Richmond, Todd. “Federal Officials Consider Adding 10 More Species, Including a Big Bumble Bee, to Endangered List.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 24 Jan. 2024, www.britannica.com/news/186738/bea85e98a6a28be635e498f31956e3a9.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will potentially add ten new species, including the Southern Plains bumble bee, to the Endangered Species Act due to habitat loss and population decrease. The bee is a key species to its area, as it acts as the key pollinator and keystone species. Other species under review include freshwater fish, amphibians, rabbits, toads, invertebrates, and even plants. The Endangered Species Act listing provides protection and necessitates the development of recovery plans for listed organisms among over 1,300 species in the U.S. 

This article closely relates to environmental science because of its key topics such as pollinator decline and human impact on aquatic ecosystems. The Southern Plains bumble bee is a key pollinator that is significant to the pollinator’s impact in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Environmental science studies the roles of these pollinators and the results of their decline which allows researchers to create strategies revolving around their conservation. On the other hand, freshwater fish and amphibians reflect the concerns about the health of aquatic ecosystems. Environmental science assesses the impact of human activities, such as pollution, on aquatic ecosystems and their inhabitants.