is the case with coral, for example. A final point is the keeping of wild animals as pets . Did you know that the Harry Potter series triggered a veritable boom on the black market for owls?

Climate change is making many habitats uninhabitable , thus representing a massive impact on local biodiversity. These developments include coral bleaching, melting Arctic ice, and local temperature increases. Different species have four different options for dealing with these consequences: they tolerate the new conditions, adapt, seek new habitat, or simply become extinct.

A less obvious problem is the threat posed by invasive, alien animal and plant species that spread beyond their usual habitats and can therefore threaten regional biodiversity. One example is the raccoon, which was originally native to North America and spread to Europe through fur farms, although it is still unclear how great a threat the raccoon poses to native predators and birds. The case is clearer, however, with the Asian ladybird, which threatens to drive out other ladybird species in the fight for food and habitat. Invasive species can also occur in the plant kingdom. Here, their seeds spread even faster due to our interconnected world, trade and travel.

Phew, that doesn't sound good at all! But as always, we have a few ideas ready for you that you can implement in your everyday life to avoid contributing further to the problem. But first, we want to emphasize why it's so important for humanity to preserve genetic diversity—not to mention how incredibly cute, fascinating, and amazing the animal and plant world is!

First and foremost, we should, of course, protect our environment and biodiversity for their own sake—in science, this is referred to as their intrinsic value . Unfortunately, in many political, economic, and private decisions, it's often not enough to simply say, "Let's protect it because it's beautiful." Therefore, there are many other reasons in favor of protecting biodiversity.

1. Pollination : Many plants and the production of certain foods, such as honey, depend on pollination by insects.
2. Food production : An incredible number of animals, bacteria, and plants work together to keep the earth and soil healthy and fertile. This is, of course, essential for agriculture and food production.
3. Climate regulation : It is well known that plants, and especially trees, can store CO2 and convert it into important oxygen.
4. Water purification : Thousands of bacteria are involved in producing clean drinking water to remove pollutants. These bacteria are also used in sewage treatment plants, for example.
5. Income security : Many people in this world depend on a functioning Earth because it allows them to secure their income. Whether from agriculture, tourism, or fishing in the global South.

Even if humanity tries to replace natural processes with ever-improving solutions, these will never be as effective and reliable as nature itself. Therefore, the preservation of biodiversity and the diversity of life should be important to all of us.

To prevent the complete collapse of biodiversity and slow down species extinction, there are some changes you can make today!

As with so many problems, the solution lies in consuming more consciously and less. Try avoiding meat and fish or switching to a completely vegan diet . The general mantra: less is more! Less plastic , less garbage, less food waste, less CO2... and the sustainable use of our natural resources.

... against the exploitation of animals for the production of jewelry, medicine, or souvenirs, and especially be careful about what souvenirs you bring home from your travels. Say a firm no to such offers and don't buy anything out of pity or to please your grandparents with an exotic souvenir.

There are numerous initiatives and international organizations, such as the WWF , that are committed to protecting endangered species . You can also join a petition against the shark fin trade in the EU at this link . Of course, you can also support our project by purchasing an item or sponsoring a project to protect corals and turtles . In general, however, it's incredibly important to educate those around you about the crisis and raise awareness about it.

We know how incredibly frustrating the fight against the climate crisis can be, and how tempting it may seem in some situations to simply give up. Especially with all these shocking statistics. However, this shouldn't be an option, and we firmly believe that together we can turn things around!