biodiversity
Covid-19 vs Biodiversity and Extinction
Dr. Fox, Michael W. (2021, June 20). COVID-19, Farmed Animals and Preventing the Next Pandemic. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.uexpress.com/pets/animal-doctor/2021 /06/20
As scientists investigated the new Coronavirus, it became known that strands of such a disease can travel through animals, therefore affecting a wider population. Animals were trafficked in the animal trade and contributed to the direct origination of the virus spreading to nearly every country. Farming practices also were natural hosts to blood-linked pathogens, which was unknown until a period of scientific research that barely halted the consumption and exploitation of these animals. As a result, try to take the first step and ban wildlife trade and consumption during the month of February, followed by Shenzhen. exotic animals were banned in trade by the European Parliament, southeast Asia, and in the United States. This termination was sad to deal with the current situation but had added benefits towards the future.
The coronavirus pandemic did catastrophic damage to the global economy and the population. Rules were put in place to limit human on human contact, but as the virus spread, these legislative matters extended to animals as studies on the spread of the virus grew. By banning the wide known market of illegal animal trade, these animal rights enforcements set industries to be shut down, benefiting animals that were facing extinction from such a system. Because of this pandemic, environmental rules became part of the national cause for ending the pandemic, making it a more serious reason than the people who wanted the coronavirus to be extinct. These tactics within farming aren’t new, and I think that humans dismiss their consumption of meats and other similar products as being cruelty-free and possibly even good for the environment. In the end, though, the author makes it evident that animals carry and are affected by the disease that we are affected by, making our issues those of animals (and reverse). Although these events set the world with a more positive outlook on enforcing regulation early, it’s disappointing that it took a pandemic to make humans take action on animal rights against illegal global sales. However, at least the coronavirus pandemic led to a positive lead in creating a more healthy and populated globe of animals that should be treasured.
Scientifically Reversing Animal Extinctions
Cairns, Rebecca. (2021, June 4). These animals went extinct in the wild. Scientists brought them back. Retrieved December 1, 2021 from https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/16/world/ animal- reintroduction-extinct-wild-c2e-hnk-spc-intl-scn/index.html.
Throughout current events, it is evident that the people and government make changes when the issue has reached a point that impacts everyone instead of addressing it early. While propositions like Endangered Species Day would recognize that healthy environments are linked to protecting the nature and species that humans coexist with are positive, these extinctions are still impactful. In incredible terms, extinct animals were actually brought back by scientists who used translocation, breeding, and reintroduction programs to bring back removed populations. By introducing certain species, environments can be additionally revived as plants are eaten to lessen wildfires, herbivores eat toxic (to humans) bushes, etc. As a result, the author establishes that balanced efforts can aid the populations that would otherwise die and cause a lasting effect to humans and their life.
The earth is a united structure in which many aspects, people, animals, government, forests, industries, etc., work together to create everything we know. Recognizing that there is a deadline to reverse all of the environmental and atmospheric destruction that humans pause is crucial to promoting the loss of connections humans have with their natural world. National strategies would be able to reverse this, especially if funding came from a broad branch of individuals rather than just governmental funds and with a large population of volunteers. With all the money in the world, I would think that people would spend it on things to help their future generations. However, many times, humans are too selfish to understand that actions have consequences, most exemplified by the coal and iron industries that flood the sky with smoke, causing climate change. With the atmosphere and bodies of water being contaminated, low-population animals killed for sports and abused in illegal trade, and biodiversity falling to both issues, the idea of this scientific re-introduction could promote the bond of humans and animals and improve the Earth as a whole.
“World Environmental Day” Movement
Galimberti, S. (2021, June 2). Bridging the Gaps Between Climate Action & Biodiversity Preservation. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.globalissues.org/news/2021/06/02/27975.
Written in Nepal, Galimberti analyzes how tensions have risen in her country and how World Environmental Day has finally risen to present the synonymous issue of the dangerous world economy driven by fossil fuels. As a sense of sustainability slips away, the author writes of the pressures on policymakers to create better goals. Temperatures rising, a lack of harmonic unity and little oceanic protection are all examples that prove how the climate to biodiversity link must become the focus of awareness and governmental efforts. Being a specific global location, despite being a more underrated website, this look into a personal experience in a foreign land analyzes the grand nature that this loss of healthy habitat and population is persistent throughout history and today as well.
