How Does Loss of Biodiversity affect the environment?

Biodiversity reflects the number, variety, and variability of living organisms in the environment, involving microscopic bacterias to plants and animals. This includes diversity within species, between species, and among the ecosystem. Biodiversity is everywhere; both on land and in water.

Loss of biodiversity is an important environmental issue because it can cause environmental changes. The lost of one species can cause a chain reaction which will result in a change to the ecosystem itself. We know that we cannot specify what each organisms contribute to in its environment, and we cannot predict how the ecosystem will be affected; but the overall result is that the whole ecosystem will be weakened from loss of biodiversity.

Plants and animals "produce defense mechanisms which are often chemicals used to either repel predators or to aid in elimination of their competition"(airheadsscuba). To the humans, these chemicals are important because they can become cures for human diseases. If species are lost because of our interference in its ecosystem, then we do not have the ability to be able to study it for the benefits of the people or for other living organisms.

Another problem would be that, humans would have less choices as humans. For example, if certain species are lost, we no longer would have the availability of food, enjoyment, or for the use of other resources for things that we may not know yet. Another example is, If fishes were extinct, then we would not be able to enjoy the beauty and exploration of them anymore, or also, if fishes disappear, we will lose the amount of species available for our consumption .
.independent.co.uk

One cause of loss of biodiversity is the habitat of humans and the "destruction and encroachment"(airheadsscuba) that humans continue to develop constantly everyday. This results in the destruction of the natural ecosystem. Sometimes our developments does not ruin an ecosystem, but instead decreases its size. Another cause of biodiversity loss is how humans also use coastal areas as vacation places. This affects oceans in a way that all life under the sea are affected as well; species being killed and harmed. Also, wastes that are being dumbed at sea such as, plastic in our garbages or hazardous toxins, causes injuries to many marine animals and even birds either though accidental entanglements or ingestion of the materials.

There is nothing good or benefiting towards the loss of biodiversity. Because of this, animals become extinct, humans lose medicines, ecosystems are destroyed, businesses can suffer greatly, and the ecomony deccreases due to lack of business. Humans can slow biodiversity loss by protecting areas, "Prevent intrusion from other species, informing/educating, slowing climate change, and promoting sustainability"(priweb). If humans choose to follow these guides, then the process of slowing down the loss of biodiversity will progress.