I just found an amazing YouTube account. It's called CrashCourse and they do things ranging from history to science. I looked through their ecology videos and found this great little video that explains some of the impacts humans are having on the environment. Take a few minutes to watch this engaging video and then show it to your family and friends who believe that our actions cannot greatly affect the environment. Education beats ignorance any time.
Showing posts with label human impacts on environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human impacts on environment. Show all posts
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Are We The Next Meteor?
Two weeks ago I highlighted a few species of plants and animals that are considered to be recovering from near extinction. In that post, I briefly alluded to the fact that many scientists in the biological realm believe the Earth has entered its sixth mass extinction event. Today I want to explore this matter with you in more detail.
Earth has gone through five previous mass extinction events before. The last, and possibly most well-known, was the extinction event that took out the dinosaurs. While extinctions have occurred regularly throughout history - made evident by the fossil records - what distinguishes a mass extinction event is the fact that large groups of species are lost in a relatively short time frame and that loss outpaces the formation of new species. Plants and animals face a great deal of stress coming at them from multiple sources on a daily basis. When those stresses drastically inhibit the species' ability to reproduce over a long enough period of time, eventually that species will become extinct. Mother Nature can be quite tough, and success really is measured in the ability to survive long enough to reproduce. In the case of many animals that do not reproduce the next generation on a massive scale (think frogs or insects laying their eggs), the parents also must be able to ensure that enough of their offspring survive to maturity so that reproduction by the new generation is more likely.
Today, biologists are seeing the rate of species able to successfully reproduce over successive generations in steep decline. This is due to a variety of reasons, but unfortunately they are either directly or indirectly linked to our activities. In the past, mass extinction events occurred after extreme and sustained shifts in biological parameters were achieved through natural means. The first and greatest extinction, the Permian, where 96% of all species went extinct came about because of a prolonged and intense series of volcanic eruptions that altered the atmosphere. The dinosaurs and other plants and animals from that same era are believed to have gone extinct after a meteor hit the planet, altering both ground and atmospheric conditions.
So how is it that humans are causing the sixth mass extinction? Our activities, whether directly or indirectly, are putting such stresses on biological life that they are unable to survive. Some examples of direct causation is the hunting of animals for food or other purposes. Steller's Sea Cow and the Passenger Pigeon are two instances of this cause. Other direct causations can be the competition for resources. We have all heard on some nature program at some point that a plant or animal is threatened because of habitat encroachment. This is because humans are much more successful at competing for resources. So much so that we don't leave a lot for other species to survive off of.
Humans are also indirectly causing the next mass extinction. Climate change and invasive species, among other factors, are drastically changing habitat structure, resource availability, and ecosystem dominance. We are not purposefully trying to cause a species harm, but our activities have introduced stress factors that burden these species even more. Coral reefs are an example of this, as rising sea-levels, warmer sea temperatures, and higher carbonic acid concentrations (all related to carbon emissions from human activities and subsequent climate change) are making it more difficult for the actual corals to survive. Not only would we lose the hard corals if they succumbed, we would lose an entire ecosystem and much of the marine life that depends on the reefs for their own survival.
This is another one those environmental topics that can be quite depressing. However, we needn't take a defeatist or there's-nothing-I-can-do position. As I previously posted, we have come to our senses before and saved a species from collapsing into extinction. We have prevented several species from dying out. There are those who work hard every day to raise awareness and funds to protect as many plants and animals as possible. By supporting measures such as the Endangered Species Act and consuming items that are clearly marked with an "eco-friendly" stamp (such as the Rainforest Alliance stamp), as well as continuing to push our leaders to enact meaningful emissions legislation, we can reduce the stresses that are being heaped up on the rest of our biological "family". These issues are raised - with clear warnings sent out - not to depress us, but to spurn us into action. We are the only species that has such a wide impact on the natural world and we are the only species with the ability to recognize it and alter our behavior. It requires all of us, but we can stop this mass extinction before it gets worse.
Earth has gone through five previous mass extinction events before. The last, and possibly most well-known, was the extinction event that took out the dinosaurs. While extinctions have occurred regularly throughout history - made evident by the fossil records - what distinguishes a mass extinction event is the fact that large groups of species are lost in a relatively short time frame and that loss outpaces the formation of new species. Plants and animals face a great deal of stress coming at them from multiple sources on a daily basis. When those stresses drastically inhibit the species' ability to reproduce over a long enough period of time, eventually that species will become extinct. Mother Nature can be quite tough, and success really is measured in the ability to survive long enough to reproduce. In the case of many animals that do not reproduce the next generation on a massive scale (think frogs or insects laying their eggs), the parents also must be able to ensure that enough of their offspring survive to maturity so that reproduction by the new generation is more likely.
