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S P E C I E S ’ E X T I N C T I O N

C A U S E S & C O N S E Q U E N C E S

A N I M A L S P E C I E S ’ S O L U T I O N S

H U M A N S ’ E X T I N C T I O N

D A R W I N ’ S T H E O R Y

The Future Of Species

ACMM © PRODUCTIONS ESML 2010/2011

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Save The Planet ♥

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Despite the disappearance of species be normal in evolution, the human activities pressure

about the species’ habitats, generated a stronger acceleration of the natural extinction in the last centuries. Of all species that have existed on Earth, 99.9% are now extinct. Many of them

perished in five catastrophic events. The classical "Big Five" mass extinctions identified by Raup and Sepkoski (1982) are widely agreed upon as some of the most significant: End Ordovician,

Late Devonian, End Permian, End Triassic, and End Cretaceous.

According to a recent poll, seven out of ten biologists think we are currently in the throes of a sixth mass extinction. Some say it could wipe out as many as 90 percent of all

species living today.

Now a days, more than 5 thousand of animal species and 25 thousands of vegetal species are in risk of disappearance. And this numbers just reflect a part of humanity because

there are many species unknown yet that disappear since we know their existence. Everyday three species disappear from the Earth. This numbers are worrying scientists because,

more than ever, the extinction is accelerating in a huge scale.

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When discussing the causes of endangerment, it is important to understand that individual

species are not the only factors involved in this problem. Although some measures are being taken to help specific cases of endangerment, the universal problem cannot be solved until humans protect the

natural environments where endangered species inhabit. There are many reasons why a particular species may become endangered. Nowadays, human’s actions are the main cause for species’

extinction. The most significant contribution to the rate of global extinction began in the past. Some resources show us that our specie was always very destructive. Since then, the sense of man's

responsibility in the disappearance of animal and plant species and the idea of the need to protect nature is a recent phenomenon.

Destruction of Habitats:

The destruction of the natural habitat is the most serious threat to the wild life. Our planet is continually changing, causing habitats to be altered and modified. Natural changes tend to occur at a

gradual velocity, usually causing only a small impact on individual species. However, when changes are too fast, there’s no time for individual species to adjust to new conditions, causing species’ loss.

Despite the strongest forces in rapid habitat loss are human beings, it can be difficult to recognize the effects that humans had on specific species.The involvement of humans in every region

of the earth has been affected during this past century. The extinction of fish and aquatic species in polluted habitats, and changes in global climate are some of the reasons for this serious issue.

The destruction of natural habitats is often caused by deforestation to create beauty products and so many different things that we use in our daily routine and that we don’t realize how many forests were destroyed, for example Amazon (this big forest is characterized by an extraordinary

biodiversity). Amazon has ¼ of mammal’s species in the world, 40 species of ants and so many different species that only exist there.

Unfortunately, the destruction of natural habitats is growing and that’s one more reason for us to fight against our nature and save what is possible, whatever it takes. Living beings are at the origin

of the biosphere, but they are also its product, and its survival is a matter of balance.

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Environmental Pollution:

Environmental pollution has resulted in decrease in wild life due to its destructive effects on certain habitats. Water, air and noise pollution have negativly affected the wild life.

Global Warming

It has been recently suggested that climate change may be affecting animals in different ways. Global warming does not only make vegetation “gasp for air” but also leads

to animal habitat loss. In fact, global warming is predicted to put at least 20-30% of plant and animal species at rist

of extinction, and up to 40-70% in worst case scenarios. A 2003 review across 14 biodiversity research centers predicted that, because of

changes in global temperatures, 15-37% of land species would be extincted by 2050. John W. Williams from UW-Madison suggests that changes in regions such as the

Peruvian Andes, portions of the Himalayas and southern Australia could have a profound impact on indigenous plants and animals

Williams and his research partners used computer models to estimate how various parts of the world would be affected by constant climate changes.

Their findings indicated that “By the end of the 21st century, large portions of the Earth’s surface may experience climates not found at present and some 2th century climates

may disappear.”

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Population Growth:

Population growth is a major threat to conservation efforts in many developing nations. In recent years, some important economists have argued that there is no

higher limit to human population growth, that finiteness in resources is meaningless,

and that prosperity can be had by all.

Changes in Sea Levels or Currents:

The changes in sea levels is a result, in part, of the melting freshwater. Ocean floor

distribution and rising also affects sea level. A small rise in the ocean floor can move a

lot of water into land that is all ready in use.

