Endangered Species

Natural ecosystems provide the basic conditions without which humanity could not survive. Good and services provided by ecosystems include for example provision of food, fibre and fuel, purification of water and air, cultural and aesthetic benefits, stabilization and moderation of the Earth's climate, generation and renewal of soil fertility, including nutrient cycling or maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties and livestock breeds, medicines, and other products. However, the ability of biological diversity to continue performing these services is seriously threatened since some species are being seriously deteriorated, and in some cases destroyed. While loss of species has always occurred as a natural phenomenon, the pace of extinction has accelerated dramatically as a result of human activity. Ecosystems are being fragmented or eliminated, and innumerable species are in decline or already extinct. This book is divided into ten chapters, which are all related to endangered species research studies.