Research and Analysis - From past 20 years, which plants and animals
are extinct and what are the reasons behind.
Answers
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Answer:
Following are few animals extincted in past 20 years:
Pyrenean ibex: Extinct in 2000
West African black rhino: Extinct in 2011
Baiji river dolphin: Extinct in 2007
Formosan clouded leopard: Extinct in 2013
Caribbean monk seal: Extinct in 2008
Explanation:
The main cause of the extinctions is the destruction of natural habitats by human activities, such as cutting down forests and converting land into fields for farming.
Due to human activities, populations of many species have become small and isolated. In this situation they become subject to genetic drift and inbreeding, resulting in loss of genetic variation, an increase in homozygosity, and possibly a decrease in viability (inbreeding depression). This process, here referred to as genetic erosion, may significantly increase the extinction probability of populations or even species, and is therefore currently an important issue in conservation biology.
Plants are considered a critical resource because of the many ways they support life on Earth. They release oxygen into the atmosphere, absorb carbon dioxide, provide habitat and food for wildlife and humans, and regulate the water cycle. Because of the many ways plants help the environment, their importance should not be forgotten.
Oxygen Provision
Without plants, humans and animals would have less fresh air to breathe. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants release oxygen back into the atmosphere. What you may not have known is that plants from the ocean are what provide most of the air that we breathe. These single celled plants that thrive in the ocean are also known as phytoplankton. Green terrestrial plants make up the rest of atmospheric oxygen that’s essential for the survival of living organisms.
Carbon Sinks
During this time of climate uncertainty, it’s important to realize the role plants can play to help mitigate the effects of climate change. One of the biggest environmental issues the world faces today is the burning of fossil fuels which has resulted in high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Although climate change is a reality the world must face, society is still highly reliant on fossil fuels to supply energy needs. This is where plants come in to play. Terrestrial and oceanic plants are considered carbon sinks because of their ability to store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere . Important carbon sink ecosystems include: grasslands, tropical rainforests, peat bogs, wetlands, coral reefs and coastal ecosystems.
Habitat
Plants are also important because they provide habitats for wildlife and humans. For example, many species of birds rely on trees and shrubs for habitat, whether they live in the crevices of trees or build nests on branches. Healthy habitats also provide wildlife with roosting cover and shelter from predators. Unfortunately, habitat loss is considered one of the causes for species endangerment and extinction. Forest ecosystems continually face deforestation in the form of fires, clear cutting for agriculture and ranching, and unsustainable logging. Plants play a pinnacle role in many of the Earth’s ecosystems so their presence is important to ensure wildlife and ecosystem health.
Food
Since plants are considered primary producers, they play an important role in feeding the Earth’s wildlife and humans. Herbivores, such as deer, rely on plants directly to meet their dietary needs, while carnivores, such as lions, feed on animals that also feed on plants for their survival. And omnivores, such as humans, rely on both. Whether directly or indirectly all wildlife and humans rely on plants for sustenance.
Water Cycle Regulation
About 10% of the moisture in the atmosphere is released by plants through the process of transpiration. Plants uptake water through their roots and release water vapour through small pores on the underside of their leaves. Through this process of transpiration plants also help circulate water from the soil back into the atmosphere. Not only that, but plants help stabilize bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and streams. Plant roots improve soil stability, prevent landslides, and keep these ecosystems intact.
Reasons of Extinction:
Agriculture
Habitat loss
Global Warming
Exotic Species Introduction
Overexploitation