Biodiversity is the diversity within a species, between
different species, and the total diversity present in an
ecosystem. Extinction of species lessens the biodiversity of the
ecosystem in addition to having an impact beyond the local
environ. How do species become extinct? It is generally accepted
by scientists that biodiversity is being lost (Handbook, 21).
While there is some debate how much of the present extinction is
caused by mankind (anthropogenic sources), there are many
biologists who strongly contend that man is driving extinction
way beyond its natural rate. There are many ways humans impact
their environment, including land development; overexploitation
or hunting; species translocation and introduction of foreign,
invasive species; and pollution along with climate change. Of
these, the destruction or degradation of habitats that occurs
with the development of land is one of the key causes, if not
the primary cause of biodiversity loss (Lande, 2). A lot of
land, particularly tropical rainforest