Endangered Species
Endangered species are living things whose population is so reduced that they are threatened with extinction. Thousands of species are included in this category. The International Union for the Conservation of nature and Natural Resources publishes a list of threatened mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and (many people donÕt consider them) plants.
CAUSES OF EXTINCTION
Millions of years before humans, extinction of living things was linked to geological and climate, the effects of which were translated into major alternation of the environment. Environmental change is still the primary cause of the extinction of animals, but now the changes are greatly accelerated by humans activity. Clearing land for farms and towns, lumbering, mining, building dams, and draining wetlands all alter the environments so extensively that ecosystems may be completely destroyed. With a burgeoning human population requiring food, shelter, and clothing and constantly demanding more energy-using devices, the temperation to exploit land for human use without regard for consequences is great.
Frequently, several forms of environmental change are responsible for the disappearance of species. For example, as tropical forests are cut down, primates have progressively smaller feeding and living spaces. They also become more accessible to hunters, who kill monkeys for food and trap many primates for sale as pets, research animals, and zoo specimens. Some animal species ...
However, before linking any kind of unique characteristics to human DNA, Jeffreys stumbled upon one of his first findings while experimenting with the genomes of rabbits when he discovered that eukaryotic DNA contained introns. Introns are non-coding sequences found throughout DNA. While maintaining a high interest in the study of introns, “Jeffreys sought to combine his recently acquired molecular biology experience with his interests in human genetics. ‘The first question we asked was, If you can see DNA restriction fragments, can you see variation between people in those fragments?’” (Zagorski,
In the article, DNA Fingerprinting: Cracking Our Genetic “Barcode” by Elaine N. Marieb, she describes the process and uses of DNA fingerprinting. The importance of DNA is very helpful because it makes it easier to identify different individuals through their genetic material. In another interesting article, Interface Facts by Katie L. Burke, she mainly focuses on internet video games that could be an effective method for scientific research for scientists and non-scientists. DNA and Technology have emerged and are a great benefit to humans to help find matches such as long-relatives, a murderer in a case, and personal background information whether alive or deceased. Also DNA and Technology can be useful for public awareness reasons too.
The ecosystems around the world are vital aspects of our everyday lives. Without the many resources and materials we harvest or use, life as we know it would be drastically different. In modern society, money is prioritized over essential benefits from nature. Due to this unfortunate truth, the stability of the environment has decreased on a global scale. Several of these issues include pollution, destruction of habitats, and causing species to go extinct due to events such as overfishing. Another human-caused problem is deforestation, particularly in the Amazon Rainforest.
Extinction is no longer just a natural process. It is an enemy, slowly changing our world into a barren wasteland where life is as rare as a flower in the Arctic Circle's winter. The wolf, the tiger, the caribou, the elephant, the bison, the cheetah, the sequoia cactus, the redwood tree – all of these and so many more things are on the verge of disappearing from our planet forever. Extinction is the most pressing environmental issue of our time, because if it continues the way it is going without anything being done to counteract its causes and consequences, there will soon be no environment left for there to be debates about.
The scientific and medical progress of DNA as been emense, from involving the identification of our genes that trigger major diseases or the creation and manufacture of drugs to treat these diseases. DNA has many significant uses to society, health and culture of today. One important area of DNA research is that used for genetic and medical research. Our abi...
Humans are destructive. Not a lot of us think about how what we do affects the world around us. We almost act like we are the only ones on this planet. We go around polluting and destroying our world with no regard for our actions. The things that live out in the wild are paying the price for it. Every day that passes there is another animal or plant that is placed on an endangered list. This is happening at an alarming rate. Because of man’s desire to expand and conquer their surroundings, there are animals and plants that are on the brink of extinction that will not be around for our kids and future generations to enjoy if something is not done about it now. This problem has been going on for hundreds of years. There are animals and plants that can only been seen in paintings or early photography. It is because of our early ancestors that we have this problem today and we have to do more to prevent more animals and plants from disappearing forever.
Great Apes are at the brink of extinction due to deforestation, hunting, and bushmeat trade. Our closest cousins are now viewed as economic commodities rather than valuable agents to the environment and humanity. In order to explore this issue, there must be an examinitation of why primate populations are dwindling, if these populations can replenish themselves, and what measures the international community is taking to alleviate the problem.
What exactly does the term endangered species denote? There can be numerous definitions that correctly describe the term. It is any plant or animal whose survival is in jeopardy of becoming extinct. Extinction, of course, is when the species no longer exists, and there is no way it can be brought back to this earth. In most cases, the cause of this displeasing calamity is generally human-related.
