108 Ecology and Applied Environmental Science
since the Roman Era in the Mediterranean area and since the Middle Ages
in all of Europe. During the last three centuries, fauna destruction was
greatly extended in the colonies founded by the Europeans on the whole
planet. More than 160 bird species, 110 mammal species, and an unknown
number of fish, reptiles etc. were extinct after AD 1700. The 19th century
especially was characterised by a real carnage of the wild fauna in North
and South America, Africa and Oceania.
5.5.2 Biotopes
Biotopes are geographical entities where biological species live. Significant
biotopes are distinguished by the presence of threatened flora and fauna
species in them. Certain species may live permanently in the biotope, and
others use it periodically or occasionally for food, nesting, breeding, resting
etc. The species characterized as threatened are the ones that:
• Are endangered—that is, they may disappear in the immediate future
• Are vulnerable—that is, they may become endangered if the environmental conditions become aggravated
• Are rare—that is, may become vulnerable because they have small
populations
The European Union biotopes, where the most significant of the threatened flora and fauna species live, have been included, based on certain
criteria, in a relevant list compiled by the European research programme
CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) in the 1980s.
A more recent European programme resulted, based on the most important
ecological habitats, in a second list of European Union protection areas
called Natura 2000.
5.5.3 Pressures on the Natural Landscape
The natural environment is being degraded by increasing anthropogenic
pressures. The populations and ecological habitats of the threatened species
as well as the landscape features are mostly affected by the following factors, although the extent and the intensity of the dangers these factors pose
depend on particular ecosystem conditions:
• Intensive agriculture with the chemical inflows and the exploitation
of terrestrial and aquatic resources (pesticides, over-consumption of
fertilizers and water, drainages, groundwater pumping, river diversions etc.)
• Pollution from toxic or nontoxic liquid and gaseous waste
• Dumping or disposal of solid waste
since the Roman Era in the Mediterranean area and since the Middle Ages
in all of Europe. During the last three centuries, fauna destruction was
greatly extended in the colonies founded by the Europeans on the whole
planet. More than 160 bird species, 110 mammal species, and an unknown
number of fish, reptiles etc. were extinct after AD 1700. The 19th century
especially was characterised by a real carnage of the wild fauna in North
and South America, Africa and Oceania.
5.5.2 Biotopes
Biotopes are geographical entities where biological species live. Significant
biotopes are distinguished by the presence of threatened flora and fauna
species in them. Certain species may live permanently in the biotope, and
others use it periodically or occasionally for food, nesting, breeding, resting
etc. The species characterized as threatened are the ones that:
• Are endangered—that is, they may disappear in the immediate future
• Are vulnerable—that is, they may become endangered if the environmental conditions become aggravated
• Are rare—that is, may become vulnerable because they have small
populations
The European Union biotopes, where the most significant of the threatened flora and fauna species live, have been included, based on certain
criteria, in a relevant list compiled by the European research programme
CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) in the 1980s.
A more recent European programme resulted, based on the most important
ecological habitats, in a second list of European Union protection areas
called Natura 2000.
5.5.3 Pressures on the Natural Landscape
The natural environment is being degraded by increasing anthropogenic
pressures. The populations and ecological habitats of the threatened species
as well as the landscape features are mostly affected by the following factors, although the extent and the intensity of the dangers these factors pose
depend on particular ecosystem conditions:
• Intensive agriculture with the chemical inflows and the exploitation
of terrestrial and aquatic resources (pesticides, over-consumption of
fertilizers and water, drainages, groundwater pumping, river diversions etc.)
• Pollution from toxic or nontoxic liquid and gaseous waste
• Dumping or disposal of solid waste