Endangered Species
Matiss R.
Grade 7
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![Description: Description: Description: Description: MC900432599[1]](71112_files/image003.gif)
Research Paper
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Endangered Species More than 1,000 endangered animal species
worldwide are facing extinction. Earth’s endangered species are disappearing
every day. Humans are one of the top contributors to endangering species as
well as saving them. We know that if species become extinct, food chains and
some ecosystems will be seriously affected or lost forever. Although animals
and the environment are endangered by the acts of humans, through the
pollution and destruction of habitats and ecosystems, humans do try to
protect these endangered species with laws and regulations. An endangered species is any plant or
animal that faces extinction by being unable to survive (Endangered). Humans
are at the root of most causes for endangerment. Saving an endangered species
involves protecting it and the habitat where it lives (Kurpis). A threatened
species is a species that is in danger of becoming endangered in the near
future. An endangered species is a species that is in danger of becoming
extinct in the near future. A species is extinct when it disappears from
Earth completely (Mackay). A species can adapt to natural changes
that occur slowly, but they cannot adapt to manmade changes that occur very
quickly. The primary reason for the endangerment of a species is loss of natural
habitat (Kurpis), which is caused by deforestation, logging, mining, habitat
fragmentation, or natural disasters. Other causes for endangerment are
hunting, trapping, poisoning, overharvesting, poaching, introducing
exotic species, overexploitation, and disease (Endangered). Overexploitation
is when too much of something is used. Poaching, a form of overexploitation,
is the illegal killing and trading of animals and their parts, such as horns,
skin, and bones. To introduce an exotic species is to release a non-native
species into an ecosystem where it does not belong. The introduced species
will prey on the native species and disrupt the ecosystem’s food webs. It
will also increase the competition for food. Polluted habitats affect the
animals that live in them. For example, a fish that lives in polluted water
will suffer from disease (Kurpis). One type of pollution that threatens to
destroy habitats is chemical pollution, and examples of chemical pollution
involve use of insecticides and the release of CFC’s. Harmful gases that are
released into the air pollute the air that all living things need to breathe
in order to survive. This can cause the spread of disease (Endangered). When a species in an ecosystem becomes endangered, it means that
the ecosystem is unhealthy. Endangered species of plants and animals are
becoming extinct every day. Some of these species are not even known to
mankind. Humans rely on the plants and animals in certain ecosystems to
survive. If one species becomes extinct, many more could become extinct
because food webs will be unbalanced. People need to save endangered species
because they provide us with medical, agricultural, ecological, aesthetical,
and recreational value. Humans rely on plants such as wheat, grains, and corn
for food. Also, many plants provide much needed cures for diseases. Every
year tourists go to zoos and go on safaris to see animals, and if they become
extinct, people will not be able to do these things anymore (Kurpis). If
people continue to do things that harm endangered species, they will become
extinct (Endangered). When they become extinct, it will disrupt their entire
ecosystem. When this happens, more species will become extinct. As the number
of extinct species increases, humans will be affected in a greater way. If
people do not help save endangered species, we could be seriously affected in
the future (Kurpis). Polar bears are one of the many endangered
species on Earth. There are only about 20,000 left in the world today and
that number is dropping (Defenders). Polar bears have adapted to their arctic
environment so well that they cannot survive anywhere else (Corwin). They
entirely rely on sea ice for survival, food, and dens. They spend most of
their time far away from land on ice that is constantly melting and
refreezing. They stay on the edge of the ice because that is where it is
easiest to hunt for fish and seals. Polar bears swim and travel thousands of
miles each year following the seasonal advance and retreat of the sea ice
(Defenders). The ice that the polar bears live on is melting rapidly because
of global warming and climate change (Corwin). Loss of sea ice is also
affecting polar bear cubs, and less are surviving. More are drowning now
because, instead of floating on ice chunks that are melting, they have to
swim to cross the water (Tangley). During the summer, the fields of floating
ice melt, and polar bears go back to the arctic where they live off of their
body fat. Because summers in the arctic are getting longer, more polar bears
are dying from starvation. Each year the arctic ice recedes by about 3% due
to global warming (Sheehan). If their ice continues to melt, it is predicted
that polar bears could be extinct by 2050. Polar bears were one of the first
species affected by global warming. Countries that have arctic habitats should help stop global
warming (Defenders). The main cause for global warming is using too much
greenhouse gases. These are gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere
(Corwin). To stop the arctic ice from melting, the use of greenhouse gases
must come to a halt (Defenders). Once industries stop using greenhouse gases,
the effects will still last for decades. If industries continue using
greenhouse gases, polar bears and the arctic will be lost (Tangley). Polar
bears are also a victim of poaching for their fur. Many organizations are
trying to protect them and their habitat. Polar bears are now under the
endangered species act which protects them, their habitat, and food sources
(Defenders). Countries such as Another animal that is one of the worlds
most endangered is the giant panda. There are only around 1,600 giant pandas
left in the world (Klenzendorf). Deforestation and poaching are dramatically
affecting their population (Mackay). Roads and railroads divide their habitat
into many smaller sections which makes it difficult for them to move around
in their habitat. This is known as habitat fragmentation (Klenzendorf).
Deforestation is taking away the giant pandas’ food source, which is bamboo.
The bamboo that remains is quickly running out because pandas need to eat
about eighty pounds of it each day since it is low in nutrients. Giant pandas
also reproduce slowly, so it is difficult for them to raise their numbers.