Increase of Invasive Species:

Invasive species invade foreign territory. They use resources that the other species

depend on. Once competition gets too great, the survival of the fittest plan will

begin, and one of the species, usually the natural one, will die off.

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The extinction of animal species can have quite negative consequences for humans

and even for our planet. These consequences can affect the welfare of man and the survival of new species. When an animal species extinct, the food chain is affected and changed.

If the numbers of snakes increases, the number of frogs / mice will lessen, and the number of locusts will increase. The locusts need to eat, which can affect crops and increased pest. The animal extinction, not only affects the fauna and flora, but also other sectors. Apart from that, future generations will not see the beautiful animals that are now endangered.

As we can see, there are several consequences of animal extinction. From the reactions in food chains, reduced food sources (animals and plants) to the increase of pests and diseases in the world.

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PANDA Population: 1400 in 1980; 2500 in 2004. Problem: China urbanization affected their habitat (jungle of bamboos). Solution: The organization WWF created projects to teach population how to live with specie without frightening it.

CONDOR Population: 27 in 1987; 223 in 2008. Problem: Polution. Solution: The birds had to be captured to be raised in cativity. Even though the population is rather small, it’s re-introduced to the nature.

AFRICAN ELEPHANT Population: 100 million in 1970; 678 million in 2008. Problem: People want ivory so they kill these animals to have it. Solution: Prohibition of ivory trade in several countries.

HAWK Population: 6 in 1975; 1000 in 2006. Problem: Invasive species. Solution: A researcher put a couple of hawks to pair in order to increase the birth of hawks. He managed to have European hawks to help in the hatch of eggs.

Despite all the changes that occur on our planet, some organizations have managed

to save animals that were endangered. Some examples of these are:

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Human extinction is the inevitable end of the human species. Various scenarios

have been discussed in science, popular culture, and religion. In the near future an extinction scenario exists.

The determinations suggest that the human race itself will ultimately determine its faith. It is important to differentiate between human extinction and the extinction of

life on Earth. Of possible extinction events, only a pandemic is selective enough to eliminate humanity while leaving the rest of complex life on earth relatively safe

But we can stop the process of humans’ extinction if we stop the destruction of nature and learn how to live in balance with other living beings.

"I think the ability to adapt very quickly is singular to humanity," project leader Tobin Lopes told Discovery News. "Species progress and evolve to enhance their chances,

but it's done over a very long period of time." "Instinct guides a lot of what we do early in our lives, but the capacity to learn

different behaviors as a result of different environments makes humanity capable of survival." added Lopes, who is associate director of global energy management programs

at the University of Colorado Denver.

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The “Origin of Species”, by the British naturalist Charles Darwin, is one of the most

important books in the history of science, presenting the Theory of Evolution, the foundation of all modern biology. In this book, Darwin presents evidence for the evolution of species, showing that

the biological diversity is a result from a succession process with alteration, where the living organisms adapt gradually through the natural selection. Darwin proposes that a species originates through entirely natural processes; this opposes the religion creed about God’s creation found in

Genesis, the first book in the Bible. Darwin starts to talk about the importance of his journey around the world, mainly the

distribution of species in different continents. He said “I haven’t any doubt that the vision of the most naturalists have, and that I had too, is that each specie was created regardless is totally wrong. I’m really sure that the species aren’t immutable. I’m sure that the natural selection is the main means modification”.

His example to show his reasoning was the dove and its varieties. He believed that all races descended from just one wild species, the rock dove. He also noted that crossing between various

strains of doves may result in some ancestral characteristics surfacing in later generations of descendants.

Darwin discusses the effects of use and disuse, which he though “No questions about the

use in pets, strengthen and develop some parts, and the disuse atrophy them, and that changes were transferred to the following generations” and that this fact also be applied in nature. He said

that some birds that didn’t need their wings to run away from predators, they lost their wings.

Darwin had a lot of problems with the acceptance of his theory by science. It was only in 1997 that Darwin’s Theory of Evolution was recognized by Pope John Paul II. Darwin’s theory

revolutionized the way how science saw the evolution of species and the way we see our own future as a species.

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In Beijing, China, there is headstones of extinct animals.

The Darwin’s book 1st edition was published in London on 24th November 1859 with 1.250

copies, the book sold out in the same day. The 1st edition copie reaches 50 thousand dollars at

auction today.

In the last 500 years, human activity has

forced 844 species to extinction (or extinction

in the wild).

One in every four mammals and one in every eight birds is facing a high risk of extinction

in the near future.

An American family produces

twice more waste than a French

family, ie, 550kgs of waste the

may be recycled and 2600kgs of

waste that are taken to landfills

or incinerated.

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