Today, biologists are seeing the rate of species able to successfully reproduce over successive generations in steep decline. This is due to a variety of reasons, but unfortunately they are either directly or indirectly linked to our activities. In the past, mass extinction events occurred after extreme and sustained shifts in biological parameters were achieved through natural means. The first and greatest extinction, the Permian, where 96% of all species went extinct came about because of a prolonged and intense series of volcanic eruptions that altered the atmosphere. The dinosaurs and other plants and animals from that same era are believed to have gone extinct after a meteor hit the planet, altering both ground and atmospheric conditions.
So how is it that humans are causing the sixth mass extinction? Our activities, whether directly or indirectly, are putting such stresses on biological life that they are unable to survive. Some examples of direct causation is the hunting of animals for food or other purposes. Steller's Sea Cow and the Passenger Pigeon are two instances of this cause. Other direct causations can be the competition for resources. We have all heard on some nature program at some point that a plant or animal is threatened because of habitat encroachment. This is because humans are much more successful at competing for resources. So much so that we don't leave a lot for other species to survive off of.
Humans are also indirectly causing the next mass extinction. Climate change and invasive species, among other factors, are drastically changing habitat structure, resource availability, and ecosystem dominance. We are not purposefully trying to cause a species harm, but our activities have introduced stress factors that burden these species even more. Coral reefs are an example of this, as rising sea-levels, warmer sea temperatures, and higher carbonic acid concentrations (all related to carbon emissions from human activities and subsequent climate change) are making it more difficult for the actual corals to survive. Not only would we lose the hard corals if they succumbed, we would lose an entire ecosystem and much of the marine life that depends on the reefs for their own survival.
This is another one those environmental topics that can be quite depressing. However, we needn't take a defeatist or there's-nothing-I-can-do position. As I previously posted, we have come to our senses before and saved a species from collapsing into extinction. We have prevented several species from dying out. There are those who work hard every day to raise awareness and funds to protect as many plants and animals as possible. By supporting measures such as the Endangered Species Act and consuming items that are clearly marked with an "eco-friendly" stamp (such as the Rainforest Alliance stamp), as well as continuing to push our leaders to enact meaningful emissions legislation, we can reduce the stresses that are being heaped up on the rest of our biological "family". These issues are raised - with clear warnings sent out - not to depress us, but to spurn us into action. We are the only species that has such a wide impact on the natural world and we are the only species with the ability to recognize it and alter our behavior. It requires all of us, but we can stop this mass extinction before it gets worse.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Let Me Introduce You To My Newest Friend
Those of you who have been reading my posts over the last couple of months know that I am very concerned about the emerging water crisis that no one seems to be taking seriously. With towns in Texas and California about to run out of water, more of us are becoming aware that this is a problem. I have just discovered a new series of infographics and basic information put together by the reputable BBC. Please visit this site, review the information, and then share it with your friends. It is something that needs highlighting so that we can begin addressing the problem. Wild weather may have been the first noticeable clue that our climate is changing, the water crisis is a much more long-term and tragic result of climate change. The growing water crisis threatens to destabilize entire regions and create a very complex, global humanitarian crisis. It's time to face this head on and do something about it.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
It's Tough
I was thinking of the topics I could write about today, and what came to mind made me step back and think: "This is why lots of people don't read environmental blogs. The subject matter always seems to be depressing." I decided to start blogging again because I felt, as I did previously, that it is important to highlight the environmental issues that exist. Some topics are more uncomfortable than others to deal with, but I have tried to make it a policy in my life to not hide from the dark realities that are out there.
But why does it seem there are more negative environmental topics to write about than positive-feel-good topics that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Unfortunately that is reality. There are great environmental stories to write about that discuss things such as conservation success stories, a species being saved from near extinction, the discovery of a new species, resilience after an environmental disaster, etc. However, for each one of those news items, there are at least two that highlight the sorry state of affairs our global environment is in.
Part of that lies in the fact that nature has always been a very tough "mother". Stephen Fry said it best a few years ago, remarking, "You have to account for the fact that almost all animals in the wild live under stress with not enough to eat and will die violent and bloody deaths. There is not any way that you can just choose the nice bits . . ." (Fry, 2009). Yes, if you reference that quote online, you will find Stephen Fry is talking in terms of atheism/proving the existence of God, but I feel that it fits here. The environment is a rough and tumble place, undergoing constant (though sometimes slow) and chaotic change, punctuated by abrupt, violent episodes of natural disaster. It is amazing and complex, and I am always left in pure amazement by all this planet has. Despite this, it has always dealt biological life some depressing cards.
