Threats to Biodiversity

Year 8 students have been looking into biodiversity. They were asked 'What are the 5 biggest threats to bidiversity?'

Overexploitation: this means over using living things. Overfishing is one example. Deep sea trawling is banned in Australia but is done my many other countries. They use nets that can hold up to 11 jumbo jets and catch anything in it. Lots of the things caught up in the net are thrown back into the sea but they die. Another problem is poaching, killing elephants and rhinos for their horns. It is estimated 1100 elephants and rhinos were killed in Africa in the last 2 years alone. Remember:  Poach eggs NOT elephants.

Invasive species: these are species that are introduced from one place to another that they are not native to. Examples in Australia include the cane toad or the Indian myna bird. Believe it or not possums are a big problem in New Zealand and are an invasive species there.

Climate Change: there is undeniable evidence that the average global surface temperature has increased by at least 1.4 degrees since the industrial revolution. This may not sound like much but it effects many living things. One example is the Great Barrier Reef. The corals that live there are little animals that need very specific conditions to live. The hotter oceans mean they are basically cooking. This is called coral bleaching. So lets be moral and keep the coral floral.

Pollution: Just don’t litter! Did you know helium balloons are one of the worst things for filling the ocean with plastic!! They rise up high into the atmosphere where they pop and fall back to earth. As most of the earth is covered in oceans, this is where these little bits of plastic end up. Sealife swallow them thinking it is food and they die.  So try bubbles not balloons!

Habitat Loss:  this means the destruction of animals’ homes. Did you know the palm oil industry is having a huge impact into the loss of orangutans habitats. You may think “okay but I don’t use palm oil.” Think again! Palm oil is in many, many supermarket items: shampoo, soap, instant noodles, Tim tams just to name a few! So think about what you are buying and Give palm oil the palm!

Question 1: What was the first animal introduced to Australia?

Turn to the Super Sleuths page for the answer.