Jordan Proctor
Did you know that 40% of all organisms are considered to be endangered? A species is defined as endangered or threatened when it suffers from these factors: damage to its habitat for recreational, or entertainment purposes; disease or predation of the species; and hazards to the continued life of the species. Endangered species should be protected because of the benefits of natural diversity, biodiversity and agriculture, and the contributions of medicine.
Endangered species should be protected because of the benefits of natural diversity. The extinction of endangered species could affect the ecosystem that the organism was living in at the time. According to the U.S. fish and wildlife service, “…the removal of a single species can set off a chain reaction affecting many other species”. If one species is extinct the ecosystem, habitat, and the food chain could all be affect due to just one specie leaving the earth. This could also cause more species to become extinct because they don’t hve food or shelter. The quote is also especially true for “keystone” species, whose loss can transform or undermine the ecological processes or fundamentally change the species composition of the wildlife community. If we help to protect the endangered species, then all of the ecosystems and organisms in them will stay safe and healthy. Lastly, here is an example of a keystone species from the U.S. fish and wildlife service. “The gray wolf is one such keystone species. When wolves were restored to Yellowstone National Park, they started to control the park’s large population of elk, which had been over consuming the willows, aspen, and other trees that grew along streams. The recovery of these trees is cooling stream flows, which benefits native trout, and increases nesting habitat for migratory birds. Beavers now have willow branches to eat, and beaver dams create marshland habitat for otters, mink, and ducks. Wolves even benefit the threatened grizzly bear, since
grizzlies find it easier to take over a wolf kill than to bring down their own elk.” When all species are in an ecosystem the ecosystem evens itself out. But, if one specie went extinct them the whole ecosystem would be affected.
Next, the endangered species should be protected for biodiversity and agriculture. endangered species should be protected because farmers depend on certain animals to keep harmful insects off their crops. According to the U.S. fish and wildlife service, “Farmers are using insects and other animals that prey on certain crop pests, as well as using plants containing natural-toxins that repel harmful insects. These are called “biological controls,” and in many cases they are a safe, effective, and less expensive alternative to synthetic chemicals.” Also, different endangered plants help farmers to make money. So, saving and protecting these endangered animals could help farmers be more successful so we have fresh food to eat. If underutilized species are conserved, they could help to feed growing populations.
Finally, the last reason we should protect endangered species is because they help contribute to medicine. Each living thing contains unique genetic material. This material cannot be duplicated or retrieved if lost. This is a great example for why we need to protect endangered species because without the genetic material we can no longer make certain medicines we need to help heal the body. The U.S. fish and wildlife service says, “So far, scientists have investigated only a small fraction of the world’s species and have just begun to unravel their chemical secrets to find possible human health benefits to mankind.” We are finding new unique genetic material for more medicines in the future, but are at risk of losing materials for old medicines if we don’t help to save the endangered species. For example, “It was “only” a fungus that gave us penicillin, and certain plants have yielded substances used in drugs to treat heart disease, cancer, and a variety of other illnesses. More than a quarter of all prescriptions written
annually in the United States contain chemicals discovered in plants and animals” If these organisms are to die before their unique characteristics are known, their secrets will die with them.
We can help to save these species by following the endangered species act. The endangered species act is, “Once a species becomes listed as "endangered" or "threatened," it receives special protections by the federal government. Animals are protected from “take” and being traded or sold. The term "take" is used in the Endangered Species Act to include, "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.” We should not do any of these things to keep our species safe.
Endangered species should be protected because of the benefits of diversity, biodiversity and agriculture and contributions to medicine. If we help to stop extinction, we could save the earth.
Did you know that 40% of all organisms are considered to be endangered? A species is defined as endangered or threatened when it suffers from these factors: damage to its habitat for recreational, or entertainment purposes; disease or predation of the species; and hazards to the continued life of the species. Endangered species should be protected because of the benefits of natural diversity, biodiversity and agriculture, and the contributions of medicine.
Endangered species should be protected because of the benefits of natural diversity. The extinction of endangered species could affect the ecosystem that the organism was living in at the time. According to the U.S. fish and wildlife service, “…the removal of a single species can set off a chain reaction affecting many other species”. If one species is extinct the ecosystem, habitat, and the food chain could all be affect due to just one specie leaving the earth. This could also cause more species to become extinct because they don’t hve food or shelter. The quote is also especially true for “keystone” species, whose loss can transform or undermine the ecological processes or fundamentally change the species composition of the wildlife community. If we help to protect the endangered species, then all of the ecosystems and organisms in them will stay safe and healthy. Lastly, here is an example of a keystone species from the U.S. fish and wildlife service. “The gray wolf is one such keystone species. When wolves were restored to Yellowstone National Park, they started to control the park’s large population of elk, which had been over consuming the willows, aspen, and other trees that grew along streams. The recovery of these trees is cooling stream flows, which benefits native trout, and increases nesting habitat for migratory birds. Beavers now have willow branches to eat, and beaver dams create marshland habitat for otters, mink, and ducks. Wolves even benefit the threatened grizzly bear, since
grizzlies find it easier to take over a wolf kill than to bring down their own elk.” When all species are in an ecosystem the ecosystem evens itself out. But, if one specie went extinct them the whole ecosystem would be affected.
Next, the endangered species should be protected for biodiversity and agriculture. endangered species should be protected because farmers depend on certain animals to keep harmful insects off their crops. According to the U.S. fish and wildlife service, “Farmers are using insects and other animals that prey on certain crop pests, as well as using plants containing natural-toxins that repel harmful insects. These are called “biological controls,” and in many cases they are a safe, effective, and less expensive alternative to synthetic chemicals.” Also, different endangered plants help farmers to make money. So, saving and protecting these endangered animals could help farmers be more successful so we have fresh food to eat. If underutilized species are conserved, they could help to feed growing populations.
Finally, the last reason we should protect endangered species is because they help contribute to medicine. Each living thing contains unique genetic material. This material cannot be duplicated or retrieved if lost. This is a great example for why we need to protect endangered species because without the genetic material we can no longer make certain medicines we need to help heal the body. The U.S. fish and wildlife service says, “So far, scientists have investigated only a small fraction of the world’s species and have just begun to unravel their chemical secrets to find possible human health benefits to mankind.” We are finding new unique genetic material for more medicines in the future, but are at risk of losing materials for old medicines if we don’t help to save the endangered species. For example, “It was “only” a fungus that gave us penicillin, and certain plants have yielded substances used in drugs to treat heart disease, cancer, and a variety of other illnesses. More than a quarter of all prescriptions written
annually in the United States contain chemicals discovered in plants and animals” If these organisms are to die before their unique characteristics are known, their secrets will die with them.
We can help to save these species by following the endangered species act. The endangered species act is, “Once a species becomes listed as "endangered" or "threatened," it receives special protections by the federal government. Animals are protected from “take” and being traded or sold. The term "take" is used in the Endangered Species Act to include, "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.” We should not do any of these things to keep our species safe.
Endangered species should be protected because of the benefits of diversity, biodiversity and agriculture and contributions to medicine. If we help to stop extinction, we could save the earth.