Is there any example of living beings destroying their environment?

Question

I had an argument with someone about mankind being the only being destroying its own environment. I don't think this is true, yet, I cannot provide any example of significant importance. Are there any examples of a living being destroying its own environment, making it uninhabitable to them? (Bonus point if this event led to an environmental catastrophe or to their extinction.)

Answer 1

Hello!

This is a very interesting debate to have with someone. The best example of this would be overgrazing and over population. Essentially, in some species and in some locations, animals reproduce at an alarming rate. More mouths to feed means the destruction of forests and plant species. Has it lead to environmental catastrophe? No, and I don't think it is likely. It also isn't done intentionally, which may be the argument that only humans do this. Humans destroy things on purpose, with knowledge that they are doing so. Animals are just trying to eat, and habitats are sometimes decimated because of it.

Answer 2

This is one of the main defining characteristics of an invasive species. A couple insects that fit the bill are the emerald ash borer and the hemlock wooly adelgid, which are driving ash trees and hemlocks to extinction respectively. One of the most ecologically devastating examples, strangely enough, is bunnies. They overran Australia in the 19th century and have wiped out whole ecosystems, starting with ground cover and then killing shrubs and trees. They're thought to be the most significant factor in species loss in Australia and they're definitely an example of a species destroying the environment to the point where it's uninhabitable (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbits_in_Australia).

You can find more examples by searching for invasive species. Humans certainly aren't the only ones—just the only ones who should know better.