Pollution and loss of biodiversity.
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Pollution is the introduction of contaminants to an environment, according to wikipedia. Pollutants are not necessarily toxic chemicals that poisons the air we breathe, soil we stand on, and water we drink. Even chemicals seen as beneficial like fertilizers, which in reasonable amounts can boost crop production, becomes a poison when used in quantities that can’t be degraded by nature.
Pollution plays an important role in the loss of biodiversity. In our previous post on biodiversity, we learned that each species has role in an ecosystem and a balance must be maintained. Most ecosystems can withstand some abuse and regenerate as long as most species involved are still present. For instance, if we cut down half of a forest, the other half will soon cover the denuded area in 50 to a hundred years.
Pollution, however, has a more pervasive effect than simply cutting down a tree. Ultimately, it kills delicate species that might have a crucial role in the survival of another. Lets take a look at the 4 common pollution issues we are aware of today: (1) air, (2) water, (3) soil, and (4) species.
1. Air pollution as a threat to biodiversity.
Plants need sunlight to produce food via photosynthesis and smog prevents them from doing so. This affects both the plants (they die off) and the animals that depends on them for food. Fortunately, smog is geographically confined, usually in the vicinity of large cities where there are not much biodiversity anyway.
Another example would be acid rain, a product of the burning of “dirty” fossil fuel like coal. Lichens, fungi, and air plants are sensitive to acid rain and its impact can go far beyond where sulfur is being pumped into the atmosphere since they are incorporated into clouds and swept by the winds. A study in 1983 revealed that half of the Black Forest (in Germany, not the cake) was damaged by pollution, notably acid rain.
2. Water pollution as a threat to biodiversity.
The world’s oceans are our biggest garbage dumps. Everything we dump into streams or flush down the drain or throw out on land and gets swept away by rains goes into the oceans, where currents whirl them around for good measure. Toxins directly and adversely affect larvae, eggs, and other organism that lives near the surface or bottom, where toxins usually accumulate.
Larger fishes or mammals may not be directly affected but they store the toxins within themselves as they feed on the lower life forms. The beluga or white whale of the St. Lawrence river have high concentrations of toxins in their bodies.
3. Soil pollution as a threat to biodiversity.
Soil pollution is the build-up of toxic substances in the soil over time. Soil contaminants not only kill beneficial microorganism, they are also taken up by the plants. If we grow corn on polluted soil, we’d be eating those toxins too.
For biodiversity, the immediate threat is the eradication or killing-off of those species belonging to the primary link in the food chain.
4. Species pollution.
This may be a strange concept, a foreign species contaminating an ecosystem and changing the species landscape, but it is real. That’s what happened to the American Walnut. It was the dominant tree species in the Eastern United States, providing both a beautiful wood and food for humans and a host of wildlife.
Then, in 1904, some Chinese chestnuts were brought into New York’s Zoological Society’s Bronx park, carriers of a deadly parasitic fungus. The American chestnut was wiped out in most of its natural range by the 1950s. The space left by the chestnuts were taken over by oaks.
Other examples of introduced species that became pests in their new habitat include cane toads (from South America to Australia), Golden Apple Snail (US to Vietnam and the Philippines), Wild European Rabbits (Europe to Australia), and Kudzu (Japan to US).
Other posts you’ll want to read:
- Why is biodiversity important?
- Biodiversity and food security
- Global Warming 5 Facts
- The unusual bamboo plant.
- Dead coral reefs caused by increasing temperatures and acidification.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Nice post, I like “The world’s oceans are our biggest garbage dumps”. I would also like to mention the gene pollution from biotechnology: Monsanto is the major leader in the sector. Stay tuned I’m publishing an article on them tomorrow, you might like it.
Chessmasters last blog post..Peculiar Short Stories Tres
June 5th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Talking about pollution, my country Malaysia suffers from the haze blowing from forest fire in Indonesia almost every year. And no one is serious in putting a stop to it. Everytime the haze fill our skies, people will start to have respiratory and skin problems.
