The End is Coming for Many Species!
It seems like humans and nature itself are destroying species, causing them to cling onto life everyday.
This Q&A is based on an article by Jennifer Bove who is an Endangered Species Expert.
Q. Why is the introduction of an exotic species to a habitat bad for native species in that environment?
A.Exotic species often have a predatory or competitive advantage over native species, which have been a part of a particular biological environment for centuries. Even though native species are well adapted to their surroundings, they may not be able to deal with species that closely compete with them for food or hunt in ways that native species has not developed defenses against. As a result, native species either cannot find enough food to survive or are killed in such numbers as to endanger survival as a species.
Q. Why is it important to preserve endangered species?
A. Preservation of plants and animals is important, not only because many of these species are beautiful, or can provide economic benefits for us in the future, but because they already provide us many valuable services. These organisms clean air, regulate our weather and water conditions, provide control for crop pests and diseases, and offer a vast genetic "library" from which we can withdraw many useful items.
Q. Are humans to blame for habitat destruction and how does habitat destruction endanger species?
A.The trouble is, humans take up a lot of space on the planet. Not only do we build houses in wild animal habitats, we clear forests to get lumber and to make fields where we farm food. We plow up native plants to grow miles and miles of single crops like corn and wheat. We drain rivers to bring water to our crops, and many of our farming methods strip the soil of its nutrients and microbes. We pave meadows to make streets and parking lots.As we're busting around making these "developments," we destroy animals' habitats and pollute the natural landscape with petroleum products, pesticides, and other chemicals. These actions kill some species outright and push others into areas where they can't find the food and shelter they need to survive.
FUTURE RESEARCH: Do zoos and other forms of commercial use of animals benefit their preservations?
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