There is no doubt that human civilization has had a negative impact on biodiversity, particularly since the industrial revolution. Overfishing and hunting, the destruction of habitats through agriculture and urban sprawl, the use of PESTICIDES and herbicides, and the release of other toxic compounds into the environment have all TAKEN their toll, particularly on vertebrates. The World Conservation Union (IUCN; Gland, Switzerland) now includes more than 16,000 entries in its RED List of THREATENED Species: 5,624 vertebrates, 2,101 invertebrates and 8,390 plants (IUCN, 2006). The number of documented extinctions since 1500 AD is now 784 species and the IUCN estimates that extinction rates are now 50 to 500 times higher than previous rates calculated from the fossil record (Baillie et al, 2004).But it's not all bad news. Many animal and plant species have adapted to the new stresses, food sources, predators and threats in urban and suburban environments, where they thrive in close proximity to humans. Their success provides researchers with valuable—and sometimes unexpected—insights into evolutionary and SELECTIVE processes. Because these adaptations Explanation:hope it will help you