Mass Extinctions leading to Collapse of Ecosystems
Chloe Lee
Embedded Files
Mass extinctions, once thought to happen gradually over millions of years, are now devastating ecosystems at record speeds. New scientific studies suggest that the decline of some keystone species, especially those with strong functions within their ecosystem, can have far-reaching problems in nature.
A case in point is the Monarch butterfly, also known as danaus plexippus, which was once abundant across North America. In the past 30 years, the population has decreased by over 80%. Habitat loss, pesticides, and global warming are responsible for most of the decline. Monarchs are pollinators that ensure wild plants come to maturity. When they disappear, plants cannot reproduce as effectively, causing a negative effect on the animal populations that prey on the plants.
The second instance is the Caribbean Acropora palmata coral. These are significant reef builders, and reefs provide shelter and nurseries to the majority of fish. Warm oceans and higher acidity killed the corals. Once the reefs are gone, the number of fish dramatically declines. This not only hurts ocean life but also coastal dwellers who are sustained by fishing and tourism.
A new global research has found that areas exposed to human development have lost about 20% of their species. They include regions like tropical rainforests and wetlands. Changes in land use, pollution, and the introduction of exotic species all go a long way to making animals and plants fight to survive. Insects, amphibians, and small mammals are the ones that are especially susceptible, and losing them can cause the collapse of food chains. Ecosystems can heal from damage at times, but they need a diverse abundance of species in order to stay healthy. When keystone species like the Monarch butterfly or coral reef constructor drop to a level where there are not enough of them, the whole system begins to fail. This can lead to poorer soil, worse water, more carbon in the atmosphere, and lower crops.
Scientists report that we are actually seeing Earth's sixth mass extinction—but it is man-induced, not man decimated by natural disasters. Unless strong conservation efforts are started right away, further loss of species will continue to compromise the natural systems that everyone globally is dependent on.
Works Cited
“‘Half The Tree of Life’: Ecologists’ Horror as Nature Reserves Are Emptied of Insects.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 3 June 2025, www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/03/climate-species-collapse-ecology-insects-nature-reserves-aoe?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
“Weatherwatch: How 60 Species Are Just One Cyclone Away from Extinction.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 4 June 2025, www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jun/04/weatherwatch-how-60-species-are-just-one-cyclone-away-from-extinction?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
“Biodiversity Loss in All Species and Every Ecosystem Linked to Humans – Report.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 26 Mar. 2025, www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/26/human-link-biodiversity-loss-species-ecosystems-climate-pollution-eawag-study-nature-aoe?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse