Evolution is change in the heritable traits of biological populations over successive generations.

[1]
Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including
the levels of species, individual organisms, and molecules.[2]

Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on Earth and the variations within
species. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can
refer to genetic variation, ecosystem variation, or species variation (number of species)
within an area, biome, or planet.
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause
adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as
noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign
substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.

Forms of pollution

Air pollution: the release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Common
gaseous pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles.
Photochemical ozone and smog are created as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react to
sunlight. Particulate matter, or fine dust is characterized by their micrometre size PM10 to PM2.5.

Light pollution: includes light trespass, over-illumination and astronomical interference.

Littering: the criminal throwing of inappropriate man-made objects, unremoved, onto public
and private properties.

Noise pollution: which encompasses roadway noise, aircraft noise, industrial noise as well as
high-intensity sonar.

Soil contamination occurs when chemicals are released by spill or underground leakage.
Among the most significant soil contaminantsare hydrocarbons, heavy metals, MTBE,
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herbicides, pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Radioactive contamination, resulting from 20th century activities in atomic physics, such as

nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons research, manufacture and deployment.
(See alpha emitters and actinides in the environment.)

Thermal pollution, is a temperature change in natural water bodies caused by human

influence, such as use of water as coolant in a power plant.

Visual pollution, which can refer to the presence of overhead power lines,
motorway billboards, scarred landforms (as from strip mining), open storage of trash, municipal
solid waste or space debris.

Water pollution, by the discharge of wastewater from commercial and industrial

waste (intentionally or through spills) into surface waters; discharges of untreated
domesticsewage, and chemical contaminants, such as chlorine, from treated sewage; release of
waste and contaminants into surface runoff flowing to surface waters (including urban runoff and
agricultural runoff, which may contain chemical fertilizers and pesticides); waste disposal and
leaching into groundwater; eutrophication and littering.

Plastic pollution: involves the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that
adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, or humans.

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for
other uses. An estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest, which is roughly the
size of the country of Panama, are lost each year, according to the United Nations' Food and
Agriculture Organization
Index is an indirect shortcut derived from and pointing into, a greater volume of values,
data, information or knowledge

Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it
possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants,
aquatic animals and infrastructure.
Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature
of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently
changing the Earth's climate.
The greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is
absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions.
Causes of extinction have prehistorically been dominated by natural earth processes such
as geological transformation of the Earth's crust and major climatic oscillations, as well
as speciesinteractions; however, since the ascent of modern man during the Holocene, the
causes of extinction have been dominated by the activities of humans. Rates of species
extinction have increased rapidly since the early Holocene epoch, chiefly due to activities of
humans; further acceleration of extinction rates began approximately 1600 AD, with the
onset of accelerated human population growth and expanded scope of agriculture.
Habitat destruction occurs when the conditions necessary for plants and animals to survive are significantly
compromised or eliminated.
Most areas of the world's oceans are experiencing habitat loss. But coastal areas, with their closeness to human
population centers, have suffered disproportionately and mainly from manmade stresses. Habitat loss here has
far-reaching impacts on the entire ocean's biodiversity. These critical areas, which include estuaries, swamps,
marshes, and wetlands, serve as breeding grounds or nurseries for nearly all marine species.
Causes of Ocean Habitat Loss
Humans and Mother Nature share blame in the destruction of ocean habitats, but not equally.
Hurricanes and typhoons, storm surges, tsunamis and the like can cause massive, though usually temporary,
disruptions in the life cycles of ocean plants and animals. Human activities, however, are significantly more
impactful and persistent.
Wetlands are dredged and filled in to accommodate urban, industrial, and agricultural development. Cities,
factories, and farms create waste, pollution, and chemical effluent and runoff that can wreak havoc on reefs, sea
grasses, birds, and fish.
Inland dams decrease natural nutrient-rich runoff, cut off fish migration routes, and curb freshwater flow,
increasing the salinity of coastal waters. Deforestation far from shore creates erosion, sending silt into shallow
waters that can block the sunlight coral reefs need to thrive.
Destructive fishing techniques like bottom trawling, dynamiting, and poisoning destroy habitats near shore as well
as in the deep sea.
Tourism brings millions of boaters, snorkelers, and scuba divers into direct contact with fragile wetland and reef
ecosystems. Container ships and tankers can damage habitat with their hulls and anchors. Spills of crude oil and
other substances kill thousands of birds and fish and leave a toxic environment that can persist for years.
Climate Change

Perhaps the most devastating of all habitat-altering agents, however, is climate change. Scientists are still
coming to grips with the consequences that excessive atmospheric carbon dioxide and Earth's rapid warming are
having on ecosystems. But there is ample evidence indicating that the oceans are bearing the brunt of these
changes.
As Earth's temperature rises, it is primarily the oceans that absorb the extra heat. Even small temperature
changes can have far-reaching effects on the life cycles of marine animals from corals to whales.
In addition, warmer temperatures cause excess melting of ice caps and glaciers, raising sea levels and flooding
estuaries.
High levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, caused mainly by the burning of fossil fuels, are absorbed by the
oceans, where the gas dissolves into carbonic acid. This elevated acidity inhibits the ability of marine animals,
including many plankton organisms, to create shells, disrupting life within the very foundation of the ocean's food
web.
Sea Changes
Ongoing efforts to safeguard ocean habitats include the creation of gigantic marine sanctuaries where
development is curtailed and fishing is prohibited. Laws banning the dumping of sewage and chemicals into the
ocean and policies that foster better stewardship of wetlands are having positive effects. But scientists agree that
drastic measures will be needed to avert the ocean crises being created by climate change.