It Takes the World to Save the World:  

Endangered Species, Cultures, and Biomes

            It is difficult to study the natural world for any period of time without encountering the concept and issues of endangered species.  Most people can name at least one large  mammal that is endangered, but plants, biomes and human cultures also suffer extinction.  Extinction is a natural part of the earth’ s life processes.  Genetic mutations create new adaptations.  If these adaptations are beneficial, the individual species out-competes others around and survives to pass the changes on to future generations.  Those that do not compete as successfully, eventually die out.  Even though extinctions have been occurring as long as species exist, the rate of extinction has increased as human population has increased.  The current rate of extinction is estimated at around 40,000 plant and animal species per year, some species believed becoming extinct before they are even discovered.

Causes of Species Extinction

            Natural disasters and major environmental changes such as volcanic eruptions and ice ages create such large-scale changes to which many species cannot adapt.

            Habitat loss is the number one cause of plant and animal species becoming extinct and is often at least one of several  causes in any given situation.  Habitat loss can be the direct destruction of habitat or it can be habitat fragmentation, the breaking up of acceptable habitat into small parcels.

            Plant, animal, and human species can be introduced intentionally or accidentally into an area.  When introduced species out-competes the native species, the natives are either displaced or forced into extinction.

            Pollution adversely affects the soil, water, and air upon which all living things depend.

            Population was mentioned above as a direct cause of the extinction of many species and cultures.  More people require more land and more resources making these unavailable for other uses.

            Over-consumption is a problem for everyone.  Using more of anything than is needed depletes resources.  Excess waste and packaging take up landfill space.

Biomes

            Biomes are similar environments, generally with a characteristic plant, found across the world such as tropical rainforests, deciduous woods, coral reefs, oceans, or grasslands.  Each biome supports a huge variety of plant and animal species.  Environmental and human pressures are destroying some entire biomes.  Only small remnants remain of once vast North American prairies.  Very little can be accomplished by efforts to save the American bison, black-footed ferret, or burrowing owl if there are not prairies in which for them to live.  Coral reefs and tropical rain forests are two other biomes where quantities of research and literature exist documenting long term peril.

Human Cultures

             Across the globe, human cultures have evolved very specifically to the area where they lived.  Each isolated group developed knowledge, skills, and rituals which increased their chances of survival in the natural world.  Destruction of biomes and ecosystems removes many of the very resources that these cultures need for their survival.  In addition, modern technology defies once existing isolation, making it possible for individuals from developed countries to visit and explore almost anywhere.  The mingling of cultures is rewarding for everyone, but unless complete documentation is done immediately, details of a culture end up lost forever.

Vocabulary

            Adaptation - any physical or behavioral alteration by which a species or individual improves its condition in relationship to its environment and thus improves its chances of survival.

            Biome - a large geographic area with somewhat uniform climatic conditions and a complex of communities.  Characterized by a distinctive type of vegetation and maintained under the climatic conditions of the region.

            Competition - the simultaneous demand by two or more organisms for limited environmental resources, such as nutrients, living space, or light.

            Ecosystem - a natural unit that includes living and non-living parts interacting to produce a stable system in which the exchange of materials between he living and non-living parts follows closed paths.

            Endangered - in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

            Extinct - condition of having been removed from existence.

Fun Fact

Many experts think that human caused damage to natural habitats results in a loss of between 10 and 1000 species every day.

Other Resources

            National Wildlife Federation

            The Nature Conservancy 

            Project Learning Tree 

            Project WILD

            World Wildlife Fund

            USDA, seed bank

            Association of Zoos and Aquariums

            Local State Division of Wildlife

            Local State Forest Service

ACTIVITY ONE