HIPPCO model in AP Environmental Science

Definition

The HIPPCO model is an acronym used to identify the major causes of biodiversity loss. It stands for Habitat destruction/fragmentation, Invasive species, Pollution (including climate change), Population growth (human), Overharvesting (overexploitation).

Related terms

Biodiversity hotspot: These are regions with exceptionally high levels of biodiversity that are threatened due to human activities.

Keystone species:

These are species that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance. Their removal can cause significant changes in the structure and function of the ecosystem.

Ecological footprint: It is a measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems, representing the amount of land and resources required to sustainably support a population.