Homogeneity in agriculture and forestry; in particular, industrial agriculture and forestry use a limited number of species.[1] About 7,000 plants (2.6% of all plant species) have been collected or cultivated for human consumption. Of these, a mere 200 have been domesticated and only a dozen contribute about 75% of the global intake of plant-derived calories.
95% of world consumption of protein derives from a few domesticated species, i.e. poultry, cattle and pigs. There are about 1,000 commercial fish species, but in aquaculture fewer than 10 species dominate global production. Human food production therefore rests on the tips of pyramids of biodiversity, leaving the majority of species not utilised and not domesticated.[2]
Species naturally migrate and expand their ranges, utilising new habitats and resources, e.g. the cattle egret. These natural invasions, an incursion in the absence of anthropogenic influences, occur "when an intervening barrier is removed, or through the development of biotic or abiotic transportation mechanisms, able to overcome the barrier in question".[3] Introductions, or human-mediated invasions, have in the last century become more frequent.[4] It is estimated that on an average day more than 3,000 species alone are in transit aboard ocean-going vessels.[5]
Using species richness as the unit for which to assess global homogeneity, it appears that anthropogenic assistance in alien species establishment has done much to reduce the number of endemic species, especially on remote islands. Some 'species-poor' habitats may, however, benefit in diversity if an invader can occupy an empty niche. Arguably, that environment becomes more diverse, equally it has also "become more similar to the rest of the world",[6] though ecological interactions between the invaders and the natives are likely to be unique. Indeed, many species are so well naturalised that they are considered native, yet they were originally introduced; with the best examples probably being the Roman and Norman introduction of the hare and the rabbit respectively to Britain.[7]
Introduction of non-endemic species and subsequent eradication of species can happen remarkably fast; evolutionary tempo is, however, slow and "succession of rapid change [will] result in a great impoverishment".[8] That impoverishment will indeed equate in a world that is more similar, as there will simply be less species to formulate difference.
^Luc Hens and Emmanuel K. Boon Causes of Biodiversity Loss: a Human Ecological Analysis, MultiCiencia. Human Ecology Department, Belgium.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
^Drake, J.A., Mooney, H.A., Castri, F.di., Groves, R.H., Kruger, F.J., Rejmánek, M. and Williamson, M. (1989). Biological Invasions: A Global Perspective, SCOPE 37. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN0-471-92085-1
^Carlton, J (1996). "Pattern, process, and prediction in marine invasion ecology". Biological Conservation. 78 (1–2): 97–106. doi:10.1016/0006-3207(96)00020-1.
^Cariton, J. T.; Geller, J. B. (1993). "Ecological Roulette: the Global Transport of Nonindigenous Marine Organisms". Science. 261 (5117): 78–82. Bibcode:1993Sci...261...78C. doi:10.1126/science.261.5117.78. PMID 17750551.
^Rees, P. A. (2001). "Is there a legal obligation to reintroduce animal species into their former habitats?". Oryx. 35 (3): 216–223. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00178.x.
^Preston (1962). "The Canonical Distribution of Commonness and Rarity: Part II". Ecology. 43 (3): 410–432. doi:10.2307/1933371. JSTOR 1933371.
February 16, 2024
species, homogeneity, ecology, species, homogeneity, lack, biodiversity, species, richness, fundamental, unit, which, assess, homogeneity, environment, therefore, reduction, species, richness, especially, endemic, species, could, argued, advocating, production. In ecology species homogeneity is a lack of biodiversity Species richness is the fundamental unit in which to assess the homogeneity of an environment Therefore any reduction in species richness especially endemic species could be argued as advocating the production of a homogeneous environment Contents 1 Monocultures 2 Species migration 3 See also 4 ReferencesMonocultures editFurther information monoculture Homogeneity in agriculture and forestry in particular industrial agriculture and forestry use a limited number of species 1 About 7 000 plants 2 6 of all plant species have been collected or cultivated for human consumption Of these a mere 200 have been domesticated and only a dozen contribute about 75 of the global intake of plant derived calories 95 of world consumption of protein derives from a few domesticated species i e poultry cattle and pigs There are about 1 000 commercial fish species but in aquaculture fewer than 10 species dominate global production Human food production therefore rests on the tips of pyramids of biodiversity leaving the majority of species not utilised and not domesticated 2 Species migration editSee also Seed dispersal Species naturally migrate and expand their ranges utilising new habitats and resources e g the cattle egret These natural invasions an incursion in the absence of anthropogenic influences occur when an intervening barrier is removed or through the development of biotic or abiotic transportation mechanisms able to overcome the barrier in question 3 Introductions or human mediated invasions have in the last century become more frequent 4 It is estimated that on an average day more than 3 000 species alone are in transit aboard ocean going vessels 5 Using species richness as the unit for which to assess global homogeneity it appears that anthropogenic assistance in alien species establishment has done much to reduce the number of endemic species especially on remote islands Some species poor habitats may however benefit in diversity if an invader can occupy an empty niche Arguably that environment becomes more diverse equally it has also become more similar to the rest of the world 6 though ecological interactions between the invaders and the natives are likely to be unique Indeed many species are so well naturalised that they are considered native yet they were originally introduced with the best examples probably being the Roman and Norman introduction of the hare and the rabbit respectively to Britain 7 Introduction of non endemic species and subsequent eradication of species can happen remarkably fast evolutionary tempo is however slow and succession of rapid change will result in a great impoverishment 8 That impoverishment will indeed equate in a world that is more similar as there will simply be less species to formulate difference See also editDegeneracy Habitat destruction Habitat fragmentation Introduced species Over exploitation Species gradientsReferences edit Luc Hens and Emmanuel K Boon Causes of Biodiversity Loss a Human Ecological Analysis MultiCiencia Human Ecology Department Belgium Food Security and Biodiversity Biodiversity in Development PDF Archived from the original PDF on 12 June 2007 Retrieved 17 November 2009 Drake J A Mooney H A Castri F di Groves R H Kruger F J Rejmanek M and Williamson M 1989 Biological Invasions A Global Perspective SCOPE 37 John Wiley and Sons ISBN 0 471 92085 1 Carlton J 1996 Pattern process and prediction in marine invasion ecology Biological Conservation 78 1 2 97 106 doi 10 1016 0006 3207 96 00020 1 Cariton J T Geller J B 1993 Ecological Roulette the Global Transport of Nonindigenous Marine Organisms Science 261 5117 78 82 Bibcode 1993Sci 261 78C doi 10 1126 science 261 5117 78 PMID 17750551 Lovei G L 1997 Global Change Through Invasion Nature 388 6643 627 628 doi 10 1038 41665 Rees P A 2001 Is there a legal obligation to reintroduce animal species into their former habitats Oryx 35 3 216 223 doi 10 1046 j 1365 3008 2001 00178 x Preston 1962 The Canonical Distribution of Commonness and Rarity Part II Ecology 43 3 410 432 doi 10 2307 1933371 JSTOR 1933371 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Species homogeneity amp oldid 1100879277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