The recognition within this article that all parties, legislative and other, need to come together, is very important. In determining a plan of action for current issues such as biodiversity loss and a lack of sustained production, I have noticed that groups of power commonly divide and some take superiority in the charge. Establishing a universal effort, such as through the WED (World Environmental Day) could be a very successful movement if global nations were to truly come together and combine their efforts. Instead of corporations using their wealth to expand their companies and outreach for import/export, they should use it to work on the current issues that will plague our world in the near future. Economic restoration should become a major concept for large enterprises and the populace, rather than just governmental facilities and outreach should be given importance in media outlets. While ideas have been proposed throughout time to fix these problems, it will take a level of governmental and population’s urgency to embark on centuries of biodiversity revival and extinction reversal.
Losing Biodiversity Poses a Financial Risk
Summerhayes, Geoff, Waterford, Laura (2021, July 3). Biodiversity loss is a risk to the global financial system. Retrieved December 1, 2021 from https://www.theguardian.com/comment isfree/2021/jul/04/biodiversity-loss-could-wreck-the-global-financial-system-and-its-only-a-matter-of-time/.
The combination of climate change and a loss of biodiversity is now being called the “twin crisis” by scientists, explaining how this powerfully negative force will serve as a detriment to many aspects of life. The awareness of the dangers of such issues is shown through the Dasgupta Review that promotes how the economic system is reliant on maintaining biodiversity. While this seemingly existential threat in which a seemingly infinite extinction of organisms circa the globe continues without halt, institutions have taken a greater involvement in order to protect their own systems and therefore, protect the future ones as well. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) will work towards solving nature and financial related issues, as a result, endorsed by multiple global nations and corporations, towards nature-positive actions. It may take trillions of dollars in loss, but the end will be worth it by protecting lands from expanding businesses that ignore these environmental impacts.
It is incredible to recognize the vast scale at which the world is beyond equilibrium, especially represented by the sheer amount of money it would take to even try to fix the problems that humans have caused. As businesses continue to expand, the lands for these animal species will continue to shrink, inevitably leading to the extinction of countless populations. It’s terrifying to think about how the Earth may be in a couple of hundreds of years considering many sources depict the Earth as being nearly beyond improvement. I wonder why articles such as this, that display a general view towards the hopeful global perspective, are more in quantity than that of United States articles. Additionally, because it is evident that some foreign countries take more initiative with setting biodiversity measures, I wonder how much aid these countries give to one another to promote nature protection. Nonetheless, realizing that biodiversity loss and extinction are connected with natural disasters and financial distraughtness, shows the pressure that humans need to feel to fix these conditions.
Deadly Disease in Coral Reefs
Udel, D. (2022, January 25). Sediments a likely culprit in spread of deadly disease on Florida coral reefs, study finds. Phys.org. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://phys.org/news/2022-01-sediments-culprit-deadly-disease-florida.html
Scientists recently discovered that sediments in the oceans are causing disease outbreaks in coral in Florida and the Caribbean. The stoney coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is causing rapid tissue loss in the coral reefs. SCTLD has currently affected over 20 coral species and is expected to continue hurting more. The toxic microbes are found in sediments, which makes it easy to harm coral reefs fast and widespread. As scientists from University of Miami continue to do research, more is to come of the effect, causes and possible solutions to the stoney coral tissue loss disease.
I chose this article because in my first adopt-a-topic phase I had an article about the same issue. However, this was very interesting because I was able to see the progression of the research. From this article, I found out that since I last looked at SCTLD, they have found where it is coming from and done more extensive research to help control and stop the disease. I really hope that in the near future scientists are able to work as fast as they have been and help find a solution. Finding a solution to this disease means one less cause coral reef deaths, and then humans mainly have to focus on stopping bleaching episodes.
