SubscribeWhat are endangered species?
Endangered species are either plants or animals that are moving closer to extinction,. Extinction is the elimination of an entire species from this Earth. Many organizations have specific guidelines as to when a species is considered endangered, but it's safe to assume that if populations are going down that species is becoming endangered.
Where is this happening?
(Source: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/sec005group1/files/figure_8.jpg)
Sadly, the endangering of species is happening all over the world. Today as the human population grows the spread of our impact reaches more and more expanses. Some notable areas where species are endangered include the oceans and the tropical forests.
What is the negative impact of this destruction on the environment?
The loss of a species is very similar to the loss of a tree in a tropical forest. When a species is lost there are many repercussions in the ecosystem as every living organism has a place and fits into the puzzle that is life. If a predator such as a jaguar becomes extinct the population of its prey grows. This growth may cause a disturbance such as loss of plant life if the prey are herbivores. Food chains, biological cycles, climate, and many other aspects of the environment can become unbalanced if species keep on becoming endangered.
What is the negative impact of this destruction on society?
Killing of a species is a terrible thing and the loss of life alone is devastating. But loosing species does not just upset millions of people around the world, it impacts bigger things too such as industries. Medicines are derived from natural properties that are discovered in plants and animals across the globe. When a species is lost the possibility of using it for medicine is lost. Other areas such as agriculture and fishing industries are hurt when species are lost. Another big impact is tourism. People visits countries just to see the native wildlife and when that wildlife is endangered so is the income generated from tourism.
How is this happening and what can be done to prevent it?
Linking to other topics discussed one way the endangerment of species is caused is deforestation. When a forest is cut down animals loose homes, plants are wiped out, and the ecosystem is disabled. But deforestation is just one facet of the ever growing problem of human impact. Poaching and fishing are when humans hunt and kill animals for food, money, or even just for fun. The continued act of this over time leads to extinction of animals. Pollution is also another problem. Pollution can affect climate change and also poison the environments in which many animals and plants require to survive.
(Source: http://www.albany.edu/~ov999569/ETAP622/image/es1.jpg)
We may not be able to stop the human race from expanding, but we can do things to prevent further endangerment of species, This includes donating to organizations that help run conservation programs to save species, getting involved by spreading the word, and doing little things to reduce your specific impact on the environment such as recycling or walking instead of driving.
One will notice that both tropical deforestation and endangered species are closely related which only emphasizes the idea that all life is connected. Please take away as much as possible from this article and help make a difference.
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