ABC News. (2021, May 04). National bird day: Species at risk of extinction in the US. ABC
News. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/International/national-bird-day-species-risk-extinction-us/story?id=96131401

The article focuses on National Bird Day and the species of birds in the US that are at risk of extinction. Bird populations are declining due habitat loss, climate change, and over-exploitation. Some of the species mentioned include the sage grouse, the Hawaiian honeycreeper, and the whooping crane. The article highlights the importance of conserving bird populations and preserving their habitats. It also emphasizes the role of individuals and organizations in protecting bird species and promoting their conservation. National Bird Day serves as a reminder of the need to protect and conserve bird populations for future generations.

This article is crucial for endangered species as it helps raise awareness for many vital species throughout the United States. The article describes why bird populations are declining for each bird species, then briefly discusses their conservation efforts and the successes. It also highlights the importance of our bird population and why each individual effort matters and can be a big help for our birds.

Downtown Publications. (n.d.). Michigan endangered species list undergoing review. Downtown
Publications. Retrieved from https://www.downtownpublications.com/single-post/michigan-endangered-species-list-undergoing-review

The article discusses the ongoing review of Michigan’s endangered species list. The review aims to assess the status of species and make updates to the list to reflect the current conservation status of species in the state. The list serves as a tool for the state to implement conservation measures and protect vulnerable species from threats such as habitat loss, climate change, and over-exploitation. The review process involves input from scientists, conservation organizations, and the public. The updated list will provide valuable information to guide conservation efforts and ensure the protection of Michigan’s unique and diverse wildlife.

This article is very important since it provides a very in-depth and informative description of the history of our country’s progress towards animal conservation. It discusses the wildlife bill, Endangered Species Preservation Act, the Lacey Act, and much more. Doing so helps inform the audience not just about what is currently happening, but why it is happening due to our past history. It then goes on to current topics, specifically Michigan’s endangered species list. The article lists the current review that the list is enduring, detailing how the list is made, and why the updated list will be incredibly helpful towards saving future endangered wildlife.

A-Z Animals. (n.d.). Discover endangered species you can help save today. A-Z Animals. 

Retrieved from https://a-z-animals.com/blog/discover-endangered-species-you-can-help-save-today/ 

The article highlights various endangered species and provides ways to help protect them. The endangerment of species is caused by various factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and over-exploitation. Some of the species mentioned in the article include elephants, tigers, sea turtles, and pandas. The article emphasizes the importance of protecting endangered species and provides tips on how individuals can help, such as supporting conservation organizations, reducing waste, and choosing sustainable products. By taking action, individuals can make a positive impact in preserving endangered species and promoting biodiversity.

This article is hugely important since it easily and effectively highlights the importance of saving endangered species and also ways to do so. In a friendly and engaging manner, it gives descriptive vocabulary and provides important definitions to help people who may be new to this area of study. It lists the five most known endangered species, gives a brief description as to what the animal is, why it is endangered, and then how to help save it. It is very helpful for people who want to get more involved with protecting animals but do not know where to start.

Bowdoin Orient. (2023, January 27). Businesses putting animals in danger of extinction.
Bowdoin Orient. Retrieved from https://bowdoinorient.com/2023/01/27/businesses-putting-animals-in-danger-of-extinction/

This article details businesses that import and sell endangered species, and how they are contributing to their decline and extinction. These animals are taken from their natural habitats and sold as exotic pets, ornamental plants, traditional medicine, and food products. The trade of endangered species is not only harmful to the animals, but it also disrupts ecosystems and undermines conservation efforts. The article highlights the need for stricter regulations on the trade of endangered species to protect them and preserve biodiversity.

This article is important since it displays not just the danger nature presents towards animals, but humans as well. It talks about the more unknown sides of human danger, such as the animal trade. While most are aware about carbon emissions and deforestation, those issues can sometimes overshadow other, equally important discussions. This article helps serve as a reminder to keep many harmful businesses in check, and to highlight other problems that may not be as prevalent in the news.

U.S. Navy. (2023, January 29). Five species on San Clemente Island declared fully recovered. 

U.S. Department of the Navy, Press Office, News Stories. Retrieved from https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3275895/five-species-on-san-clemente-island-declared-fully-recovered/ 

The five species of wildlife on San Clemente Island have been declared fully recovered. San Clemente Island paintbrush, lotus, larkspur and bush-mallow plants and San Clemente Bell’s sparrow have fully recovered and no longer require Endangered Species Act protection.The recovery was only possible through the hard-fought conservation efforts by the U.S. Navy and partners. Efforts and methods included removing non-native species, controlling invasive plants, and monitoring and protecting the native species. This success can serve as a model for other important conservation efforts on other military lands and for preserving native species.

This article sheds some good news on the progress the United States is making towards protecting our important wildlife. With climate change worsening and living conditions deteriorating for many species, it is nice to see that many of our efforts are not in vain. This article also helps demonstrate the techniques that work for these species, which will hopefully help us when we may need to save another similar species of animal. The Navy also played a large role in helping these animals recover, which shows increased widespread government involvement.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. (2023, January 6). Fathoming the hidden
heatwaves that threaten coral reefs. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230106082538.htm

A group of international researchers in collaboration with scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the UCSD, UCSB, and Cal State recently discovered that a coral bleaching event in Moorea was a result of a passage of anti-cyclonic eddies, or ocean storms, that raised sea levels significantly and caused an underwater heatwave. This bleached and killed coral as the unexpected warm temperatures caused severe stress on them. Through this discovery, researches realized the unreliability of studying surface measurements of water temperatures, and the importance of collecting temperature data across the range of depths that coral reefs occupy.

