- Here's some food for thought.
About 99.9% of all species that have ever lived on earth are extinct. Today, the amount of species living represents 0.1% of the earth's global biodiversity. It is important to accept that the eventual fate of every species is extinction, just as every individual living organism must die eventually.
The concept of background extinction deals with the fact that an individual species becomes rarer and rarer until it finally goes extinct. How this happens to one species depends on the situation. No matter how it happens, the surviving species fill in the roles or niches of the extinct species, and over very long periods of time, the surviving species may diversify into entirely new species! This is otherwise known as faunal turnover. Note this takes tens to hundereds of thousands of years to occur; it doesn’t happen overnight or over a human lifetime .
So while humans play an active role in the conservation of biodiversity and the preservation of species at risk, I also am willing to accept the fact that species are lost and gained through evolution whether we like it or not. Although human activities undoubtedly have a significant impact on extinction rates of some species, which pretty much explains why this forum exists in the first place. I support the conservation of a species when its presence in an environment is one that helps preserve the stability of the ecosystem it exists in as a whole. This opinion could change as I learn more though .
My sources of information come from my university Biodiversity course . I am hoping this will help broaden people's understanding of what a species is and how they fit into the workings of the biological world.
Endangered Animals
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Re: Endangered Animals
Re: Endangered Animals
That's quite interesting, Tonbei! I already knew a few snippets of the information you provided, but it was great to read it all together like that, so thanks. I believe I have a similar opinion to you when it comes to those facts.
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- SilverSparks12
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Re: Endangered Animals
Woah, this really blew me away, 99%! I never really thought about this before Tonbei, but like Jewelz said, I've only heard snippets of this interesting information. I heard that there is still from 3 to 100 billion species of animals that still haven't been discovered yet, plus the animals we already discovered. Can you imagine all the animals they had thousands of years ago compared to what we have today?Tonbei wrote:
- About 99.9% of all species that have ever lived on earth are extinct. Today, the amount of species living represents 0.1% of the earth's global biodiversity.
I also want to thankyou on this info you posted.^^
~Larkstar of The Four Clans
- Kivia
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Re: Endangered Animals
...and adding on to what you said Silver, many of those undiscovered species go extinct every day. Animals go extinct all of the time without us even knowing, so it is very important to realize that extinction is just a natural cycle. We can still prevent many extinctions going on today, but it is a term that we shouldn't fear entirely.
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Re: Endangered Animals
- Looks like you two got the idea!
I also learned today in class that we actually have no idea how many species there are total in the world living today; the estimates themselves range anywhere from 10 million to over 100 million undiscovered species. For perspective, we have identified around 2 million species to date. This large range reflects on how little we actually know about the world's life!
Re: Endangered Animals
I learned this a year or two ago. (: It was quite interesting, knowing that the knowledge of humans on all this animals is rather small. Yes, 2 million is large, but just thinking outside of the box, how many species have yet to be revealed?Tonbei wrote:
- Looks like you two got the idea!
I also learned today in class that we actually have no idea how many species there are total in the world living today; the estimates themselves range anywhere from 10 million to over 100 million undiscovered species. For perspective, we have identified around 2 million species to date. This large range reflects on how little we actually know about the world's life!
Oh really? Haha, learn something new everyday. (:Kivia wrote:...and adding on to what you said Silver, many of those undiscovered species go extinct every day. Animals go extinct all of the time without us even knowing, so it is very important to realize that extinction is just a natural cycle. We can still prevent many extinctions going on today, but it is a term that we shouldn't fear entirely.
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- RealLife1357
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Re: Endangered Animals
Since this is a endangered species topic, I personally think that both the red panda and wolf are becoming extinct. I heard that there are becoming less of both species. Is it true that the wolves are going/making their way to the list? I think they are but I just want to make sure. I really want to do something to save them if that's the case. Same for red pandas. Only what is making the red pandas go onto the endangered list? Is it hunting or something else?
I just want to keep them both here for years to come. So I would like to make a difference.
I just want to keep them both here for years to come. So I would like to make a difference.
Live life to the fullest<3 No matter how long it takes
- valkea
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Re: Endangered Animals
Wolves - or at least, gray wolves - are not in any danger of becoming extinct. Their numbers aren't falling, if anything they're actually rising. There are over 50,000 wolves in Canada alone. There aren't as many wolves in the United States as there are in Canada, but there is still a good population depending on where in the U.S. you choose to look at. Then, there are other regions to look at. Russia's gray wolf population is over 25,000. It's true that gray wolves were once endangered, however this is no longer the case.
Now, the Mexican Wolf is another story. Mexican Wolves are actually in danger of extinction. If you're interested in the danger that they're in, I'd suggest taking a look at the threads in Wolf Conservation that relate to them. If you're interested in helping them, however, I strongly suggest taking a look at this thread - http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5902 - the information about helping isn't limited to wolves, either. You could use the same steps to help any other animal.. like Red Pandas.
I believe the problems Red Pandas face are habitat loss and hunting. They are protected in the countries in which they live in, however hunting them becoming illegal sadly doesn't stop many people. Poachers are still a problem for them.
Now, the Mexican Wolf is another story. Mexican Wolves are actually in danger of extinction. If you're interested in the danger that they're in, I'd suggest taking a look at the threads in Wolf Conservation that relate to them. If you're interested in helping them, however, I strongly suggest taking a look at this thread - http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5902 - the information about helping isn't limited to wolves, either. You could use the same steps to help any other animal.. like Red Pandas.
