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The greatest cause of decline in biodiversity and extinction is habitat loss. 

Human development removes natural habitat and replaces it with homes, shopping malls, and roads. 

Some species can only thrive within a narrow range of habitat conditions. These are known as specialist species. Habitat loss opens them up to population decline.

Koalas are considered specialist species because they only eat leaves from Eucalyptus Trees. 

A smaller habitat can lead to a loss in different traits within a species known as genetic diversity. It can also prevent species from migrating and restrict their movement.

 They are also more likely to come in contact with harmful species if their habitat is broken up. 

A non native species who disturbs an ecosystem when newly introduced is an invasive species. 

The ecosystem does not know how to react because the species has never been there before. 

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Invasive species can lead to the extinction of other species by outcompeting them for limited resources, preying on them, changing their habitats, and carrying diseases. 

Cane Toads were brought to Australia from Central America to control beetle populations. They can adapt to a wide variety of environments. 

They ended up rapidly producing and were found to be toxic to the native species that eat frogs or frog eggs.

Cane Toads have uncontrollable appetites and will eat almost anything. This leaves barely any food for the other animals. 

Population growth leads to increased consumption of resources. More shelter and food is needed to support this growth. 

Habitats are destroyed to create more shelter and buildings. 

So many natural habitats have been converted into agricultural lands and pastures to produce more food for the growing population.

All the land combined adds up to about half the size of China!

Water and air pollution can be harmful to ecosystems. Pesticides, soot from factories, oil spills, and air pollution trapped in Earth's atmosphere can threaten biodiversity.