The rates of biodiversity loss for major groups of life forms

Question 1

Amphibians

Answer 1

-Highest rates of endangerment
-Est. 1/3 or more are at risk of extinction
-Largely due to habitat loss, water and air pollution, climate change, ultraviolet light exposure, introduced exotic species, and disease

Question 2

Birds

Answer 2

-10 critically endangered species of bird in Australia
-12% of known species are now considered threatened
-Factors include habitat loss, degradation, invasive species and capture by collectors

Question 3

Fish

Answer 3

-Aquatic ecosystems are some of the most threatened on the planet due to increasing demand for water, the damming of rivers, the dumping and accumulation of various pollutants and invasive species
-About 10% of all species are listed as under threat

Question 4

Invertebrates

Answer 4

-Australia has 7 invertebrate species on the critically endangered list
-Invertebrates have become endangered or extinct largely due to deforestation
-Freshwater invertebrates are severely threatended by water pollution, groundwater withdrawal and water projects

Question 5

Mammals

Answer 5

-Half of known mammals are declining in population
-Australia currently has 15 mammal species on the critically endangered list
-Primates and marine mammals are declining the fatest

Question 6

Plants

Answer 6

-Habitat destruction leads to ‘extinction debt’ whereby plants that appear dominent will disappear over time because they aren’t able to disperse to new habitat patches
-Australia has 1000+ plant species extinct or threatened
-Tropical rainforests are most at risk

Question 7

Reptiles

Answer 7

-30% of total evaluated reptiles are deemed endangered or vulnerable to extinction
-Australia has 11 reptiles on the critically endangered list
-The main threat to reptiles is habitat destruction from human activities