The Chinese government has established over fifty reserves for the pandas
(Sheehan). These reserves cover more that 2.5 million acres and protect more
than 60% of the population (Klenzendorf). The trade of pandas has been banned
because they are protected by CITES, the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species. CITES stops endangered species from being traded (Sheehan).
The WWF, World Wildlife Fund, has been working to help giant pandas for
nearly three decades. The WWF patrols against poaching and logging, builds
nature reserves, and helps increase the amount of the giant panda’s habitat
under legal protection (Klenzendorf). Due to strong efforts, both the wild
and captive giant panda populations are slowly starting to increase
(Sheehan). Saving an endangered species involves
protecting it and the ecosystem where it lives (Kurpis). The In conclusion, there are many causes for the endangerment of
species, and humans are the leading contributors. Humans are also the leading
contributors to saving endangered species. If people do not start doing more
to help save endangered species, many more will become extinct. This will
disrupt food chains, change our lives, and could ultimately lead to our own
extinction. |
I
made a connection to this picture because the wolves are blurry and unclear just
like the future of many endangered species. The future of many endangered
species is in doubt, because we don’t know if we will be able to save them in
time, or if they will become extinct. If everyone works together to save
endangered species that have unclear futures, we will be helping the world in
many ways by saving its species.
When Will We End the Madness?
By John
Calhoon
Dedicated to all the animals already gone
With ozone holes and temperatures rising,
Habitat destruction and overexploitation,
The animals are dying.
Should we just stand by, while acid rains from the sky.
Should we look away, when the sea creature's decay
The whole world suffers with each loss.
What kind of world will our children see?
Perhaps they will even be casualties of our selfishness.
When will we end the madness?
It's not yet too late.
Even small sacrifices can create,
When added together, incredible savings in total.
Won't you please help, even if just a little?
This poem by John Calhoon
expresses his feelings about endangered species. I can make a connection to
this poem because it talks about what is happening to the environment. It talks
about how people are treating the environment and what will happen if humans do
not try to save it. His point of view is asking you: What will you do? The author
is also telling us that if everyone helps a little bit it will make a big
difference when all of our individual efforts are combined into one large
effort. He is saying that even though we have caused many animals to become
extinct, we can still save many more from extinction if we work together.
A New Tomorrow
By: A Friend in London
Come
on boys come on girls
In this crazy, crazy world
You're the diamonds, you're the pearls
Let's make a new tomorrow, today
Wake up, slow down do nothing right now
Breathe in, breathe out did we forget how
To live, to dream and what it all means
It's like we don't care
Who's hot, who's not who's got the right upside down
Tonight, tomorrow you're out of time
Upstyle, you are back in the line
A race to nowhere
Come on boys, come on girls
In this crazy, crazy world
You're the diamonds, you're the pearls
Let's make a new tomorrow
Come on girls, come on boys
It's your future, it's your choice
And your weapon is your voice
Let's make a new tomorrow
Today
Turn left, turn right don't make up your mind
Your way to fame is all in vain
You get in the spot then you run out of luck
You're going nowhere
We can change it all today!
Come on boys, come on girls
In this crazy, crazy world
You're the diamonds, you're the pearls
Let's make a new tomorrow
Come on girls, come on boys
It's your future, it's your choice
And your weapon is your voice
Let's make a new tomorrow
Today
(Oooohh o-oh ooooh)
Come on boys
Let's make a new tomorrow
Come on boys, come on girls
In this crazy, crazy world
You're the diamonds, you're the pearls
Let's make a new tomorrow
Come on boys, come on girls
It's your future, it's your choice
And your weapon is your voice
Let's make a new tomorrow
Today!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_3Ma2URVzg
I
made my connection to the song A New Tomorrow by A Friend in London because it
is talking about how anyone can make a difference if they speak out and take
action for what they believe is right. For endangered species, it would be
speaking out on how people can help save endangered species and help save the
environment. The tomorrow in this song would be the future where depending on
what we do now to save endangered species determines which animals are extinct,
and which animals were saved.
I
made my connection to this picture because it is a photograph that shows the world
what is happening to polar bears. This photograph backs up my research that
polar bears live on the arctic ice. The arctic ice is melting and the polar
bears need it to survive. If global warming does not stop, this kind of
floating arctic ice will melt, and there will not be much of it left for polar
bears to live on in the future. This could severely affect the polar bear
population and will change the way they will need to live in order to survive.
Works Cited
Corwin, Jeff. 100 Heartbeats: The Race to save Earth's
Most Endangered Species.
Defenders of Wildlife.
"Endangered Species: Wildlife and Habitat Conservation." Defenders
of Wildlife - Protection of Endangered Species, Imperiled Species, Habitats.
Defenders of Wildlife, 2012. Web.
04 Feb. 2012.
"Endangered
Species" The
Klenzendorf,
Sybille. Wildlife Conservation, Endangered Species Conservation. World Wildlife Fund, 2012. Web. 02
Feb. 2012.
Kurpis,
Lauren. "Causes for Endangerment." Endangered Species - EndangeredSpecie.com. 2002. Web.
03 Feb. 2012.
Mackay,
Richard. The Atlas of Endangered Species.
Sheehan,
Sean. Endangered Species.
Tangley, Laura. "Focusing in on Conversion." National Wildlife
June-July 2011. Print,
http://www.helium.com/items/635248-poetry-endangered-species
http://www.lyrics-celebrities.anekatips.com/new-tomorrow-lyrics-a-friend-in-london