Foongs last blog post..Double Bad News For Malaysians
June 6th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Just stopped by to thank you for being one of my EC top droppers.
Kristie
Kristies last blog post..My Top Drops Are In
June 6th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Interesting post. I do wonder what’s the solution for ground pollution. Perhaps some super plant?
June 7th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
It seems we are our own worst enemy.
Jacquelines last blog post..Grow Through It And Lead - The Spark Plug
June 8th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Species pollution…this one is really new for me…I m not aware of this…thnx….I too strogly feel that something to be done to overcome this….
but I fell a bit lucky as I am from India and Indians along with brazilians are put on rank one on a survey for being most eco-friendly…!!!
Pradeeps last blog post..Page Ranking Concept
June 11th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Fantastic post with all types of pollution increasing to a tremendous levels, timely measures are indespensable otherwise we mankind will be responsible for our own destruction.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Fantastic post with all types of pollution increasing to a tremendous levels, timely measures are indespensable otherwise we mankind will be responsible for our own destruction.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Interesting post - when you think of pollution you always think about the nasties and chemicals. No one ever stops to think about the introduction of harmful species or the use of fertilizer - hell most people would think more fertilizer would be better.
Robert Kingstons last blog post..Energy Efficient Linux Servers
June 15th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hello…
Sorry for letting the comments pile up. Been busy with World Environment Day and our Environment Month.
@Chessmaster
Monsanto is wreaking havoc not only with genes but with 3rd world agricultural systems. That’s where they discard chemicals and fertilizers that are no longer acceptable in the West, at a high price.
They introduce and entice farmers to plant high-yield corn but their varieties require more nutrients and are susceptible to pests and diseases. That’s when they or their cohorts sell chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides.
Heard about the Golden Rice? It did produce gold for big businesses.
@Foong
We do hear about Indonesia’s massive forest fires almost every year. Malaysia seems to be paying the cost for somebody else’s negligence. I’m not familiar with Indonesia’s forestry policies but they have one of the world’s most diverse forest.
@Kristie
My pleasure.
@Harmony
Ground pollution? Like poisoning and killing the soil? Our scientists have not failed in producing superplants, we already have several of them but they have failed to provide a solution because what is man-made needs man-made materials to sustain it, chemicals.
Indigenous cultures and age-old farming practices actually have the answers but we’re not listening because they are not cool and hi-tech. How could ignorant subsistence farmers be better than multi-awarded scientists with triple PhDs?
We need to know how indigenous plant species work with the soil, the topography, and the climate.
I’m going to do a series about them but if you want, you can Google for “agroforestry” and “rainforestation.”
@ Jacqueline
I’m afraid that’s true.
We need no alien species to destroy us humans. We’re already going at it with gusto.
@Pradeep
Yeah, Brazil and India are one of the most eco-friendly countries in the world. A proud achievement indeed. It’s easy to be eco-freindly as individuals, but as a nation?
Do you know who belongs to worst? Some of our highly industrialized countries have consistently refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
@Selena
Thanks. We still have a lot to do about pollution.
@ Robert
Too much love does kill. If we fertilize our plants, we have to be careful to only put in enough for the plants to consume and that nothing gets carried away by rainwater.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
@TN, it’s almost a case like that with feeding ourselves - we all know the dangers of eating too much. Plants just can’t survive the acidity after so much fertiliser.
Thanks for your comments on my site, by the way.
Robert Kingstons last blog post..Energy Efficient Linux Servers
June 19th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Yep, moderation is always the key, eh? Chemical fertilizers leave salts behind, increasing the soil’s acidity. Thanks, always a pleasure to know somebody blogging for nature and the environment.
October 26th, 2008 at 10:11 am
This is a serious problem. It’s annoying how people just talk about it, but don’t talk any serious action. On another note, I just wish there was a ban on SUV’s and that people with hummers were hanged.
John Segals last blog post..How is maple syrup made from the maple tree?
October 28th, 2008 at 9:33 am
We can always take action in our homes. That is where everything starts.
Except for hanging humvee owners, of course.
Thanks for dropping by.