Endangered Ecosystems

       There is now a 'red list' of Endangered Ecosystems around the world from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  There were twenty case studies created in order to assess the health of Earth's various ecosystems.

Aral Sea

They are as follows:

• Aral Sea — Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan: freshwater, collapsed
• Raised bogs — Germany: critically endangered
• Gonakier forests — Senegal River floodplain: freshwater, critically endangered
• Cape Sand Flats — Fynbos, South Africa: terrestrial, critically endangered
• Coorong lagoons — Australia: freshwater/marine, critically endangered
• Karst rising springs — Southern Australia: freshwater, critically endangered
• Coastal sandstone upland swamps — Australia: freshwater, endangered/critically endangered
• Swamps, marshes and lakes in the Murray-Darling Basin — Australia: freshwater, endangered/critically endangered
• Giant kelp forests — Alaska: marine, endangered/critically endangered
• Caribbean coral reefs — Caribbean: marine, endangered/critically endangered
• Seagrass meadows — Southern Australia: marine, endangered-critically endangered
• German tamarisk pioneer vegetation — Europe: freshwater, endangered
• Coolibah-Black Box woodland — Australia: freshwater/terrestrial, endangered
• Tapia forest — Madagascar: terrestrial, endangered
• Semi-evergreen vine thicket — Australia: terrestrial, endangered
• Great Lakes Alvars — United States and Canada: terrestrial, vulnerable/endangered
• Reed beds — Europe: freshwater, vulnerable
• Floodplain ecosystem of river red gum and black box — southeastern Australia: freshwater, vulnerable
• Tepui shrubland - Venezuela: terrestrial, least concern
• Granite gravel fields and sand plains - New Zealand: terrestrial, least concern

What is IUCN?

IUCN. "IUCN - About IUCN." IUCN - Home. N.p., 23 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://www.iucn.org/about/>.

Oskin, Becky. " IUCN Criteria For 'Red List' of Endangered Ecosystems Detailed | Conservation | OurAmazingPlanet.com ."Home | OurAmazingPlanet.com . N.p., 8 May 2013. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/4448-iucn-red-list-ecosystems-detailed.html>.

Wildlife Conservation Society

"The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth."

(WCS; Mission Statement)

         The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is an organization that was founded back in 1895 with a missions to save not only wildlife but the 'wild' places that they live in and call home.  They protect animal species all over the world and work against things such as climate change, wildlife and human health, natural resource exploitation  and sustainable development.  They recognize that climate change and global warming threatens both terrestrial and marine habitats in a multitude of ways.  In terms of climate change they have projects and looks at home it effects landscapes, wildlife, and conservation as well as carbon markets.


WCS. "Wildlife Conservation Society."Wildlife Conservation Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. <www.wcs.org/>.

Animal Endangerments may lead to Extinction pt. 2

As we know different species of animals have different requirements in terms of food source and habitat.  As Earth's average global temperatures increase so do the various climates throughout the different regions of the world.  Scientists say that global warming is likely to be a part of major and mass extinctions of animal species in the future. 
This won't be just for land species, but for marine species as well

       Polar Bears are probably one of the most well known animals that is being effected by global warming. They are more or less seen as the 'poster child' of many campaigns.  Because of global warming and climate change though there are a few reasons that the polar bear is so greatly affected.  For one the loss of sea ice leaves them with less land for breeding grounds as well as overall habitat.  This loss of habitat causes them to have not only less breeding grounds, but fewer areas for resting as well as for hunting.  But that isn't it, there is also a reduction in their food sources as well.  The abundance of seals within the areas is reducing as well.


       Right whales are also affected by climate change.  There are fewer than 500 right whales around the world today.  Back in the day people almost hunted whales to extinction but now they are under threat due to another kind of human attack.  Due to changes in sea water temperatures these large creatures are losing their main food source, Calanus finmarchicus, otherwise known as zooplankton.  Without this food source in abundance the whales aren't able to bulk up and be able to provide for their young as they should.  


       Seals, such as the Harp Seals and Ringed Seals, are suffering from a loss of sea ice that is no longer there for resting on while they search for fish and other food staples.  The underlying fact that climate change is effecting the animals that are part of the bottom of the food chain and ultimately will lead to the whole food chain being disrupted.



       Fish, such as cod, as well as lobsters are influenced by climate change because of the rising temperatures.  Most fish have specific requirements for their living and breading habitats.  It can also affect their growth as well.  Lobsters are affected by the rising sea temperatures more so than some other animals because they are coldblooded.  Because of this they require more energy to keep warm and it also depicts where the lobsters will live.  With a decline in fish and lobster many local fisheries and other economic areas will be affected.  


       Sea turtles are affected in multiple ways by climate change and global warming.  As the temperatures rise the nesting areas of the turtles are changing and becoming warmer.  As the temperatures warm there is less of a chance for a mix of male and female turtles as their gender is
 decided while in the egg by temperature.  Rising temperatures in water are also affecting the feeding grounds that the turtles utilize.  Aside from the rising temperatures the rising sea levels are causing there to be less area for nesting sites by the female turtles.  This causes them to be more at risk from human encroachment as well as them and their young being prayed on by other animals.




       Penguins are in a similar boat as the sea turtles.  While some penguin species though are suffering from loss of habitat and nesting grounds other penguin specie populations, such as the Adelie Penguin, are gaining nesting grounds due to the loss of sea ice.
       



NEAQ. "Climate change: the effects on ocean animals." New England Aquarium Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 May 2013. 

Romulus Whitaker

Romulus Whitaker is a herpetologist and a wildlife conservationist.  He founded a snake park in India back in 1972 as well as the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust Center for Herpetology.  The Madras Crocodile Bank is trying to re-establish multiple species of crocodiles that are close to extinction. In November of 2009 Whitaker gave a talk for TED about the pollution of India waterways and how they are affecting cobra in the area.

 

More information and works from Whitaker can be found at:

• TED Biography
• PBS
• Wikipedia

 

Whitaker, Romulus. "Romulus Whitaker: The real danger lurking in the water | Video on TED.com." TED: Ideas worth spreading. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.ted.com/talks/romulus_whitaker_the_real_danger_lurkin

The Colors of Climate Change

     Back in August of 2012 Douglas Main talked about how trees in the Northeastern United States may be more colorful than usual.  Due to a lower amount of average rain in New York the chlorophyll in trees may retreat earlier.  Chlorophyll allows trees to harness energy from the sun.  When the chlorophyll is gone pigments, other than the typical green, are then visible. Carotenes and canthophyll are the pigments that appear as yellows and oranges to the human eye.  Though they are always present within the leaves the green hides these.
     Anthocyanis is the red that is seen in leaves when it is under stress.  It helps the vegetation from freezing during dropping temperatures and keep it from being harmed by radiation.  With an earlier drop in temperatures during the night this past year the plants begin reducing chlorophyll productions and begin preparing for a winter 'hibernation'.

Source: Northeastern Trees May Be Extra Colorful This Year

Main, Douglas. "Northeastern Trees May Be Extra Colorful This Year." Our Amazing Planet - Life. Our Amazing Planet, 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 7 Apr. 2013. <http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/3390-fall-foliage-colors.html>.