endangered species

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21 Species Removed from US Endangered Species Act after Going Extinct

Oladipo, Gloria. “21 Species Removed from US Endangered Species Act after Going Extinct.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 17 Oct. 2023, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/17/extinct-species-removed-endangered-species-act.

Around 21 species, including the Bachman’s warbler and Little Mariana fruit bat,  have been removed from the US Endangered Species Act after being declared extinct. The move, initiated the September 2023, highlights concerns about biodiversity and climate change. Some species, like the Hawaiian herb Phyllostegia glabra var lanaiensis and the ivory-billed woodpecker, were spared based on new survey findings and extinction status debates. Wildlife advocacy groups emphasized the “permanent” consequences of neglecting biodiversity and climate issues. The Center for Biological Diversity laments the loss of irreplaceable species while highlighting the intertwined crises of extinction and climate change.

This article relates to climate change and environmental science because of climate adaptation joint biodiversity and climate crises. Environmental scientists contribute to the understanding of how species can adapt or struggle in the face of changing climates. Conservation strategies often need to account for the impacts of climate change on habitats and the species within them. Additionally, environmental science recognizes that these crises are deeply intertwined as both climate change and biodiversity loss are critical challenges that pose threats to ecosystems and the well-being of the planet.

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Outfoxing Climate Change: Endangered Species Provides Lesson in Biodiversity

Makovec, Anne, and Molly McCrea. “Outfoxing Climate Change: Endangered Species Provides Lesson in Biodiversity.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 21 Sept. 2023, www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/outfoxing-climate-change-endangered-species-provides-lesson-in-biodiversity/.

The San Joaquin kit fox is thriving on the campus of Cal State University Bakersfield, which demonstrates the importance of biodiversity in combating climate change. The foxes share spaces with other wildlife, including their favorite food, California ground squirrels. The university’s fumigation plan to control the squirrel population was halted due to student activism. The situation highlights the delicate balance between conservation and habitat management. CSUB emphasizes its commitment to protecting the kit fox population and acknowledges the role of biodiversity in environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation. 

The article ties in with environmental science by touching on several key factors such as habitat management and climate change mitigation. A large portion of the article highlights the challenges of managing shared spaces between the kit fox and other wildlife, such as the California ground squirrels. Environmental scientists contribute to understanding how different species can coexist and the ecological impacts of human intervention, such as fumigation. Climate change mitigation is also a primary component of the decrease in biodiversity. Environmental scientists contribute to understanding the role of biodiversity in ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, and resilience.

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US Judge to Decide Friday If Colorado Can Reintroduce Wolves Over

Press, Associated. “US Judge to Decide Friday If Colorado Can Reintroduce Wolves Over …” US News, 14 Dec. 2023, www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2023-12-14/us-judge-to-weigh-cattle-industry-request-to-halt-colorado-wolf-reintroduction.

The federal judge in Colorado is set to decide whether to temporarily halt the reintroduction of gray wolves, as approved by a voter initiative. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife plan to release up to 10 wolves from Oregon by December 31, 2023, under a 2020 ballot proposal. Cattle industry representatives filed a lawsuit, claiming the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t adequately review the state’s plan. While concerns about livestock attacks were raised, government officials argue further environment reviews aren’t necessary. The reintroduction, fulfilling a 2020 voter initiative, highlights the tension between rural and urban residents.

This article relates to environmental science as it involves the interplay between wildlife conservation and ecological restoration. The purpose of the reintroduction of gray wolves is to restore a species that was once extirpated from the region. Environmental scientists will be able to study the effects of the reintroduced species to measure the biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. Additionally, the return of gray wolves from Oregon is a step toward ecological restoration but filling a historical gap in the species’ range. Environmental science will be able to study the consequences of reintroducing apex predators, vegetation, and ecosystem health.

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Federal Officials Consider Adding 10 More Species, Including a Big Bumble Bee, to Endangered List

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.

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U.S. Sets Plans to Protect Endangered Whales near Offshore Wind Farms; Firms Swap Wind Leases

Parry, Wayne. “U.S. Sets Plans to Protect Endangered Whales near Offshore Wind Farms; Firms Swap Wind Leases.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 25 Jan. 2024, www.britannica.com/news/186738/67814ad1f39509c39e6e4ca4002e1b26.

Federal environmental agencies, such as the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and NOAA, announced their plans to protect the endangered North American Right Whales from offshore wind farm projects by adding AI and acoustic monitoring. The offshore wind farm projects cause underwater noise, vessel traffic, and changes in the whale’s habitat which makes these projects highly dangerous to the whales. The environmental agencies aim to mitigate potential impacts on the whales by developing quieter technology for future construction. The news coincides with Equinor and BP swapping offshore wind leases in NY and Massachusetts. 

This article is related to environmental science because of biodiversity conservation and habitat impact. Biodiversity conservation refers to the efforts and practices aimed at protecting the variety of life on Earth. So since these Right Whales are endangered, environmental scientists are studying the relationship between human activities and the preservation of these vulnerable species to better balance environmental sustainability with human needs. The article also addresses the alterations to marine habitats due the offshore wind projects and how the long-term consequences will affect the ecology and marine life of the area.

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More Australian wildlife added to threatened species list in 2023 than ever before, conservationists say.

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. 

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Hawaii’s out-of-control, totally bizarre fight over Stray Cats

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.

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U.S. says it won’t reintroduce Jaguars

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. 

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No food in forests: Weeds like Mimosa, Siam are taking over Assam’s biodiversity.

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. 

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Ocean biodiversity could be protected with green hydrogen byproduct, study shows

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.