HIPPCO Threats to Biodiversity--Overharvesting

Overharvesting

Overharvesting is the “O” in HIPPCO, a set of threats to biodiversity. It occurs when people remove organisms or other natural resources faster than the environment can replenish them. Continued overharvesting can cause populations to become endangered or locally extinct.

Examples include:

• American bison: During construction of the transcontinental railroad, workers were reportedly instructed to shoot bison that stood in the way. Overhunting caused major population declines.
• Fur-bearing animals: Demand for fur in Europe led French fur traders in the Midwest to heavily hunt wolves, beavers, and foxes. Some populations became endangered or were nearly driven to extinction. Protection in recent decades has allowed populations to recover, though they have not returned to their former levels.

Key lesson: Resources must be harvested at a rate that allows populations to replenish. The video briefly mentions tuna populations as a topic for the next lesson.

Speaker

• Miss Longley — instructor and narrator.