THREATENED SPECIES Meaning and
Definition
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A threatened species refers to a living organism, typically a plant or an animal, that is on the verge of facing extinction or is at a high risk of becoming extinct in the near future. This classification is assigned by relevant conservation authorities or international organizations based on specific criteria and assessments. The main factors leading to species' decline, included under the threatened status, are habitat loss, destruction, degradation, hunting, overexploitation, pollution, climate change, and competition with invasive species.
When a species faces a significant decline in population size, range, or habitat, it is categorized as threatened under various levels of severity as defined by organizations, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN Red List, the most widely recognized and comprehensive inventory of threatened species, employs a classification system that categorizes species into different levels of threat, including critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable.
Threatened species play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and the overall biodiversity of our planet. Conservation efforts are often undertaken to protect and recover threatened species. These initiatives can involve habitat restoration, captive breeding programs, public awareness campaigns, legal protection, and international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). By focusing on the conservation of threatened species, humans aim to preserve the delicate interconnectedness of nature and secure the future survival of these species.
Etymology of THREATENED SPECIES
The word "threatened" in "threatened species" is derived from the verb "threaten". The term is used to describe a species that is at risk of becoming endangered.
The word "threaten" traces its origins to the Old English word "þreotan", which means "to menace or intimidate". This word is further derived from the Proto-Germanic word "threutaną", meaning "to threaten". It is also related to the Dutch word "drieten" and the German word "drohen", both of which mean "to threaten".
The term "species" comes from the Latin word "species", which originally meant "a particular sort, kind, or type". It has been used in the field of biology to refer to the fundamental unit of classification since the mid-17th century.
