Sahagun, Louis. “Endangered Desert Species Cling to Existence.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles

Times, 23, Mar. 2014. Web 18. 2014.

http://articles.latimes.com/2014/mar/23/local/la-me-0324-drought-species-20140324

The Mojave desert is facing tough problems from all sorts of factors. Due to climate change and severe drought, many of the animals living there are struggling to survive including the Amargosa vole, just one of 200 species clinging onto survival from deserts across the U.S. A recent study by Mark Hausner concluded that the average temperature in the region had risen by about three degrees: “Marshes that once were robust, green and 10 meters wide are now brown and shrinking.” Also, another critter who dwells here is the Devil’s Hole pupfish, who is also listed under endangered, and a biologist from the Desert Research Institute from Reno warns that if the temperature rises another one or two degrees it could potentially destroy the Devil’s Hole pupfish population and egg development.

Climate change is a disruptive factor that affects everyone. Recent times have shown that climate change is a real problem, even though some people claim it isn’t a big deal. Global warming is happening and there is now scientific evidence to back it up. Climate change has affected agricultural to animals, and even to humans. Rivers have dried up, affecting certain species of animals. Severe drought is affecting deserts and unfortunately taking a real toll on the poor animal living there. It’s a huge problem and there isn’t no easy solution. There a majority of factors at play here to the burning of fossil fuels, fuel emissions, excess carbon dioxide in  the atmosphere to pollution.

Boxall, Bettina. “U.S. Says Bay Are Delta Longfin Smelt Could Become Extinct.” Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2012. Web. 18 Sept. 2014

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/30/local/la-me-longfin-smelt-20120330

The Bay Area’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta longfin is potentially headed towards extinction. “They were once the most abundant fish in the bay-delta system, but their numbers are a fraction of what they were 25 years ago.” The areas lack of freshwater and pollution is affecting the fishes habitat. In 2009, the wildlife service denied a petition to list the San Francisco Bay-delta longfins because they were not ‘distinct’ from other longfin populations in the West Coast. With further research, two organizations concluded that the fish’s limited swimming abilities kept them from “mingling” with other longfin populations. Though it has not been listed yet.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin is the region where California’s two largest rivers meet, salt water meets fresh water. Factors affecting species survival in the region include pollution from a nearby wastewater treatment plant, which is pretty ironic, and also an invasive clam which is eating all the plankton which is major food source for these fish. I found this kind of funny, not about the decrease of the fish, but because of the clam. It needs to move. Though it’s important to take action rapidly in matters like this because if we ignore the evidence, we’re just ignoring the problem, and by not listing it as endangered, that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Cart, Julie. “Threatened Oregon Fish May Be Removed from Endangered Species List.” Los Angeles

Times. Los Angeles Times, 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. From http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/04/science/la-sci-sn-threatened-fish-20140204

The Oregon Chub just may be the first de-listed fish to be taken off the endangered species list. The Oregon chub was first listed as endangered in 1993, and listed as threatened in 2010. This tiny fish live in water where is there is little water flow such as flooded marshes. The creation of water dams and flood control projects in these fish’s habitat have caused the decrease in population; non native fish have also had a significant impact. Now, the species is considered ‘recovered’, as their populations are now more than 150,000 at 80 different locations. The organizations responsible for the restoration of these species include: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army corps of Engineers, and private landowners.

Another bright story with good news. The good news being that more and more animals are being  helped in maintaining their existence by the help of wildlife organizations. This goes to show that when a majority of people care about a topic, progress can be done. The bad news being that as we grow as a population, we tend to construct more and more into wildlife populations and we disrupt their environment. Also as technology increases, hence the building of dams, and flooding systems, we can potentially harm species susceptible to the smallest of disruptions, and we must consider if we are actually doing the right thing. Are we benefiting ourselves while others suffer the affects is a complicated question. Just how much do we care to make a difference.

Board, The Times Editorial. “Save the Whales, 2014.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 03

Apr.2014. Web. 14 Sept. 2014. From

http://articles.latimes.com/2014/apr/03/opinion/la-ed-whaling-japan-20140403

Australia has calleon Japan for not following the moratorium rules over whale hunting. The United Nations has sided with Australia and declares for Japan to provide scientific evidence of its mortaring of whaling, or to end all whaling outside the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in Antarctica. National pride has been one of the issues within Japan, as there is small amount of people, or influential citizens who want to keep the consumption and killing of whales alive. There are current restrictions and a moratorium on the amount of whales certain groups and countries can hunt, such as Norway, Iceland and Japan, but under various sketchy loopholes they get away with hunting more than they should; “Norway also kills hundreds of whales each year, under a loophole known as legal objection, which means it simply refuses to comply with the moratorium.”

The first thing that came to my mind when reading this was there needs to be tighter regulation within these countries to preserve the whale population. It’s also interesting as there are people with past traditions and history of whale hunting. Some of whom get away with hunting large amounts of whales because of their past history. So that’s when there is a problem between the two sides of people, those who are in favor of keeping their traditions alive, and those newer generations who don’t see any importance in such matter. Nonetheless, there should be a stricter moratorium on specific nations such as Japan and Norway, if they wish to keep their traditions alive, literally.

Sahagun, Louis. “Eggs Laid by Captive Pupfish Could save the Endangered Species.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2014. Web. 13 Sept. 2014. From

http://articles.latimes.com/2014/apr/11/local/la-me-0412-pupfish-20140412

Devil’s Hole pupfish have been around since the Ice Age and have existed in a remote rock tub in the Mojave Desert, present day Death Valley National Park. Their habitat and population nearly extinct except for 29 rescued eggs. Researchers near the area are blamed for groundwater pumping and habitat disruptions. Their habitat’s geothermal water has stayed at a constant 93 degrees Fahrenheit and is not suitable for these types of species and could very well destroy their population and egg development. Up until now, a team of federal biologists has been able to collect the previous pupfish have been able to successfully breed in captivity: 16 females, and 13 males. An expected 1,000 or so could be generated within two years.

 I found this article really fascinating as it goes to show the successful breeding of animals who are almost endangered. There were only 29 of these fish and listed under ‘federally endangered’ and to successfully breed them is quite something as they are the heart of the ‘desert conservation movement.’ This goes to show that captivating and preserving species whose habitat could potentially be in danger can be a successful way to help their population grow.