extinction

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22 Species Extinct in US – 2021

Nakamura, K. (2021, December 14). 22 animals that went extinct in the US in 2021 – and how to take action for Biodiversity. Global Citizen. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/animal-extinct-biodiversity-2021/ 

In the year 2021 alone, the United States has experienced a total of 22 extinct species as a result of many issues such as industrialization, climate change, invasive species, etc. Many of the species range from aquatic life – mussels and fish, as well as many different bird species. Unsurprisingly, the driving causes of extinction are related to climate change and the human lifestyle in America that comes with the overproduction of foods and removal of habitat for species. Furthermore, the introduction of invasive species accounts for a quarter of plant extinctions and almost a third of all animal extinctions. It is possible to make and inspire change as an individual by doing what you can to aid in the recovery from modern-day climate issues.

 

This article provided me with insight into how many species within the US, and even the world are truly being lost every year; and how it will only get worse if we do not prevent the United States’ bad habits from exacerbating the biodiversity crisis. Additionally, the article emphasizes the amount of influence each individual citizen has on the situation, and how everyone can do their part to help out. Of course, the public is unable to fix the problem alone, but the article motivated me to change my lifestyle to be more eco-friendly. As American citizens we cant put all of the blame on the government and large corporations, it incentivizes people to look inwards.

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Central Valley Dries Up

Knickmeyer, E. (2015, August 20). Study sees wildlife die-offs, bigger wildfires, dry farm towns if California drought persists. Retrieved August 23, 2015, from http://www.usnews.com/news/science/news/articles/2015/08/20/study-sees-dying-wildlife-bigger-fires-if-drought-lasts

Due to the drought, more than a dozen species that relied on the central California streams have gone extinct and the riverbeds lay dry. Cal Fire is battling some of the toughest fires they have ever dealt with. Climate change is projected to help these conditions proliferate. Fires will increase, poor towns will run out of water, more species will begin to die off. By the 2060s, California is projected to be in a semi-permanent drought state.

These conditions relate to environmental science because of the effect climate change has on species, ecosystems, and the whole of California. It is imperative that immediate action is taken to prevent the state of California from becoming a giant desert. I think that small communities in the central valley are going to go through the Mayan collapse on a miniature scale as they continue to use the nonrenewable groundwater until they are left with nothing left, and the communities will be abandoned and the valley will overtake them.