Using examples, assess the relative importance of human and physical factors influencing levels of biodiversity.

4 billion years of evolution has resulted in the variation of plants and animals in the largest biome – the earth. Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within an ecosystem or, on a macro scale, a biome. It is often thought the greater the level of biodiversity the healthier an ecosystem is, there are three types of biodiversity: species diversity, the variation of a species, genetic, the diversity between genes in a species and ecosystem diversity which is the variation of ecosystems in an area. With biospheres offering both tangible goods such as medicines and services such as carbon sequestration, preservation of biodiversity rich areas is vital. Physical and human factors can have an evident influence on levels of diversity, both beneficial and costly.

Climate, it could be argued is an extremely influential factor on biodiversity, as many ecosystems are vulnerable to even slight temperature changes. A future global warming could therefore lower the levels of biodiversity as species may find their current biomes inhospitable. The moist and warm equatorial climate of the Amazon rainforest creates an ecosystem for species to thrive in. Tropical climates have an important influence on creating biodiversity hotspots, similarly desert climates have the same influence on biodiversity except the influence is very dissimilar. In sub-saharan Africa the low precipitation levels and temperatures exceeding forty degrees Celsius create an inhospitable environment and sometimes inhabitable location for many species, the lack of plant biodiversity can create a negative multiplier effect as there are few species of animals who can survive on the limited nutrients gained by the lack of plant species and consequently the level of animal biodiversity decreases.  Physical factors such climates are increasingly important in biodiversity levels as global warming intensifies temperatures could rise which could damage fragile ecosystems such as the desert as it could exacerbate the already sparse biodiversity.

Biodiversity in areas such as coral reefs and rainforests is often beautiful as many different colourful species of plants and animals present, this has attracted tourists both global and domestic to visit areas such as The Great Barrier Reef and The Daintree Rainforest. Whilst tourism is incredibly beneficial for the economy providing a source of income it can also be destructive. Pollution from cruise ships and ferries bringing tourists in to view these locations can cause harm to species and water quality which could eradicate a habitat and therefore its inhabitants. The Daintree Rainforest tourism industry is estimated to be over $141 million a year however due to much of the land being privately owned some owners have used their profits to bulldoze trees and create cattle ranches which can have an adverse effect on both the ecosystem and environment as methane pollution is created which can reverse the carbon sequestration the rainforest provides. Human factors can also have a detrimental effect and worsen physical factors, for example coral reefs act as natural shoreline protection against wave erosion , if coral reefs are destroyed by humans due to extracting coral for jewellery and over fishing then the natural protection will diminish, exacerbating the effect of physical factors such as erosion on a beach ecosystem. However, whilst tourism may cause some destruction it could be argued the large revenue they bring could be used to fund preservation of these ecosystems which could create an influx in the level of biodiversity as their ecosystems are not tampered with. There are a multitude of human factors which can influence the level of biodiversity both negative and positive; to be able to visit beautiful biodiversity hotspots we must prevent their destruction in doing so.

Biodiversity hotspots are areas with variation of species in abundance, they also are often home to endemic species making them extremely valuable. The reasons for a hotspot are mainly physical for example Madagascar’s isolated location as an island has created endemism with species such as the Madagascan Lemur and Boabab tree. Another physical factor is the range of volcanoes present in Madagascar which create rich and fertile soil around them which plants can thrive on. However Madagascar’s physical factors could also influence the level of biodiversity in a negative way as isolation and endemism could mean if a species becomes extinct in Madagascar it will become extinct worldwide, reducing species diversity.  The Galapagos Islands are also a biodiversity hotspot as the physical factor of a confluence of three oceans creates a wealth of marine life, however important human factors such as over fishing can not only disrupt food chains and habitats but may also cause extinction of certain species.

Whether it be species, genetic or ecosystem diversity, both physical and human factors bode much importance concerning the influence on the level of variation. Biomes and ecosystems are at risk from many human factors such as tourism and often hindered by physical factors that are uncontrollable. However both physical and human factors can have a positive influence on biodiversity such as tropical climate or conservation. As species evolve and develop so will the impact of physical and human factors both offering an important influence on biodiversity.