Environmental Biotechnology : Assignment
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Added on 2021-04-21
Environmental Biotechnology : Assignment
Added on 2021-04-21
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Running head: Environmental BiotechnologyENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY-Destruction of BiodiversityName of the StudentName of the UniversityAuthor Note
1Environmental BiotechnologyIntroduction:Biodiversity can be understood as the variability found in all living species fromdiverse sources like marine, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the ecological systemsthey are a part of. Biodiversity includes the diversity within and between species as well as ofthe ecosystems. It is the basis of the ecosystem services that is closely connected to the wellbeing of humans (greenfacts.org 2018). As per some scientists, anthropological factors areresponsible for the sixth mass extinction. Even though there are debates as to whetherextinction of species thousands of years ago in Australia could be linked to the indigenouspeople thousands of years ago, there is no doubt that in the last two centuries, extraordinarychanges in environment and loss of biodiversity have occurred due to anthropogenicactivities. The stress on the environment is attributed to key factors like overpopulation, lossof habitat and loss of species. Studies suggest that in the last 200 years in Australia, 75% ofrainforest and 50% of all forests have been lost (australianmuseum.net.au 2018).About Short Nosed Sea Snake Common Name: Short Nosed Sea Snake or Sahul Reef SnakeScientific Name: Aipysurus apraefrontalisCategory: Critically endangered
2Environmental BiotechnologyFigure 1: Short Nosed Sea Snake; source: (Carnivoraforum.com 2018).Habitat: Short nosed sea snakes can be found in the edges and flats of the coral reefs. Theyare mostly found where the water is more than 10 metres deep, and they generally rest duringthe day under overhangs of the coral at depths of 1-2 meter (australiangeographic.com.au2018). The species usually prefers sandy substrata sparse in coral. They feed mostly on fish,especially eels (Heatwole and Cogger 1994).Description of body form: The snake grows up to 60 centimetres in length. It is slendershaped and has a small head. Their colour is brown and has patterns of colours varyingbetween brown and purple. The body is covered with overlapping scales. The skin is shed intwo to six weeks. The snake has a specialised gland under the tongue that eliminates theexcess salts from the sea. In order to breathe, the snake must come to the surface of the water,and can spend about two hours underwater. The snake has a single lung that spans most of thelength of the body. The species also has the ability of cutaneous respiration because of smallblood vessels in the skin. They also have inwardly opening valves on the nostril that preventthe entry of water (australiangeographic.com.au 2018).
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