I believe the problems Red Pandas face are habitat loss and hunting. They are protected in the countries in which they live in, however hunting them becoming illegal sadly doesn't stop many people. Poachers are still a problem for them.
má shínim seal uaire faoi chrann a dhéanamh só
o cad é sin don te sin nach mbaineann sin dó?
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Re: Endangered Animals
I would say my favorite endangered animal is the Bluefin tuna. As a fisherman, I find it deeply offensive that such an elegant and incredible animal is captured en masse, along with dolphins, seabirds, and turtles, just to satisfy thoughtless human greed. I have the utmost respect for those who pursue them fairly, however, but even though they aren't the prettiest (in most people's opinion) or most "charismatic" animal does not mean they aren't worth saving.
I hunt animals. No, I do not get some thrill out of it, I do not orphan Bambi, I do not drive creatures into extinction. I hunt.
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Re: Endangered Animals
- I think every organism has qualities we can admire. We actually touched upon tuna in my biology class vulpis atra. I didn't realize that the muscles, brain and eyes of these fish are around 10*C warmer than their environment, allowing them to have a swifter reaction time when hunting compared to other fish they exist with.
- SolitaryHowl
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Re: Endangered Animals
I support all endangered species. To support one but not another is hypocritical.
It's sad that the majority of supported endangered species from the public are the cute, furry, and otherwise 'adorable' animals. What about numerous 'non-cuddly' animals, like frogs, lizards, turtles, birds, beetles/bugs/insects, clams, worms, etc. They count too.
People who cry when a wolf is killed (and they aren't even endangered anymore, except for a few subspecies), but they don't bat an eye when a lesser-known endangered animal is killed like vultures or turtles, really annoy me.
Also, a lot of plants are endangered as well, too.
It's sad that the majority of supported endangered species from the public are the cute, furry, and otherwise 'adorable' animals. What about numerous 'non-cuddly' animals, like frogs, lizards, turtles, birds, beetles/bugs/insects, clams, worms, etc. They count too.
People who cry when a wolf is killed (and they aren't even endangered anymore, except for a few subspecies), but they don't bat an eye when a lesser-known endangered animal is killed like vultures or turtles, really annoy me.
Also, a lot of plants are endangered as well, too.
Red Wolves, as well, are also in danger of extinction. They're still critically endangered, I believe.Hidden Phoenix wrote:Wolves - or at least, gray wolves - are not in any danger of becoming extinct. Their numbers aren't falling, if anything they're actually rising. There are over 50,000 wolves in Canada alone. There aren't as many wolves in the United States as there are in Canada, but there is still a good population depending on where in the U.S. you choose to look at. Then, there are other regions to look at. Russia's gray wolf population is over 25,000. It's true that gray wolves were once endangered, however this is no longer the case.
Now, the Mexican Wolf is another story. Mexican Wolves are actually in danger of extinction.
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- Koroda
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Re: Endangered Animals
The endangered species I support the most is the coelacanth. Of course, I am a big fan. They evolved in the Devonian Period and were thought to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs. But, one was caught off of the coast of South Africa, and thus putting it on the Endangered list. Now that we have found them, their population is going down. And, there isn't enough money to set a conservation law, so coelacanths are sadly on their own. Only 1000 are left, and the "living fossil" could go extinct in our lifetimes. I wish there was a way to help conserve them! People even want to build a harbor in their habitat! And, an underwater volcano threatens to kill them in the future. I hope we can cherish this link between the ocean and the sea before its too late.
EDIT: Also, people refuse to donate or even care about the coelacanth because it's not cute and cuddly like Lancaster, koalas, polar bears, etc. Even my parents say the coelacanth is the ugliest thing they've ever seen. I think this fish is beautiful. It has lobed-fins, shining blue scales and soulful pale eyes. Poor uncuddly animals...
EDIT: Also, people refuse to donate or even care about the coelacanth because it's not cute and cuddly like Lancaster, koalas, polar bears, etc. Even my parents say the coelacanth is the ugliest thing they've ever seen. I think this fish is beautiful. It has lobed-fins, shining blue scales and soulful pale eyes. Poor uncuddly animals...
I am Koroda,
A coelacanth fish.
While you humans die,
I'll still be here....
A coelacanth fish.
While you humans die,
I'll still be here....
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Re: Endangered Animals
- This is sort of off-topic, but woah. Now I know what the Pokemon Relicanth was inspired from! I hadn't actually heard of the species before this though.
Compare the picture of the Pokemon with the species!
http://pokemon.supercheats.com/artwork/369.png
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wired ... anth_3.jpg
Re: Endangered Animals
I'm afraid It is quite inevitable
The rapid loss of species we are seeing today is estimated by experts to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate.*
Unlike the mass extinction events of geological history, the current extinction challenge is one for which a single species - ours - appears to be almost wholly responsible.
Shh, shh, do you hear that? Those are the winds of change.
- SolitaryHowl
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Re: Endangered Animals
Yes, it is very disheartening._Nimbus_ wrote:I'm afraid It is quite inevitable
The rapid loss of species we are seeing today is estimated by experts to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate.*Unlike the mass extinction events of geological history, the current extinction challenge is one for which a single species - ours - appears to be almost wholly responsible.
I find it annoying how people seem to care more about the 'cuddly' endangered animals, rather than the obscure ones that desperately need our help. Example: the Panda is a lost cause. It does not have anymore habitat to go back to (or not enough, so it makes it negligible), so keeping it around is pointless and is a huge waste of resources. But more obscure animals like many species of frogs and bugs (for example) go extinct all the time, because the public doesn't care about them.
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