Beyond the day-to-day reality that the environment is a tough place that taken alone will have plenty of depressing stories, is the fact that we as the human species have been and are the cause of many of the depressing changes in the global environment. Sometimes our activities are indirectly causing these negative changes, such as the disappearance and stress put upon coral reef ecosystems due to sea level rise/increase in carbonic acid in oceans which is linked to climate change. Others are directly linked to our activities such as oil spills, climate change, the near-extinction of many species of plant and animals, etc.
We will always have an impact on the environment. That is how biological life works. Plus, we don't always know when we are having a direct or indirect negative impact on the environment. Thankfully, science exists to help us determine what is influenced by our impacts on the environment. When it comes down to it, I often write more about these alarming topics because only when we become informed of an event and what it is we are (not) doing, can we begin the path of changing. I believe strongly in the ability of humans to move away from destructive habits when they are educated about what it is we are doing wrong. I believe in our ability to address the issues we face through innovation and corrective action. That is why I always urge some sort of action on our part at the end of each post.
Writing about and caring about the environment is tough. At every turn there is another disheartening story of a species going extinct, a major industrial accident that has significantly impacted a local ecosystem, or climate change deniers preventing meaningful change in how humans consume energy. I remain dedicated to the environment not just because it is the only thing we've got, but because it is something unique and special. The type of life and the varied ecosystems it thrives in on this planet is spectacular. What's more, we are a part of it and because of our intellect we have the ability to correct our course of action before things go horribly wrong. It may be depressing to read all the bad news, but the bigger picture I see is that we can stop more depressing news from reaching us by acting now on the knowledge we are acquiring. The truth, in this case, can indeed set us free on the path to conserving all our planet has to offer.
But why does it seem there are more negative environmental topics to write about than positive-feel-good topics that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Unfortunately that is reality. There are great environmental stories to write about that discuss things such as conservation success stories, a species being saved from near extinction, the discovery of a new species, resilience after an environmental disaster, etc. However, for each one of those news items, there are at least two that highlight the sorry state of affairs our global environment is in.
Part of that lies in the fact that nature has always been a very tough "mother". Stephen Fry said it best a few years ago, remarking, "You have to account for the fact that almost all animals in the wild live under stress with not enough to eat and will die violent and bloody deaths. There is not any way that you can just choose the nice bits . . ." (Fry, 2009). Yes, if you reference that quote online, you will find Stephen Fry is talking in terms of atheism/proving the existence of God, but I feel that it fits here. The environment is a rough and tumble place, undergoing constant (though sometimes slow) and chaotic change, punctuated by abrupt, violent episodes of natural disaster. It is amazing and complex, and I am always left in pure amazement by all this planet has. Despite this, it has always dealt biological life some depressing cards.
Beyond the day-to-day reality that the environment is a tough place that taken alone will have plenty of depressing stories, is the fact that we as the human species have been and are the cause of many of the depressing changes in the global environment. Sometimes our activities are indirectly causing these negative changes, such as the disappearance and stress put upon coral reef ecosystems due to sea level rise/increase in carbonic acid in oceans which is linked to climate change. Others are directly linked to our activities such as oil spills, climate change, the near-extinction of many species of plant and animals, etc.
We will always have an impact on the environment. That is how biological life works. Plus, we don't always know when we are having a direct or indirect negative impact on the environment. Thankfully, science exists to help us determine what is influenced by our impacts on the environment. When it comes down to it, I often write more about these alarming topics because only when we become informed of an event and what it is we are (not) doing, can we begin the path of changing. I believe strongly in the ability of humans to move away from destructive habits when they are educated about what it is we are doing wrong. I believe in our ability to address the issues we face through innovation and corrective action. That is why I always urge some sort of action on our part at the end of each post.
Writing about and caring about the environment is tough. At every turn there is another disheartening story of a species going extinct, a major industrial accident that has significantly impacted a local ecosystem, or climate change deniers preventing meaningful change in how humans consume energy. I remain dedicated to the environment not just because it is the only thing we've got, but because it is something unique and special. The type of life and the varied ecosystems it thrives in on this planet is spectacular. What's more, we are a part of it and because of our intellect we have the ability to correct our course of action before things go horribly wrong. It may be depressing to read all the bad news, but the bigger picture I see is that we can stop more depressing news from reaching us by acting now on the knowledge we are acquiring. The truth, in this case, can indeed set us free on the path to conserving all our planet has to offer.
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