Topic: Many scientists consider humans as the most invasive species, as humans can greatly change an environment and impact the living things that reside there. Are we being stewards of the world? Take a look at an issue in which human intervention has positively or negatively affected the biodiversity of our ecosystems.
Since the age of colonization, humans have come into areas previously inhabited by other species; plant, animal, and insect alike, and invaded their natural habitats which they had lived on for centuries before us. As we invade their homes and strip the land they once lived on of all its natural qualities, we force the animals, plants, and insects to either move to a new unfamiliar habitat or try and cope with the changes, both of which are very difficult. Since humans invade and colonize faster than the nature can adjust to, this causes much stress among all branches of wildlife. This is evident through the numerous articles and advertisemments we may see about deforestation escalating, while animal populations decline and more and more species become endangered every day.
Despite the numerous warnings and signs of our negative effects on numerous natural habitats, we, humanity as a whole, remain incredulous to the fact that we are not being proper stewards to the earth. Instead, we are taking as we please, forcing the natural equilibrium to shift off balance resulting in the decline and extinction of countless species.
Currently, extinction is happening 1000 times faster than it was for the past 100 000 years. With this decline in population in the numerous affected species around the world, biodiversity is at great risk. Without biodiversity, all the affected species will become more prone to extinction if there is an outbreak in some new kind of virus or parasite. Although extinction is a natural part of the life cycle, it is happening far too quickly for nature to make adaptations. For example, Emperor Tamarins are a type of primate that disperse seeds in the rainforests from things it has eaten around the rainforest. Because it spreads the seeds of whatever fruit it has eaten, it allows plants to also spread and grow in a multitude of different places. However, this breed of primate is near extinction, and without its seed
spreading, many rainforest plants may suffer. Also, when humans tear down trees, and strip the land of its fertility, they are cutting off the roaming grounds of many predators, and creating openings for others. Large carnivorous animals need a vast roaming ground to hunt for their prey. By creating new roads and subdivisions we are cutting off their hunting grounds and as a result of this, the roaming grounds of two or more of the same species may overlap. When the roaming grounds of large predators overlap, they may become very territorial and attack anything they see as invasive. This may pose as a problem to the animal attacking as well, as fighting can lead them to injury or death. By creating new openings for other predators, other animals (their prey) may become too vulnerable. Examples of this are all ground nesting birds becoming too exposed to raccoons. If humans continue to affect the biodiversity and cut off roaming grounds of animals, than not only will we see their number dwindle even farther, but we will defiantly see some un wanted extinctions of many animals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhuLInfisuE - Please watch this video for a better visual on whats happening to certain animals around the world.
Humans as a whole may been seen as a destructive species towards the planet, but there are individuals out their truly giving a valid effort to change the planet. People like David Suzuki and Mary Ward’s own Chaput-Ross are good examples of people who are living a life that promotes the health and prosperity of the planet. David Suzuki shows an unassailable belief that humanity can better itself to become more nurturing stewards of the earth. He has done a lot to promote a more “Green” lifestyle, as seen on his website: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/. Local zoos and wilderness reserves and all the people that work for/on them are all doing their part also. Zoos and nature reserves are a key benefactor in insuring that certain species are kept from becoming extinct, seeing as how certain species are only bred under captivity. Also, while insuring that some natural habitats are unaffected by human invention, nature reserves double as an area where certain animals, plants, and insects can reproduce and try to increase the biodiversity of said species. However, just because people are trying to help nature and preserve wildlife doesn't mean
we can slack off and forget our duties. We must all try to make small little changes in our lives tobetter the lives of all of the earths inhabitants, meaning we should try to create better habitats for the earth reaming animals who’s biodiversities have been greatly affected in the last century by our fast paced life styles and desire for more than we need. If you look at the world as a whole, and examine each species carefully, it seems to as if humans are the equivalent to the parasites of the planet. As humans, we take what we need from the planet, and give nothing in return. We cut down more trees than we plant, we emit more carbon dioxide than the plants of the Earth can control, and we slaughter and kill animals to our liking without thinking of the implications. As the stewards of the earth,
we must reciprocate all of the things nature gives us. All though there are people out there trying to make a difference and trying to help the planet, their actions may go unseen and unnoticed. So order to make a difference to make the world a better place for us all, we must send out a message that we, all of humanity, need to make a change in our daily life styles. We need to make a conscious decision that will lead to great and favorable repercussions, because even the smallest decisions can lead to a world of change.
Works Cited:
- http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2007/12/understanding-habitat-loss-and-fragmentation-in-terrestrial-environments/
- http://www.prairiefrontier.com/pages/butterflies/endangered.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_destruction
- http://biologybiozine.com/articles/unit-8-animals/the_loss_of_biodiversity.php
