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| Plants & Animals |
With increasing colonization and urbanization, unknowingly or knowingly most of the times, we tend to bring potential harm to various attributes of nature, which could have a drastic impact on our future. Not only do we destroy and pollute the environment, but by doing so, we are actually harming the habitats of various species. Habitats are environments where these species, both flora and fauna live and interact with each other.
Sometimes introduction of exotic species also contributes to endangerment. Native species, which have adapted themselves to a particular habitat or biological landscape over a lengthy period of time, treat these exotic species as foreign elements. Exotic species may sometimes bring about a change in the food-chain and this may effectively disrupt the delicate ecological balance that could result in harmful consequences.
Overexploitation is yet another factor contributing to endangerment of species. A species is overexploited due to the rate in which the species is being used. Unrestricted whaling during the 20th century is an example of overexploitation. A number of whale species had become endangered and some nations agreed to abide by an international moratorium on whaling. This moratorium, helped a few, such as the grey whale, to recover from extinction. However, there are others that remain threatened or endangered.
Hunting of Rhinoceroses for their Horns and Tigers for their Bones is another example of Overexploitation. Parts of other animals are also used to make leather goods, medicines and fashionable items.
Other Contributing Factors
Disease, pollution, and limited distribution are more factors that threaten various plant and animal species. Plants and Animals also hold medicinal, agricultural, ecological, commercial and aesthetic value. About forty percent of all prescriptions written today are composed from the natural compounds of different species.
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