Focus Area >> Biodiversity >> Threats & Hotspots
Focus on Biodiversity
 Students!
  Understanding a big idea is so much more than just learning the facts. And,   biodiversity is one big idea! But, we’ve built a learning path to take you step-by-step   towards helping you understand it!
What Are the Threats to Biodiversity?
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Think of biodiversity as a bubbling pot of soup. All of the ingredients are required to make the soup turn out just right. But, every single day, events happen which threaten the balance of biodiversity – threaten to ruin our soup. Disasters such as oil spills can kill millions of life forms and seriously pollute our water. Logging and building cut down lots of trees, destroying the homes of many plants, animals and insects. When some animals move away, other smaller animals (that might have been food for the larger animals) increase in numbers. Threats to biodiversity can come from humans, from natural disasters, even from animals. Learn more about the threats to biodiversity on this page.

 

 

Watch these videos to learn more about the global threats that affect biodiversity:

 

 

 

Wordplay: Know These Important Words?

These are important words that will be helpful for you as you read and talk about the threats that face biodiversity. Learn the definition of each one and then follow the links to see or hear them used.
The Ongoing Threats to Biodiversity
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Threats to biodiversity happen everyday. However, for some part of the Earth, these threats are worse than in others. These are called hotspots. What exactly is a hotspot? A hotspot is an ecosystem in which animal and/or plant life is extremely threatened, and in danger of dying out. Use these resources to find out where the current hotspots are located, which countries are working hard to protect their ecosystems, and which countries need more help:

Biodiversity Hotspots

Biodiversity 911: Losing Ground

Extinct Species

Protecting Endangered Species

Invasive Species

Disappearing Forests

Play a Game! Toxic Pinball

 

Which Threats Concern You?

Talk about it on ePals


forumIcon.gif Have you witnessed any threats to biodiversity in your home or school?

 

forumIcon.gif What do you think is the biggest threat to biodiversity?

 

Explore With Lola!
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Lola swims through and nests in some of Earth’s hotspots. There human threats to Lola’s nesting beaches. There will be many different threats to Lola’s eggs and to baby turtles
as they try to get to the ocean.

Continue Your Learning Path

Concerned about hotspots? It's a complicated issue. On our next page, you can learn about conservation and preservation, two approaches to managing and protecting biodiversity on our planet.

Continue on ⇒

 

Teacher's Corner
 Teachers!
  Help biodiversity come alive for your   students with these tips, tools, and   lessons.
Biodiversity
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