Extinction refers to the complete eradication of a species from the planet. Endangered means that a species is on the brink of extinction. The biodiversity of the Amazon is at risk due to wildfires.
Imagine strolling through a park and not hearing the chirping of birds. Or think about your child asking why they can no longer see a certain animal that existed when you were young. The recent news of wildfires in the Amazon is bringing us closer to this grim reality.
Extinction occurs when a particular species is completely wiped out from the planet. This is an irreversible form of damage, as there are no remaining male or female members of the species to reproduce. On the other hand, endangered species are those that are nearing extinction. Due to climate change and human activities such as overexploitation of natural resources, many species are becoming endangered.
What Causes Extinction? Are Humans Solely to Blame?
We can absolve ourselves of some guilt. We certainly did not cause the extinction of dinosaurs simply because we did not exist during that time. With that in mind, what are the other factors, aside from humans, that can lead to the extinction of an entire species? The Earth has always undergone changes. Millions of years ago, most of the planet was covered in ice during an Ice Age.
When the planet began to warm due to the melting of glaciers, many species were unable to adapt to the warmer climate and became extinct. Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, wildfires, and earthquakes also contribute to the extinction of species that are unique to a particular region and not found anywhere else in the world. Therefore, the extinction of the Woolly Mammoth and the Saber-toothed tiger was a result of natural causes rather than human intervention.
The woolly mammoth and the saber-toothed tiger became extinct at the end of the last ice age (Photo Credit: Faiz Zaki/ Shutterstock)
However, we are responsible for the extinction of species such as passenger pigeons, dodo birds, the great auk, the western African black rhinoceros, the Pyrenean Ibex, Tasmanian tigers, and many more. These species have become extinct due to illegal hunting and poaching, pollution, destruction of their habitats for agriculture, and hunting for meat. Pesticides not only contaminate the soil but also have adverse effects on the entire animal kingdom, from aquatic animals to birds. For example, the use of DDT by farmers led to bald eagles consuming fish contaminated with this pesticide and dying.
Another cause of extinction is the disruption of intricate ecosystems by the introduction of invasive species, which harm the existence of native species. When introduced to a new environment, these species thrive and outcompete native species, pushing them towards extinction. This brings us to another explanation for extinction—’survival of the fittest’.
Dodo, a species that no longer exists. (Photo Credit: Daniel Eskridge/ Shutterstock)
What Does Survival Of The Fittest Mean?
Charles Darwin introduced this term to explain how species evolve. Also known as natural selection, survival of the fittest refers to species that are better adapted to their local environment. This theory explains why some species naturally become extinct because they couldn’t adapt as quickly as the changes in their environment. However, being the “fittest” doesn’t necessarily mean being the strongest or fastest. It simply means being able to adapt more quickly to the immediate changes and thrive.
How Are Species Categorized as Endangered?
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), species are classified into one of the following eight categories:
- Least concern (Arctic Fox)
- Near Threatened (Plains Bison)
- Vulnerable (African Elephant)
- Endangered (Tigers)
- Critically Endangered (Orangutans)
- Extinct in the wild (Scimitar-horned Oryx)
- Extinct (Pinta Island Tortoise)
- Data deficient – meaning there isn’t enough data available to categorize the species, such as Orca Whales.
Saiga Tatarica is a species listed as endangered. (Photo Credit: Nikolai Denisov/ Shutterstock)
Endangered species are further divided into three subcategories:
- Critically Endangered – This species is at an extremely high risk of extinction.
- Endangered – A species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
- Vulnerable – A species facing a high risk of extinction.
This classification is collectively known as the Red List. So far, 96,500 species have been assessed for the Red List, and over 26,500 of them are threatened with extinction. This includes 40% of amphibians, 34% of conifers, 33% of corals, 31% of sharks, 27% of crustaceans, 25% of mammals, and 14% of birds.
The WWF regularly reassesses the Red List, and species may be moved to lower categories based on the progress made in their conservation. For example, thanks to “Project Tiger” in India, the Bengal tiger population increased from 1,477 to 2,500, and they were removed from the endangered list. Giant pandas have also been downgraded from “endangered” to “vulnerable” due to conservation efforts in China.
What Will be the Impact of Recent Wildfires in the Amazon Rainforest on Species?
The Amazon rainforest is experiencing extensive wildfires. (Photo Credit: Toa55/ Shutterstock)
The Amazon rainforest is the world’s largest tropical rainforest and is often referred to as the “lungs of the earth” because it produces 20% of the world’s oxygen. The rainforest has been burning for over two weeks, and the smoke can be seen from space due to the scale of the blaze. The Amazon is home to 2.5 million insects, 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 fish species, and 430 mammal species. These catastrophic wildfires are putting this rich and biodiverse area at risk and pushing more rare species towards extinction. Native plants and animals face a high risk of extinction.
We are all aware of the various environmental hazards we have caused, but the species are suffering silently. It is time to start making changes at home and take small steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Reusing paper, carpooling, walking short distances, refraining from hunting animals for sport, and eliminating plastics from our homes are all ways to contribute and repay our collective debt to the planet.