Habitats can be changed in major ways by natural forces such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes. People, too, now have the capacity to alter habitats in profound ways. As the worldwide population increases, and as people use more and more technology—for things such as transportation, heating, cooling, industry, agriculture, and forestry—entire ecosystems can be threatened.
We are at risk of losing the biodiversity of life on Earth, a sort of genetic "bank account" of known and unknown species that add value to ecology, medicines, the economy, and more.
What are the biggest threats to biodiversity? Just remember "HIPPO":
• Introduced species (exotic and invasive)
• Pollution
• Population growth
• Overconsumption