ESS topic 3.2 Human impacts on biodiversity - new syllabus

Indirect threats to biodiversity (3.2.1)

Environmental changes that cause indirect harm to species through habitat alteration or ecosystem disruption. Examples: habitat loss, climate change, pollution

Overharvesting (3.2.1)

Hunting or collecting species beyond sustainable levels, significantly depleting populations. Examples: North Atlantic cod collapse, elephant ivory trade, timber logging

Poaching (3.2.1)

Illegal hunting or capturing of wildlife. Examples: elephant ivory poaching, black rhinoceros hunting, pangolin trafficking for bushmeat

Habitat loss (3.2.1)

Destruction or fragmentation of natural environments. Examples: rainforest conversion to palm oil plantations, wetland drainage for agriculture, mangrove clearing

Climate change (3.2.1)

Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns affecting species survival. Examples: coral bleaching, flooding in Ecuadorian Amazon, Aboriginal land degradation

Pollution (3.2.1)

Damage to habitats and organisms from waste products and chemicals. Examples: plastic pollution, agricultural chemicals, mining contamination

Invasive alien species (3.2.2, 3.2.3)

Non-native species competing with native species, potentially causing their extinction. Examples: red-clawed crayfish in UK, lionfish in Caribbean, grey squirrels

IUCN Red List (3.2.4)

Global inventory categorizing species' extinction risk based on population trends. Examples: Iberian lynx, white-clawed crayfish, fishing cat

Conservation status (3.2.4, 3.2.5)

Assessment of species vulnerability based on population size, breeding potential, and threats. Examples: extinct, critically endangered, least concern

Tragedy of the commons (3.2.7)

Overexploitation of shared resources through individual self-interest. Examples: Grand Banks overfishing, Great Pacific Garbage Patch, CAMPFIRE program

Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) (3.2.9)

Sites contributing significantly to global biodiversity conservation. Examples: tropical rainforests, North American coastal plain, Sundaland

Traditional indigenous land management (3.2.11)

Sustainable resource practices developed by native peoples over generations. Examples: Maasai grazing, Amazon flood management, Aboriginal fire practices

Environmental justice (3.2.12)

Fair treatment regarding environmental benefits/impacts regardless of demographics. Examples: Aboriginal climate impacts, Maasai relocation, Torres Strait Islander flooding

Planetary boundary "loss of biosphere integrity" (3.2.13)

Critical threshold of species extinctions threatening Earth system stability. Examples: current rate 1000x background, loss of 27,000 species yearly