The Biodiversity Crisis
Elizabeth Cullinan
Biodiversity is a huge component of ecology and sustainability. Biodiversity is the variation in genetics, species, and entire ecosystems. Biodiversity is vital to sustaining life on earth. Extinction is permanent. Once a species goes extinct, it cannot come back and it creates numerous issues for the ecosystem in which in inhabits. Science Daily just recently posted an article on the loss of snake species and the biodiversity crisis as a whole. Michigan State University's (MSU) Maryland-led seven year study is the main subject of this article. They stated, "The loss of any species is devastating. However, the decline or extinction of one species can trigger an avalanche within an ecosystem, wiping out many other species in the process". One species extinction does not standalone, it affects numerous other species as well. The snake species they examined are located in a protected area near El Cope, Panama. The study focuses on how the snake community was wiped out after an invasive fungal pathogen killed most of the area's frogs, a crucial and primary food source fro snake species. But, many of the snake species were detected so infrequently that traditional analysis was impossible. Elise Zipkin, MSU biologist and study leader stated, "We estimated an 85% probability that there are fewer snake species that there were before the amphibians declined". As animals die in large masses, such as amphibian loss worldwide, we question what happens to everything that relies on these animals. This is a challenge for researchers, especially for rare and data-deficient species. The disappearance of frogs has major effects on tropical food chains. As primary consumers, like frogs, diminish there will be a variety of consequences for secondary consumers and consumer levels following. In class, we have covered biodiversity and its importance many different times. We also recently discussed extinction and food chains. This article addressing and incorporates all of these critical ecology topics. I think that biodiversity is the most important aspect of ecology. I love learning about new species and new genes that promote or diminish species in ecosystems. Learning about the diversity within genes, species, and ecosystems is important for a sustainable future.
Tropical Snake (eyelash viper) (stock image)
Credit: ondrejprosicky / adobe stock
References
Michigan State University. (2020, February 13). Disappearing snakes and the biodiversity crisis. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 27, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213160126.htm
I like how you pointed out that even the loss of one species can have a huge effect on the environment. You did a good job highlighting this by saying "One species extinction does not standalone, it affects numerous other species as well." Your example of how the death of frogs impacted snakes, the consumers of the frogs, is a perfect example of the ripple effect of the death of one species. Biodiversity is not just something allows us to explore many different species. It is also a vital part of our environment.
ReplyDeleteI like that you point out that because frogs are dying out, so are the other species in the food chain such as snakes, therefore decreasing the biodiversity. I am curious though, what specific species of snake are going extinct? Is the eyelash viper that you have in the photo above, one of the species that has gone extinct?
ReplyDeleteIt is discouraging to hear that it is estimated that there is an 85% decrease in snake populations size. As you mentioned, these species play an essential role in ecosystems. Once one species collapses, the ecosystem could be destroyed depending on the influence that species had on the rest of the system. Furthermore, if a large number of species are in decline (such as amphibians) there is a greater likelihood that more ecosystems will be ruined.
ReplyDeleteThis blog fits in really well with the video we watched on frogs. The researches in the video mentioned that frogs dying off had negatively affected snakes and birds in the area, potentially leading to the extinction of certain species. I also find it really interesting that you point out that this problem is further complicated by the fact that there isn't a lot of information available on some of these species of snakes.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this I did not know that one species dying off had such a big influence on other animals, or I did not realize it. I wonder what would happen if for example half of the livestock humans primarily ate went extinct. What kind of impact would that have?
ReplyDeletethis topic was interesting to read and I also think that biodiversity is the most important aspect of ecology. I think you did a good job explaining the topic.
ReplyDeleteScary how much of an impact the loss of a species can do to an ecosystem. It's even scarier to think about how many other species are close to extinction because of human activities harming the environment. Similar to the frogs video that explained the harm that comes from a species dying off. Great blog post!
ReplyDelete