What is a significant threat to biodiversity in ecosystems?

Overexploitation of species is a significant threat to biodiversity because it leads to the decline and potential extinction of various species. When species are harvested at a rate greater than their reproductive capacity, populations can become severely depleted. This not only affects the targeted species but also disrupts the entire ecosystem, as the loss of one species can have a cascading effect on others, impacting food webs, species interactions, and overall ecosystem stability.

In contrast, low temperatures, high humidity, and stable weather patterns are natural environmental factors that typically do not pose the same immediate threat to biodiversity. While extreme conditions can affect species survival and distribution, they are part of the natural variability of ecosystems. The threat from overexploitation, however, is directly linked to human activity, making it a more pressing concern for conservation and biodiversity. Because it is primarily driven by unsustainable practices such as overfishing, habitat destruction through extraction activities, and illegal wildlife trade, overexploitation requires targeted management and policies to ensure the long-term survival of both the exploited species and the ecosystems they inhabit.