Cox, L. (2024, January 21). More Australian wildlife added to threatened species list in 2023 than ever before, conservationists say. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/22/australian-wildlife-threatened-species-list-record-added-2023 

This article explains how five times the yearly average of ecological communities, plants, and animals have been added to the Australian national list of threatened wildlife in 2023. This is because Australia’s nature laws do not protect many species against habitat destruction or land clearing, which can have disastrous effects on many species. Because their national laws are not strict enough to prevent corporations from finding loopholes, their native species are suffering. Bushfires are also a large issue in Australia, which are often caused by global warming issues because the land is so dry.

This article shows how environmental issues often clash with political and legal structures. As exemplified by the sheer uptick in endangered species in Australia in the last year, I feel that it is clear that they need to make tighter laws and restrictions surrounding wildlife conservation. 2023 should be a wake up call for their government to show them that any political reservations for creating more strict laws are not worth losing so much biodiversity over. 

Jones, B. (2024, January 24). Hawaii’s out-of-control, totally bizarre fight over Stray Cats. Vox. https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/24041534/hawaii-cats-invasive-species-extinction 

In Hawaii, there has been tension between civilians who want to feed stray cats and the state’s wildlife agency, which has put a ban on this practice due to the number of bird species on the brink of extinction because of wild cats. Many citizens believe that cats should be fed for moral reasons because they will be starved without kibble or human interference. However, state wildlife biologists argue that these cats are killing off many native species of birds, which should be prioritized. 

This article shows how certain species can be prioritized by the general public because of their looks. It also demonstrates the tension between politicians, environmentalists, and citizens to decide what types of issues should be held at greater importance. While this article claims that cats are “devastating” to native wildlife, they are still held at a greater importance than the bird species they are killing because of their cute and friendly nature. It also makes me curious about what other animals have gone extinct because the general public does not consider them worthy of support or resources.

Davis, T. (2024, January 24). U.S. says it won’t reintroduce Jaguars. Arizona Daily Star. https://tucson.com/news/local/environment/jaguar-endangered-species-tucson-center-biological-diversity-us-fishandwildlifeservice/article_bd1a37c2-baec-11ee-a4aa-0b122da26d63.html 

This article details how one environmental group petitioned to reintroduce endangered jaguars into Southern New Mexico’s Gila National Forest. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has turned down the petition because they believed that the reintroduction would not protect the species any further. In addition, they believe that human interference would have to be regular in order for the jaguar population to sustain itself in the wild. Many environmentalists are upset at this development because they believe that the jaguar population in the U.S. needs to be prioritized and that recovery is possible without human interference.

This article relates to environmental science because it shows how many scientists and environmentalists can approach the same problem with the same mindset and still come up with a different solution. Both the service and the petitioners claim they are dedicated to recovering the jaguar population, and yet are at odds at how this should be administered. The infinite nuances in solving environmental science issues, such as economic and moral factors, are at play in this situation. I was interested in this article because I actually didn’t know that jaguars were considered native to southern New Mexico or any part of the United States. 

Chakravartty, A. (2024, January 23). No food in forests: Weeds like Mimosa, Siam are taking over Assam’s biodiversity. Down To Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/no-food-in-forests-weeds-like-mimosa-siam-are-taking-over-assam-s-biodiversity-94057 

In Assam, a state in India known for its wildlife and biodiversity, invasive plants are taking over forests and driving out native plants. The Mimosa species, with a pretty pink flower at its top, was introduced to Assam for the tea industry because of its nitrogen fixation abilities that help enrich soils. However, according to this article, the grasslands that allow rhinos and other native animals to migrate have become impenetrable because of the Mimosa species’ overpopulation. This affects the natural migration of many different species and can have devastating effects on the food web in Assam.

This article is related to environmental science because invasive species have a profound effect on the environments they are introduced to. In Assam, the Mimosa species has already spread to protected areas, meaning that ecological preserves with the best researchers and scientists cannot stop its spread. These invasive species can affect humans, too, by spreading on infrastructure like bridges, making it difficult to move locations in case of an emergency. This article made me wonder what invasive species are local to the Bay Area and what protective laws are in place to ensure our land isn’t overrun by them. 

Auld, A. (2024, January 22). Ocean biodiversity could be protected with green hydrogen byproduct, study shows. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-ocean-biodiversity-green-hydrogen-byproduct.html 

This article described how the loss of dissolved oxygen due to climate change and global warming has caused an extreme loss in biodiversity in the oceans. One way to resolve this issue might be to pump oxygen back into the ocean using a by-product of green hydrogen production. Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water, which would produce significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than regular hydrogen. This process could be used to add more oxygen to the marine environment, thus preventing the loss of more biodiversity through extinction.

I was very impressed by this article, as it shows yet another example of scientists using already existing processes to fix issues with our climate that are primarily created by humans. The article cites that the oceans have lost about 2% of dissolved oxygen since 1950, which could have drastic effects on the organisms that live in the ocean. This loss of biodiversity can also have a ripple effect on the food chains in the ocean, and change the nutrient cycling of crucial elements like oxygen and nitrogen.

Vigliotti, J. (2023, April 23). De-extinction: Bringing animal species back from the brink. CBS News. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/de-extinction-bringing-animal-species-back-from-the-brink/ 

Dr. Della Garelle, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a leader in moving species away from extinction. The process of reproduction began with a breeding program in 1981 and has gained support since then due to more widespread knowledge of biodiversity. For some species, such as a black-footed ferret named Willa, DNA is stored and frozen to clone and research later. This process has led some to wonder about bringing species lost long ago back to life, such as the dodo bird and the woolly mammoth. 

