Introduction
An endangered species is a group of organisms, which is in danger of extinction because they are either limited in numbers or being threatened by environmental changes. The endangered species are approximately forty percent of the total organisms. Many countries have put in place laws that protect species that depends on conserved environment. For instance, prohibiting hunting, limiting land development, or developing preserves. Only a number of several species that are at risk of being extinct actually manage to survive and get legal defense like pandas. Majority of organisms become extinct without getting public notice.
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Causes of endangerment
Barr 22 argues that when looking at the causes of endangerment, it is significant to know that individual species are just among the factors that are concerned in this dilemma. Endangerment is a wide concept, one that concerns the habitats and surroundings where species interact and live together. Species may become endangered because of many reasons. Therefore, these factors that lead to endangerment can be put into groups.
Habitat destruction
Our globe is constantly changing, causing modification and alteration of habitats. Normal changes tend to happen at a steady pace, normally causing a slight effect on a particular species. However, when amends happen very fast, the individual species cannot find time to respond and adjust to new situations. This can develop disastrous results, thus rapid habitat destruction is the main cause of species endangerment.
Human beings are the main forces in fast habitat loss. About every region in the world has been influenced by human activity, especially during the previous century. The microbe’s losses in soils that are previously supported by the greenhouse gases emission are all caused by human activity.
It might be hard for a person to know the effects of human beings on particular species. It is also hard to predict the effects of human beings on each species and habitats, particularly in human’s lifetime. However, it is obvious that activity of human being has really contributed to endangerment of the species.
For instance, though tropical forest may appear as if they are abundant, they are in fact vulnerable to destruction. This is because they usually grow in a soil that lacks nutrients. It may take therefore centuries to re-grow such forests that were cut down by humans or damaged by fire. If the depletion of forests continues at the current rate, then huge amounts of animal and plants species will vanish.
Introduction of foreign species
According to Younge 110, indigenous species are those animals and plants species that are part of a particular geographic location, and have normally been in that specific biological landscape for a long period. These species adapt well in their local surroundings and are familiar with the existence of other indigenous species that are in the same habitat.
Exotic species on the other hand are interlopers. These species are brought into new surroundings by means of human activities. Human beings can intentionally or accidentally introduce these species in the new surrounding. These exotic species are viewed by the indigenous species as foreign elements. These exotic species might badly affect fragile ecological balances and produce overabundance of unintended yet destructive consequences.
The bad thing of these unintended yet destructive consequences occurs when the exotic species introduced put indigenous species in danger by feeding on them. This can change the normal habitat and also it can result to greater struggle for food. Many indigenous species are affected by introducing new species that might either come with new diseases or compete efficiently than the native species. For instance, the European sterling that was intentionally introduced into United States, is replacing the indigenous America bluebird.
Many species have been introduced biologically to environments world wide, and the most harmful consequences have happened on islands. Introduction of foreign species such as rats, cats, and many more have really caused the destruction and endangerment of several species for the past centuries. Exotic species are surely factors that lead to endangerment.
Overexploitation
The species that might experience overexploitation are those that might be seriously endangered because of the degree in which they are being utilized. Uncontrolled whaling in 20th century is a good example of overexploitation.
During this period the whaling, industry reduced several whales’ species. When many whale species were about to vanish, several countries United States included accepted to respect international suspension on whaling. This suspension had made a few whale species such as grey whale to reappear while many others are still endangered.
The animal’s parts trade had made several species to constantly experience high rates of exploitation. Currently, demands for substances such as tiger bones and horns of rhino in many Asians regions are on increase. This high demand for animal’s products is because of wide market for traditional medicines that are made from these parts of animal.
More factors
Disease, pollution, and restricted distribution are other factors that affect several animals and plants species. If a species lacks the normal genetic protection against specific pathogens, a new disease can have very bad effects on that specie. For instance, rabies virus is currently destroying the populations of carnivore in East Africa.
Domestic animals always spread the diseases that influence wild populations, showing again how activities of human being are the root cause of species endangerment. Many terrestrial and marine species have been badly affected by pollution. Hunting, catching, and poisoning to guide livestock have seriously affected the predatory animals and birds. Too much harvesting is of late threatening species all over the world, particularly fish species, for example, the cod.
Solutions
It is conservationist’s goals to develop and increase upon means to protect endangered species and sustain biodiversity. An individual can assist in protecting the species that are facing extinction by many ways. First and fore most you need to get information of various species groups, particularly invertebrates, marine organisms and fungi, where there is no enough data.
For instance, to know the causes of declines and extinction of the species population, an experiment was done on the population of butterflies in Finland. It was established that the distribution of butterflies has reduced by fifty percent, and they have serious limited habitat. Specific examples of these butterflies are the Frigga’s Fritillary and Grizzled Skipper. These species have been affected because of extensive drainage the swamp. This experiment indicates that if we understand causes of endangerment, it is easy then to develop solutions for biodiversity management.
Making of a new professional society that is devoted to ecological principles is another way of protecting endangered species. This could assist ecologists create moral decisions in their study and administration of biodiversity. Making more awareness on ethics of the environment can assist in promoting species protection.
Endangered species can also be conserved through federal organization investment and preservation passed by the federal government. Biological passages, biosphere reserve, management of ecosystem, and ecoregional scheduling are also approaches of incorporating biodiversity maintenance and socioeconomic growth.
An illustration of a federal mandated preservation region is the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, the Marine Monument, which is the biggest marine preserved region in the world. The monument is vital in conservation of underwater populations and over fished areas. In the region it is only researchers whom have been allowed to fish.
Removal of corals is prohibited, and homeland security department imposes restrictions on ships through satellite imaging. This monument is a habitat for thousands of species, most of which are very rare in other parts of the world. This environmental monument shows that it is possible to make protected surroundings for endangered species, and preserving a number of the globe’s largest ecosystems.
Conclusion
Endangered species are very important in our environments. It is therefore needed for us human beings to be responsible for conservation of these species that are being endangered. We need to formulate many policies that will assist any preservation of these species.
