Various Plant And Animal Species example essay topic

Endangerment is a broad issue, one that involves the animals as well as the environments where they live and interact with one another. In order to solve or even slightly elevate this problem, every aspect must be studied. So exactly what could cause the endangerment of animals? There are several factors of which only a few will be discussed.

One of the main aspects is that of habitat destruction. Of course our planet is continually changing, causing habitats to be altered and modified, but these tend to happen at a gradual pace. This allows most species to adapt to the changing environment, where only a slight impact may take place. However, when changes occur at a fast pace, there is little or no time for an individual species to react and adjust to the new circumstances. This cause disastrous results, and for this reason, rapid habitat loss is the primary cause of species becoming endangered.

Nearly every region of earth has been affected by human activity. It is difficult for an individual to recognize the effects that humans have had on specific species (Brook p. 385). It is even more difficult to predict human effects on individual species and environments, especially during one lifetime. The introduction of an exotic species into an environment will furthermore cause the endangerment of a species.

Native species are those plants and animals that are part of one specific geographic area, and have been a part of that particular biological landscape for a long period of time (Ehrlich p 37). The species is well adapted to the environment and accustomed to the presence of other native species within the habitat. When an exotic species is introduced usually by way of human activities or accidentally, they cause a very serious disruption in the delicate ecological balances and may produce a plethora of unintended yet harmful consequences. The introduced species may severely agitate the delicate food chain by preying on species, and growing to outrages numbers. This happens because none of the native species will recognize the exotic as a threat or even a source of food. Overexploitation can cause the extinction of a species; this is due to the rate at which the animals are taken.

Many species have been hunted for sport or for profit until only a small number remains. Unrestricted whaling during the 20th century is an example of this and the whaling industry brought many species of whales to extremely low population sizes. When several whale species were nearly extinct a number of nations finally agreed to abide by an international moratorium on whaling. Due to this moratorium, some whale species, such as the Grey whale, have made a remarkable comeback, while others still remain endangered (Reich hardt p. 322). Disease, pollution, and limited distribution are more factors that threaten various plant and animal species. If a species does not have the natural genetic protection against particular pathogens, an introduced disease can have severe effects on that specie.

For example, rabies and canine distemper viruses are presently destroying carnivore populations in East Africa (Campbell). Domestic animals often transmit the diseases that affect wild populations; demonstrating again how human activities lie at the root of most causes of endangerment. Pollution has seriously affected multiple terrestrial and aquatic species, and limited distributions are frequently a consequence of other threats; populations confined to few small areas due to of habitat loss, for example, may be disastrously affected by random factors. The benefits of saving endangered species are great in numbers. Many plants and animals hold medicinal, agricultural, commercial and recreational values.

They must all be protected and saved so that future generations can experience their presence and value. Plants and animals are responsibly for a variety of useful medications. In fact about forty percent of all prescriptions written today are composed from the natural compounds of different species (Ehrlich p. 121). These species not only save lives, but they contribute to a prospering pharmaceutical industry worth over $40 billion annually. Unfortunately, only 5% of known plant species have been screened for their medicinal values, although we continue to lose up to 100 species daily. The Pacific yew, a slow-growing tree found in the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest, was historically considered a 'trash' tree.

However, a substance in its bark taxol, was identified as one of the most promising treatments for ovarian and breast cancer (web). Additionally, more than 3 million American heart disease sufferers would perish within 72 hours of a heart attack without digitalis; a drug derived from the purple foxglove. There are an estimated 80,000 edible plants in the world. Humans depend upon only 20 species of these plants, such as wheat and corn, to provide 90% of the world's food. Wild relatives of these common crops have been found to contain essential disease-resistant material (Ehrlich).

These wild relatives also provide our species with the means to develop new crops that can grow in inadequate lands such as in poor soils or drought-stricken areas to help solve the world hunger problem. Various wild species are commercially raised, directly contributing to local and regional economies. Commercial and recreational salmon fishing in the Pacific Northwest provides 60,000 jobs and $1 billion annually in personal income, and is the center of Pacific Northwest Native American culture. This industry and way of life, however, is in trouble as salmon decline due to habitat degradation from dams, clear cutting, and overgrazing along streams. Freshwater mussels which are harvested, cut into beads, and used to stimulate pearl construction in oysters form the basis of a thriving industry which supports approximately 10,000 U.S. jobs and contributes over $700 million to the U.S. economy annually. Unfortunately, 43% of the freshwater mussel species in North America are currently endangered or extinct (Golden) Plant and animal species and their ecosystems form the basis of America's multi-billion dollar, job-intensive tourism industry.

They also supply recreational, spiritual, and quality-of-life values as well. Each year over 108 million people in the United States participate in wildlife-related recreation including observing, feeding, and photographing wildlife. Americans spend over $59 billion annually on travel, lodging, equipment, and food to engage in non-consumptive wildlife recreation (Ehlrich p. 207) Our national heritage of biological diversity is an invaluable and irreplaceable resource. Our quality of life and that of future generations depends on the preservation of plant and animal species. The hypothesis is by changing the way the human race lives many animals could be saved from endangerment..