This article explains how environmental science can help researchers understand which endangered species need to be helped the most and how we can contribute to genetic diversity. In 1981, the federal program to breed the black-footed ferret was led by scientists who cared about how extinct species can affect larger communities of animals, plants, and humans. By using frozen cells to hopefully clone species like the black-footed ferret in the future, wildlife biologist Robyn Bortner and other scientists interested in the environment can contribute to the future of these species. Without environmental science, this cloning process would not be possible, let alone of interest to anyone. However, because we know the drastic ramifications that can come from species going extinct— such as a lack of biodiversity or extreme overpopulation of the species’ prey— we are able to not only care but also help the natural world by repopulating old species. I found this article very inspiring because it shows how committed scientists are to the conservation of animal species. 

Perkins, T. (2023, June 19). EPA sued over reapproval of toxic herbicides using Agent Orange chemical. The Guardian. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/19/epa-herbicides-agent-orange-lawsuit 

The reapproval of two toxic herbicides in the United States that have caused huge health problems in the past by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has caused major backlash due to the harm they could do to humans and endangered species alike. The herbicide, which attacks the roots and leaves of weeds to kill them, might be a carcinogen and is linked to respiratory problems and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. One chemical in them was also used to destroy vegetation during the Vietnam War and caused major health problems for both soldiers and innocent civilians. The Center for Food Safety brought the suit against the EPA, but it is unclear whether or not the ingredients will continue to be legal despite the negative effects.  

Reapproving toxic herbicides that have been used in warfare in order to spread on crops in the United States is unethical and unsafe. Not only can these herbicides harm humans, but they also have the potential to hurt or even endanger hundreds of species. No matter how good an herbicide is at controlling vegetation, no amount of perfect vegetables are worth the extinction of animals that are all vital to their respective ecosystems. Starving off certain predators and the overpopulation of the prey that the hurt animals would eat is only part of the consequence of using the Agent Orange chemical as referenced in the article. I am shocked and dismayed that the US Environmental Protection Agency would not speak out more about the harm that this reapproval would do— if not for the sake of the animals or environment, even, for the sake of human health. 

Terry, L. (2023, June 1). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide whether endangered Oregon beetle needs federal protection. Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service-will-decide-whether-endangered-oregon-beetle-needs-federal-protection/ 

After concerns about the extinction of the Siuslaw hairy-necked tiger beetle were raised throughout 2020-2022 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to help, the Center for Biological Diversity sued to gain protection for the beetle. In Oregon, this beetle is extremely important to local ecosystems, as the loss of biodiversity in the case of extinction would mean the spread of pests, disease, and loss of food production. Without protections from the Endangered Species Act, the beetle will continue to have its habitat decimated by climate change and human interference for entertainment. 

This article is important to understand how a single species can affect an entire ecosystem. The Siuslaw hairy-necked tiger beetle is a species that is obviously less well-known but is still pertinent to upholding the biodiversity of their coastal habitats. While I found it inspiring that a small population can uphold a significant part of the ecosystem, I was worried about the decreased biodiversity that could come from the extinction of this beetle. This has the potential to disrupt other species in the same area, such as predators of the beetle that may starve without enough sustenance. This article proves that every living being has a role in their ecosystem, and shows how we should not let certain species go unnoticed due to human preference. 

Operle, D. (2023, June 1). Federal wildlife officials evaluating status of 4 endangered species in Kentucky. Hoptown Chronicle. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from https://hoptownchronicle.org/federal-wildlife-officials-evaluating-status-of-4-endangered-species-in-kentucky/

Four native Kentucky species- the Cumberland darter, fanshell clam, oyster mussel, and the Ring Pink mussel-  are now under regular evaluation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in order to prevent their extinction. These reviews, which have helped prevent other plants and animals from going extinct, will collect valuable information about the species such as their population distribution and ideal habitats. The Federal Wildlife Agency cites that many southeastern species have declining populations. Even if the species have been listed as threatened for decades, humans continue to be a primary threat to the aquatic species due to activities such as agriculture and fossil fuel usage. 

This article cites habitat alteration as the biggest threat to these native Kentucky species, especially from building dams. Environmental science can help us understand how to be more sustainable and conserve our resources so that we do not harm other species through our own architecture and self-interest. Understanding that the selfishness of humans can come back to bite us by forcing us to spend money on the protection of the animals we have harmed is crucial to the way that environmental science plays a role in economics, as it likely is more economically sustainable to protect the environment from the get-go instead of trying to fix disasters after the fact. I wonder how much time and money we will need to spend before enough people understand the great consequences of prioritizing humans over the natural world. 

Flesher, J. (2023, August 4). After helping prevent extinctions for 50 years, the Endangered Species Act itself may be in peril. The Associated Press. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from https://apnews.com/article/endangered-species-eagle-wolf-biden-trump-12d1a8ef6d453ad8f6d4c2b6edb567e8 

Conservative politicians have begun to make attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act, citing that it is outdated although well-meaning. While the United States Congress has not updated the act since 1992, some environmentalists still are becoming worried that it will not hold up, which would cause many species to be at risk of extinction. In fact, most environmental scientists argue that now is a better time than any to strengthen the act due to the alarmingly high rates of endangerment as of recent, with species such as the spotted owl and snail darter at risk.

This article shows how environmental science can become greatly intertwined with many other areas of study, including politics and economics, as many find environmentalism to be a political stance. While I feel that caring about the natural world should not be controversial, it does not surprise me that certain policies in the Endangered Species Act would be criticized, because no law is perfect. In addition, deciding whether to prioritize spending money on saving land and certain species from extinction versus spending on infrastructure or other human-based activities ties environmental science to the economy, as it is a balancing act to decide how much further humans can interfere with ecosystems before it leads to our own demise. Because animals are a major part of every ecosystem, it is important to recognize how the morals of humans can affect crucial parts of the environment.