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| | Natural events, climate change, human activities | | | | Physical degradation or destruction of habitats may be caused by a variety of natural causes including cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, volcanism, earthquakes and tsunamis. These factors can cause significant physical damage to the structure of habitat, thus altering biological diversity and ecosystem function. | | | | Global climate change and periodic climatic events are a significant threat to habitats on the global scale, particularly to coral reefs. The increase in sea-surface temperature associated with the major El Niño and La Niña climate switches in 1997-1998 resulted in extensive coral bleaching and mortality over large portions of the Indian Ocean and Southeast and East Asia. Some of the changes caused by periodic climate events are not necessarily permanent. However, direct human-induced stresses to habitats often exacerbate the effects these events or limit the recovery capability of marine and coastal ecosystems. | | | | Direct human activities posing threats to marine and coastal habitats are relatively well documented. Each of these activities may independently threaten ecosystem structure and function. However, more significant impacts are often the result of compounded effects of multiple activities.
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979 Topics - 5229 Related Knowledge - 11257 Members - 47 Editors |
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