Animal Extinction Essay Example

upon thousands other threatened taxa whose survival remain uncertain despite best efforts made so far globally all round at every level possible over many decades long struggle against numerous odds stacked up high against them day-in-day-out without respite nor any let-up in sight anytime soon!As humans used new tools and domesticated animals during the melting of ice, ecosystems were transformed. However, this is insignificant compared to the present sixth great extinction that is happening now due to climate change, invasive species, habitat degradation, and overexploitation. According to the World Conservation Union's Red List which tracks scientifically named Earth species, biocide is rapidly increasing. Although rhinos, tigers, pandas and blue whales are commonly associated with extinction; one in four mammals, one in eight birds, one in three amphibians as well as conifers face extinction according to assessments by the World Conservation Union. Other organisms not thoroughly analyzed have a risk up to 40% including possible 51% reptiles ,52% insects and even up to 73% flowering plants may be affected. The current estimated rate of extinction ranges between 100-10k times higher than background rates whereas scientists believe there could be far more discovered on Earth than already known (1.5 million) - estimates range from around 10 million up to as many as 100 million making it difficult determining how many species are lost annually.Between 2.7 and 270 species vanish each day with a prediction that half of all plant and animal species will become extinct by the year 2100 if no action is taken.Despite seven out of ten biologists believing mass extinction poses a greater threat than global warming yet many people remain unaware of this danger.Georges

Cuvier's study of fossil remains 200 years ago led to the recognition of extinction and motivated humans to address their own harmful behaviors. However, not all nations have taken action on this issue. The Convention on Biological Diversity was established in 1992 with ratification from 190 countries (excluding six), and the European Union urged halting species decline by 2010. Yet, biodiversity experts express growing concern over depletion, proposing a scientific body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for effective crisis management. While some thought-to-be-extinct species like the wollemi pine, mahogany lider, Jerdon's courser, and takahe have been rediscovered, many others remain critically endangered or extinct according to biennial updates from the Red List. This is alarming as each organism plays a crucial role within Earth's intricate membrane of life forms that impacts aspects of daily life such as food, air quality, materials for construction and clothing, books and computers or medicines. Edward Wilson believes that this complex system cannot be fully observed even from space shuttles due to undiscovered species still present within it.The existence of future goods and services is reliant on undiscovered species, including potential remedies for cancer and genetic information regarding immortality. However, reckless destruction leads to the loss of life itself as it weakens an area's genes, species, and ecosystems. A diverse biodiversity provides a strong immune system through its variety of both species and individuals within those species. Biodiversity's genetic variations are the only defense against extinction threats in life. In addition to vibrant coral reefs and lively rainforests, critical genetic pools also exist in seemingly barren areas such as deserts. The underground life in deserts is intricate

with roots and burrows creating homes for different creatures like ants, beetles, wasps, cicadas, tarantulas, spiders, lizards, snakes, mice squirrels rats foxes tortoises badgers and coyotes. These habitats are created due to competition for moisture rather than light. Innovative solutions are required for survival under harsh conditions; such as coyotes drilling wells for water while white-winged doves can consume enough water to increase their body weight by over 15%. Black-tailed jack rabbits withstand internal temperatures up to 111F while western box turtles store water in their enlarged bladders while urinating on themselves for heat moderation. Mesquite plants grow taproots that stretch over 160ft searching for moisture.The Chihuahuan desert, as well as other environments like tundras, rainforests, prairies, coastal estuaries and coral reefs, is the home of various organisms that represent different organs of its "body", such as lungs or liver. Scientific research has been focused on understanding the interdependence among these bodily elements. The disappearance of even one species can cause permanent transformations in these environments comparable to the irreparable changes caused by an individual human being's death within their family. A 12-year study conducted by James H Brown and Edward Heske from the University of New Mexico revealed that removing a kangaroo-rat guild resulted in shrublands changing into grasslands with fewer annual plants and subsequently less birds. Losing just one species has a greater cost for Earth since co-extinctions occur due to numerous living things supporting few symbionts while keystone species influence many plants and animals; army ants are an example facilitating about 100 known species ranging from beetles to birds. This decline trend is concerning not only for individual species but also extends

