Hall 1

Eva Hall

C. Douglas

English 1102-47

16 February 2017

Mans Role in Biodiversity

Could the increase in human population be contributing to the loss of

biodiversity? The overconsumption of many natural resources is something human beings

take advantage of every day. With 7 billion people on our planet, we are consuming too

much water, fossil fuels and air just to name a few. Jeffrey K. McKee, Department of

Anthropology, The Ohio State University; author of Forecasting Global Biodiversity

Threats Associated with Human Population Growth, gave the statement that

Underlying anthropogenic changes to natural environments, one of the greatest threats to

species biodiversity and ecosystem function may result from the high density and rapid

growth of the human population. McKees purpose is to forecast what could potentially

happen if human growth continues. McKees uses an experiment to reach out to the

scientific community. In the article Why Population Matters to Biodiversity, the

publication acknowledges Population as an indirect driver of biodiversity loss as human

demands for resources like food and fuel play a key role in driving biodiversity

degradation. This article is directed to the general population in an informative way.

Both of these authors maintain similar view points around the concept of human

population growth and its effect on biodiversity.

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McKees recent research strongly suggests human population growth and threats

to other species are directly related. His goal is to build a statistical model in which he

forecasts the continued threats to specific species. He uses this experiment in order to

project how future population growth could continue to affect other species. This study

uses variables and specific statistics in order to convey the models outcome.

The model focuses on mammals and birds reported by different nations

geographical area. The data is collected from, IUCN Red list data on threatened

(critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable) mammal and bird species (McKee).

In addition to using the IUCN, they use the US Census Bureaus projected population for

the years of 2020 and 2050 and compare those results to the 2000 model. The use of this

model strongly suggests the continued correlation between population growth and the

loss of biodiversity.

The results report a strong correlation between human population density, as

measured in per unit area, and threatened species per unit area. The model predicted

significant increase in biodiversity threats for those nations with growing population, and

modest declines for nations expected to experience population losses (McKee).

Similarly, The United States has a lower population growth rate but, 10 species are

projected to become threatened by 2050. In other words, the model demonstrates a direct

correlation between the denseness of human populations and specific threatened species.

Population Action International is an informative article for the public, published

in 2011, to bring awareness to the global issue of population growth and its effects on our

ecosystems. Increased demand for goods and services to meet the needs of a growing

population will undoubtedly exert more pressure on the components of biodiversity

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ecosystems, genes and species (Why Population Matters). Furthermore, the article

continues to go into biodiversity and the decline as human population continues to grow.

To begin with, the second article Why Population Matters to Biodiversity

references The State of Biodiversity and goes into the Red List. The Red List which

tracks all the species that are a threat to extinction, endangered and average extinction

rate. The article states that Some birds and mammals used for food and medicine are

facing a greater extinction risk (Why Population Matters). Without the necessary birds

and mammals that supply us with food and medicine the human population would

struggle tremendously from lack of necessary supplies that keep people alive.

Moreover, the article addresses the links between population and Biodiversity.

Population is recognized as an indirect driver of biodiversity loss, as human demands for

resources like food and fuel play a key role in driving biodiversity degradation (Why

Population Matters). Vanishing biodiversity is occurring most where there are higher

amounts of people. Since the demand for resources like food supply, clothes, oil is much

greater in the higher density areas the loss in biodiversity in these areas is increasing.

Lastly the article discusses Policy Consideration, trying to suggest ways to resolve

the issue. First Population Action clearly stated that Population has been identified as an

underlying driver of biodiversity change deterioration. The most important direct driver

of biodiversity loss and deterioration, habitat loss, is influenced by population. (Why

Population Matters). The article then goes into suggesting that family planning could also

help, that family size can be an important component. The use of some statistical

documents and visuals to support the statements that species is threatened by the

overgrowth of human population makes it easy for the average reader to comprehend.
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With the background research and the resources used to gather its information makes the

article reliable. The form the article was written gives the audience an awareness to

biodiversity in a compelling manner. In summary, the article makes it evident that

changes in biodiversity are due to anthropogenic ways.

In brief, both articles talked about the same concept but took different approaches.

McKee did a case study directed more for the scientific mind; a group of researchers

trying to predict where well be in the next few decades. The Population Action wrote it

more for the general public in order to bring awareness to the average person. Both

articles have different tones but arrived at the same conclusion that human population

growth is that main cause of biodiversity loss.

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Works Cited

McKee, Jeffrey K, Paul W. Sciulli, David C. Fooce, and Thomas A. Waite. Forcasting

Global Biodiversity Threats Associated with Human Population Growth.

Publication no. 115. N.p.: Biological Conservation, 2003. Print

Why Population Matters to Biodiversity." Population Action International 2011: 1-4.

Web.