Safe Havens for Coral Reefs
Wong, C. (2022, February 1). Safe havens for coral reefs will disappear with 2°C of global warming. New Scientist. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2306727-safe-havens-for-coral-reefs-will-disappear-with-2c-of-global-warming/
Throughout climate change, coral reefs have experienced many mass bleaching events. However, it is now suspected that if the global temperatures rise by 2 degrees celsius, all corals will become extinct. This research is proving that coral reefs are more at risk than they were thought to be. Bleaching is when corals get rid of the colorful algae which are nutrients for them, which leaves the coral to die. The world is on track to exceed a 2 degree increase in temperature by the end of the century, meaning the coral reefs will most likely die out. If people do not work to conserve coral reefs, ocean life will be changed forever.
I found this article very sad to read. It was shocking how soon coral reefs are predicted to go extinct and all because of human impacts on the earth. I think that people need to own up to what human impact is doing, and start finding ways to reduce climate change. If people work together, I think we can change the path of climate change, but it will take a lot of work and time.
Tahiti’s New Coral Reef
Taft, M. (2022, January 21). Tahiti’s newly discovered coral reef is an absolute masterpiece. Gizmodo. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://gizmodo.com/tahiti-deep-sea-coral-reef-discovery-photos-1848399477/slides/8
At the end of 2021, scientists discovered a new reef on the coast of Tahiti. It has been said that this reef is the healthiest and largest coral reef left in the oceans. This coral reef was discovered 98 to 230 feet under water which is a lot deeper than normal coral reefs. This coral reef was found in a Mesophotic region of the ocean, meaning it is deep sections of water between two shallow areas of water. This habitat allowed the coral reef to flourish because it still had access to sunlight for algae to survive in the reef. This reef has adapted to its area, making its shape extensive and flat, which allows it to possibly survive against effects of climate change.
I chose this article because it is one of the few positive articles in the news about coral reefs. Most of the time, articles are about coral reefs are about how they are dying out due to climate change. However, this article was giving hope to a future of coral reefs possibly thriving through climate change. I think it will be very interesting to see if this coral and corals like this will go through bleaching events like other coral reefs have.
Nutrient-rich Fish in Coral Reef Graveyard
Watson, S. K. (2022, January 8). Nutrient-rich fish are thriving in a coral graveyard off the coast of Africa. Popular Science. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://www.popsci.com/environment/reef-fish-bleached-nutrition/
Researchers recently gathered data that showed how fish that were living in the most damaged coral in the African archipelago of Seychelles were healthier and more nutrient filled than they have ever been. Reef fish have been proven to be just as healthy as meats such as chicken and beef, which shows how they help people’s health. After taking data, scientists found that the fish became even more nutritious after the mass bleaching events. This showed how even though there are major effects on their habitat from bleaching, fish are still able to thrive and live in harsh conditions. Even though this is a silver lining of the situation, there are still many horrible outcomes of bleaching events.
While all news around coral bleaching is usually bad, I thought this article was a nice perspective of a positive outcome of the horrible situation. I don’t think that bleaching is at all okay, but it was cool to see a little bit of a silver lining. This article made me think about how there could be other possible positive effects of bleaching on things like the wildlife. I thought it was very interesting how most articles about bleaching only focus on the negative and horrible outcomes, yet this one was able to focus on a positive aspect.
Great Barrier Reef Bleaching
Guardian News and Media. (2021, December 18). Great Barrier Reef could face another mass bleaching by end of January, Forecast says. The Guardian. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/19/great-barrier-reef-could-face-another-mass-bleaching-by-end-of-january-forecast-says
Research is forecasting another mass bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef by the end of January. Heat rising in the world will cause the northern and central parts of the reef to face a large bleaching event. However, there are currently predictions of cyclones that will lower temperatures, potentially steering away the bleaching event. The La Nina weather pattern has typically affected Australia’s weather patterns, and although there has not been lots of rain, there is hope for more to stop the mass bleaching this summer. Coral bleaching is caused by a stress reaction from heat, which weakens and kills the coral. If the heat continues to increase, there are chances of the great barrier reef being destroyed.
This article gave me hope but also worried me about the future of coral reefs around the world. As the world’s largest reef, the Great Barrier Reef is a large carbon sink helping the atmosphere and provides homes and food to life underwater. I think it is horrible that climate change can cause such huge effects on wildlife and habitats. I hope that in the near future humans can start realizing their effects on the environment and start working to stop climate change so these horrible situations don’t continue.