to higher taxa like Amphibia which has survived since dinosaur times but now experiences significant die-off rates.For 20 years, biologists have been worried about the fast disappearance of robust amphibians, which can occur in six months. Loss of biodiversity has various reasons, including human environmental impacts such as depletion of ozone layer causing harmful ultraviolet radiation, increased use of toxins and pesticides, urbanization and agriculture affecting habitats, foreign invasive species trading wildlife, light pollution and fungal diseases. Some cases involve multiple stress factors that may lead to unhealthy outcomes. The unintended consequence of introducing an African frog for pregnancy tests brought a lethal fungus that affected native frogs. Climate changes led to the extinction of around 70 South American frog species. Researchers predict that if host extinctions continue at this rate, co-extinction will dramatically increase resulting in catastrophic events with millions of casualties. Conservation biologists suggest "rewilding" as the best solution towards preventing further biodiversity loss - our best prospect for curbing the current sixth great extinction event. Proponents argue that community-based conservation methods such as ecosystem management and promoting sustainable development will not suffice to protect half of the species lost by the end-century while safeguarding picturesque terrains.According to Wilson, creating "megapreserves" based on comprehensive knowledge of entire continents' ecosystem requirements is crucial to saving Earth's fragile "living membrane" by unifying its divided components. The Wildlands Project aims to revive habitats in North America's wilderness areas, such as parks, refuges, national forests and local land trust holdings. This is accomplished through the creation of four extensive "megalinkages," including the Rocky Mountain range (Alaska-Mexico), Arctic/Boreal strip (Alaska-Labrador), Appalachian Mountains (eastern coast via Atlantic) and Sierra

Nevada-Baja peninsula along the Pacific. To provide safe zones for wildlife migration, core protected areas would merge with a patchwork of public and private lands connected by broad grassed bridges over highways. The Wildlands Project encourages private landowners to donate or adopt good stewardship policies towards critical pathways despite facing opposition from those who distrust environmentalists. Many organizations are collaborating on the project including international players like Naturalia in Mexico, US national heavyweights like Defenders of Wildlife, and regional experts such as the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project and Grand Canyon Wildlands Council as ecosystem-wide conservation is widely accepted.Ranchers are slowly coming to accept the practice of rewilding, which involves embracing large animals as powerful defenders of biodiversity. Meanwhile, industries that face problems with car-wildlife collisions are also expressing interest in this approach. The absence of carnivorous creatures like wolves, wolverines, grizzlies, black bears, mountain lions and jaguars from natural habitats has led to an overreliance on herbivores that can damage plant life and contribute to the loss of birds, bees, reptiles, amphibians and rodents. Carnivores play a crucial role in maintaining vegetation by feeding on herbivores; unfortunately they remain at risk of extinction due to human hunting practices and fears. Providing adequate habitat for these animals is challenging given their need for larger areas than current conservation efforts allow. Male wolverines alone require up to 600 sq m of territory - equivalent to one person's area in Greater London. To tackle these issues head-on, the Wildlands Project has launched its "spine of the continent" campaign. This effort aims to protect regions along mountain ranges stretching from Alaska through Mexico that have been impacted by human

activities such as logging or gas development or motorized recreation. These core wildlands comprise wilderness areas, national parks, national monuments wildlife refuges and private holdings already partially buffered by surrounding protected sites such as national forests.The Wildlands Project identifies five crucial endangered wildlife linkages, such as those associated with keystone species like grizzlies, that require interconnecting linkages across various land types including farms, ranches and suburbia to allow the movement of large carnivores while preserving biodiversity. At Crowsnest Pass on Highway Three in Canada, these linkages are affected by roads, and if a larger road is built it will cut off their access to a broader gene pool to the north. Further south, Canada lynx, black bears, greater sage grouse and jaguars face deadly obstacles. The Sky Islands located along the US-Mexico border house North America's most endangered species including bison, jaguars Mexican wolves and Sonoran pronghorn; however ecological issues arise due to Mexican workers crossing this area. Plans for a 700-mile border fence designed to prevent their entry would severely impact wildlife by blocking their natural migration routes despite moral practical and legal concerns about its construction highlighting lack of consideration given to ecological impacts. It is vital to recognize that caging wilderness has negative effects on both humans and animals alike because extinction can be contagious.Wilson suggests a renaming of environmentalist perspectives to "real-world" views, alongside the substitution of gross national product with genuine progress indicators that consider the environmental expenses linked to different activities like farming and mining. This is because Earth also has limited resources that require suitable management.