In the year 1973, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was instituted in order to bring attention to the issue of species that are in danger of extinction as well as to provide conservation of species that are endangered or threatened. Currently, there are around 2,245 species that the Endangered Species Act lists as either endangered or threatened throughout the world, many of which are found in the United States ecosystems and a handful that are only found in foreign ecosystems (Ehrlich 12). Because of the considerable number of endangered species, people should be aware of endangered species and help to protect these creatures society, as their unnatural extinction due to our actions and neglect will affect ecosystems and the environment (“Why
In the beginning of Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, Teddy Daniels is intelligent, full of grit, clever and determined. Teddy believes he is a United States Marshal sent to Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane on Shutter Island with his partner Chuck, to investigate the case of an escaped patient, Rachel Solando. Rachel is said to be a very dangerous patient who murdered her three children. She somehow escapes her cell in the mental ward and is somewhere on the island. As soon as Teddy and Chuck hop off the ferry and onto the desolate island, they are greeted with aloofness and suspicion. None of the employees give them any real evidence of the missing patient and their answers seem to be scripted. The guards, wardens and doctors always keep an eye out for them. When they meet with the head psychologist, Dr. Cawley, he seems congenial and speaks allusively, holding back most of the information he knows about Rachel Solando. Despite the monster hurricane bearing down on the island, Teddy remains determined and strong. Refusing to give up, Teddy marches into the atrocious storm, persistent to locate Rachel. When Teddy and Chuck head out to look around the island, the intensity of the hurricane is described, “Ashcliffe shrouded to their left somewhere in the smash of wind and rain. It grew measurably worse in the next half hour, and they pressed their shoulders together in order to hear each other talk and listed like drunks” (139). The storm is heavily pounding the island yet, Teddy continues to fight through it no matter what happens. Another example of his grit is displayed when he climbs up an enormous cliff to reach a cave. In order to reach the cave he believes either Chuck is camping out in, Teddy ascends on an extre...
Pollution from human activities brings forth danger to the different species of animals and plants to become extinct. There are five threats examined in the authors’ researches; habitat destruction, pollution, alien species, farms, and disease. Over time, pollution, destruction, diseases have destroyed the natural habitats and homes of species such as birds, fish, plants, and animals. The science of how species become extinct come from the over harvesting of crops, which places a threat on our birds and plants due to the pesticide pollution. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 was enacted by Congress to minimize treats and protect the endangered species. The United States face a dilemma when it comes to protecting the listed endangered species. Animals such as the bald eagle, Florida panther, gray wolf, grizzly bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, are just a few of the listed endangered species. Overview of threats is categorized in five types; habitat destruction, the spread of alien species, overharvest of farms, pollution and disease.
Shah, Anup. Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions. Global Issues, 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 May 2014.
Loss of biodiversity is an environmental issue that is causing a lot of global concern. Some of the main causes for loss in biodiversity are alteration of habitats, increasing levels of pollution and human population growth. There are measures that are being taken worldwide to prevent loss of biodiversity. Many wildlife sanctuaries have been built worldwide to preserve the lives of various endangered species. However, it is important to remember that every individual has a role in the protection of wildlife and biodiversity. Every human being should play his part of the role by following simple rules such as stopping others from the hunting of endangered species, preventing deforestation, encouraging reforestation and creating awareness among fellow human beings.
In our world today we have approximately 26,021 endangered species. Endangered species are organisms that may possible become extinct. The term 'endangered species' refers to all species that fits this description. However some conservation biologists and scientists normally use the term ‘endangered species’ to refer to species that are put on the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature)Red List. Many factors can be looked at when considering the conservation status of a species. Factors such as human threats or environmental threats can cause a species to become endangered.
In the world today there are about five thousand endangered species. Around one specie dies out every year. Some animals become endangered because people are killing them for their horns, as in the case of the Black Rhino of Africa. Others become extinct because pesticides are put on the food we eat, causing the animals that eat the insects off the plant to become contaminated, which causes their predators to become contaminated, which often affects the shell of that organism?s egg. Here is a list of the endangered species, 91 endangered birds, 76 endangered mammals, 36 endangered reptiles, 21 endangered amphibians, 115 endangered fish, 70 endangered clams, 35 endangered snails, 44 endangered insects, 12 endangered arachnids, 21 endangered crustaceans, 594 endangered flowering plants.