This discovery is critical for environmental scientists who study marine life and corals because it affects the way we collect data. By focusing more on long term effects and studying wider ranges of depth throughout the ocean, we can better observe patterns and coral reef reactions to changing water temperatures. With better understanding of coral reefs and their reactions to abnormal weather patterns such as anti-cyclonic eddies, we can prepare them for predicted weather conditions and train them to withstand changing environmental factors. This way they stand a stronger chance at survival as global warming becomes increasingly effective.

Joy, D (2022, December 12). The secret to saving coral reefs? Just like with financial investing,
diversification is key. USC Dornsife. Retrieved January 28, 2023, from https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/3790/coral-transplants-save-dying-reefs-with-genetic-diversity/

Led by researches at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, a new study has revealed the key to saving coral reefs dying from climate change, and at its center is diversification. The study examined the environment around the coral and the response from the coral. By planting various types of coral, they found a different results in each coral. While some coral were able to adapt to changing environments, some were unable to adapt and survive, revealing that genetic diversity of transplants is very important. Now, researches will continue ti study the surviving coral and how they are able to adapt and how they affect future coral transplants.

This study brings in more information about the survival of coral reefs, and how we can improve their chances of survival through transplantations. As the study highlights, diversification is key in creating a healthy coral reef, as some may be bleached, but the remaining coral species can continue to provide a healthy habitat for the marine life around it. With this idea in mind, we can know which species of coral have the best chance at survival and plant more of them in warm patches of the ocean.

Koppes, S. (2022, July 06). Central Pacific Coral Reef Shows Remarkable Recovery Despite Two
Warm-Water Events. Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Retrieved January 28, 2023, from https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/central-pacific-coral-reef-shows-remarkable-recovery-despite-two-warm-water-events

A 10-year study was conducted on coral reefs that were out of reach from human impact. This study revealed that local human activities are the main cause of coral bleaching. When isolated from human populations and activities like overfishing, pollution, and more, coral have much stronger resilience against bleaching. Coral in protected waters and intact ecosytems have a much stronger chance at recovery after bleaching as they are not susceptible to “coastal development, and fresh water runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides all may erode the ability of a reef to recover”. Additionally, the diverse fish populations surrounding it may contribute to the reef’s ability to withstand bleaching.

The resilience at Palmyra gives hope to environmental scientists and the risk of coral extinction and suggests there is still so much to learn about how intact systems are functioning. If we continue to study the patterns and behaviors of intact coral, we can apply the characteristics of their environment to bleached coral in hope of recovering them and preventing further bleaching. As humans wont be changing their habits for the sake of coral, it is our job to advocate for coral conservation and prevent human activities from decreasing their chances of survival.

Barber, G. (2022, September 28). Stephen Palumbi Says “Super Reefs” Can Help Save Dying
Coral. Wired. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.wired.com/story/rewired-2022-super-reefs/

Stephen Palumbi works as a scientist at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station and has recently been studying ‘Super Reefs’ and how we can use them to strengthen coral and prevent bleaching. While most coral experience bleaching due to heating of the ocean, super reefs are “ diverse, they’re functional, they have a wide variety of corals and fish species throughout”. They have evolved to be able to resist heat and continue as a thriving ecosystem and habitat for marine life. Palumbi’s goal is to study super reefs, and apply the lessons learned to regular coral in hopes of saving and restoring them. Currently, Palumbi and his team are growing super reefs in nurseries, hoping to plant them across global seas.

Palumbi is hard at work, finding ways to restore the beautiful coral reefs of our oceans. The idea of learning from more evolved coral to increase the chances of survival for regular coral seems simple, but involves extensive research of various warm patches of the ocean and juxtaposing the two corals. Bleaching is occurring rapidly as global warming continues to worsen, but if the correct work is done and we learn to apply the evolutinoanry process of super reefs to bleached coral, coral stands a chance at survival. While the work may take a while, I think this is a great idea and opens the possibility of a brighter future for coral reefs across the world.

Hance, J. (2023, January 25). Re-carbonizing the sea: Scientists to start testing a Big Ocean
Carbon Idea. Mongabay Environmental News. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://news.mongabay.com/2023/01/re-carbonizing-the-sea-scientists-to-start-testing-a-big-ocean-carbon-idea/

Funded by various organizations and grants, Ocean alkalinity enhancement targets climate change by releasing minerals like crushed olivine into the ocean, sparking a chemical reaction to increase the ocean’s alkalinity. Simultaneously, it traps CO2 from the air and mitigates ocean acidification. However, many OAE poses many risks as it may damage ocean wildlife and ecosystems, but the benefits may outweigh these risks as OAE can allow the ocean to store excess CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere. Field tests and additional research will be done to determine the reliability and safety of OAE. While field tests may have seemingly small impacts, it’s important not to “confuse the environmental impacts that may occur with a controlled field trial with the potential environmental impacts of scaling this to a gigaton scale industry.” Scientists are taking this project very seriously, as it could potentially scale back the impacts of climate change.