Habitat Destruction

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Habitat destruction is when the physical and biological conditions of a habitat are changed so much that organisms in a community can no longer survive there.

About Habitat Destruction

Habitat destruction can be the result of killing organisms, particularly producers in an ecosystem or it can be changing the physical conditions so much that the organisms in a community can no longer survive.

There are several causes of habitat destruction you may know:

• Deforestation - In which humans cut down large numbers of trees.
• Desertification - In which humans cause the soil to be unable to hold as much water causing it to become too dry to support plants.
• Damming Rivers - In which humans block the flow of rivers causing large areas of land to be flooded by fresh water.
• Building Tidal Barrages - In which humans block the flow of the tide at coastal locations killing organisms that rely on the changes of the tides.