Biomes and Diversity - Assignment Example

BIOMES AND DIVERSITY (Humanity, Evolution, and Extinction) of (affiliation) BIOMES AND DIVERSITY Humans are perhaps the only species who had altered the environment to a great degree much more than any other species, living or extinct. Being considered as the most intelligent kind of species, Man therefore has the capacity to control Nature to his wants, needs, and liking. More often than not, the impact of humans on their environment is long-lasting, irreversible, and in many instances, also negative.

The development of agriculture has the biggest impact on their natural environment more than any other historical or anthropological development, because for the first time, Man has transformed himself from being a hunter (nomad) to a farmer (sedentary). This big shift with the invention of farm implements and tools enabled Man to vastly increase his food supplies, stabilize food sources, made food production a secure and predictable undertaking and this incidentally also allowed the arable land to support a much higher population density.

Increased food availability made the entire human population grow exponentially. It has also put pressure on the other species of plants and animals, as there is a growing competition for the available food, space, and other requirements for life. Ever since Man burst unto the scene, so to speak, a good number of species had become extinct due mainly to Mans prolific activities. It is a dangerous development, as biodiversity is necessary for ensuring survival of the remaining species. There are strong ancestor-descendant links between various species and their biomes, so the main concerns should be both conservation (wise use) and preservation (leaving untouched).

The past century saw the extinction of about 100 species of birds, mammals, and amphibians (Hassan & Scholes, 2005, p. 105) but this background (natural) extinction rate is expected to be 10,000 higher in the next two centuries if based on ancient fossil records, current trends, and computer modeling of extinction rates (Miller & Spoolman, 2011, p. 191). The loss in genetic diversity becomes a serious threat to Mankinds survival as well, because of the links that was mentioned earlier. There are still many undocumented species, in addition to those already well known, which can provide ecological, economic, and medicinal benefits to Man.

People can help to slow down the extinction rate by avoiding environmental degradation, reducing their carbon footprint, minimize pollution, mitigate climate change, refrain from introducing invasive or harmful species to a biome, prevent over-exploitation of open common resources, and also limit human population growth. An obscure plant might provide the long-sought cure for cancer, or a deep-ocean marine species can give insights into adaptation to hostile environment, for example. Biodiversity prevents vulnerability to a certain virus or fungus, as example, which exposes single or limited biomes to such potential biological hazards or threats, like in the case of mono-crops.

It is therefore very important to preserve or have tissue and cell samples of every living organism on Earth, which can be used later on to resurrect an extinct species or prevent it from going extinct altogether by using new scientific technologies, such as cloning and stem-cell research. ReferencesHassan, R. M. & Scholes, R. (2005). Ecosystems and human well-being: Current state and trends. Washington, DC: Island Press. Miller, G. T. & Spoolman, S. E. (2011). Living in the environment. Florence, KY: Cengage.