Biodiversity is the sum total of all life on earth and encompasses genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. Among these three levels of diversity, species diversity reflects not only the relationship between life and the environment, but also the richness of biological resources. The main goal of biodiversity conservation is thought to be the protection of species. Animals play an important role in the processes of material cycling and energy flow in ecosystems through the use of intricate food chains and webs. Thus species diversity, especially animal diversity, directly affects the functioning of ecosystems. However, as a result of the sustained increase in the world's human population and the rapid development of economic globalization, human society has heavily affected the world's biodiversity and caused a series of ecological consequences such as habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, and climate change. These changes have seriously threatened the survival of many species on Earth. In this paper, we reviewed advancements in the research related to this ongoing loss of biodiversity over the past ten years by focusing on the influences of human activities on biodiversity and analyzing the primary drivers, characteristics and impacts of this loss in biodiversity. We also introduce some new biodiversity research methods and raise some important scientific questions that address the future of biodiversity research.