species extinction report

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SPECIES EXTINCTION
 ABSTRACT:-
Our planet now faces a global extinction crisis never witnessed by humankind. Scientists
predict that more than 1 million species are on track for extinction in the coming decades.
Although often obscured by the noise and rush of modern life, people retain deep emotional
connections to the wild world. Wildlife and plants have inspired our histories, mythologies,
languages and how we view the world. The presence of wildlife brings joy and enriches us
all — and each extinction makes our home a lonelier and colder place for us and future
generations.
 INTRODUCTION:-
Global extinction refers to the loss of species or other taxonomic units (e.g., subspecies,
genus, family, etc.; each is known as a taxon) occurring when there are no surviving
individuals elsewhere. The extinction of any species is an irreversible loss of part of the
biological richness of the Earth. Extinction can be a natural occurrence caused by an
unpredictable catastrophe, chronic environmental stress, or ecological interactions such as
competition, disease, or predation. However, there have been dramatic increases in
extinction rates since humans have become Earth's dominant large animal and the cause of
global environmental change.
 EXTINCT OR ENDANGERED SPECIES IN INDIA:-
Fig 1: One Horned Rhinoceros Fig 2: Nilgiri Tahr Fig 3: Bengal Tiger
Fig 4: Asiatic Lion Fig 5: Red Panda Fig 6: Blackbuck

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 CAUSES OF SPECIES EXTINCTION:-
i. OVEREXPLOITATION:
Marine species have been put under great pressure since humans became able
to travel over the sea. In this short period, human exploitation of marine
resources has been a major factor of extinction, both through direct mortality of
target species and multiple collateral effects on non-target species (bycatch).
For example, exploitation is responsible for 55% of the main extinction threat
to North American marine fishes [1]
. Fisheries are also indirectly responsible for
biodiversity loss and ecosystem disturbance by abandoning huge amounts of
derelict fishing gear in the ocean, which is deadly to many marine top predator
species.
ii. HABITAT DISTURBANCES:
Biological, physical and chemical factors in most ecosystems are tightly
intertwined. Hence changes in one of these factors can result in changes of
others. Exploitation of habitat can therefore profoundly influence many
components of a system. Examples of habitat destruction are:
Physical alterations:
 Marine aggregate dredging
 Trawl fishing
 Reclamation of coastal wetlands (mangroves, salt marshes) for economic
uses
 Coastal protection structures
Chemical alterations:
 Chemical (industrial, agricultural) pollution, oil pollution
 Eutrophication
 Plastics and non-degradable litter
Fig 9: Extinct birds of the world
Some extinct plants are 
Fig 10: Cooksonia
Fig 11: Lepidodendron

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 Ocean acidification
Biological alterations:
 Introduction of non-native species
iii. CLIMATE CHANGE:
Recent climate change such as global warming has increased local water
temperatures beyond the suitable range of many species. Such changes have
made highly productive areas, such as up-welling regions, become less
productive due to changes in the food web. Lower primary production supports
a lower biomass of primary consumers. In the oceans, krill are major primary
consumers that support many important ecosystems. Therefore climate change
will inevitably impact food webs based on krill and this will be reflected in the
reduction of top level consumer such as large plankton-grazing fish and sea
mammals [2]
.
 HOW WE CAN PROTECT SPECIES FROM EXTINCTION [4]:
 Visit a national park, wildlife refuge, or protected area. These areas provide
habitat for hundreds of threatened species!
 Reduce, reuse, recycle! Recycling and reducing your waste helps our planet
and all those who live on it.
 Don’t purchase items like ivory, real tortoise shell, coral, etc. The sale of
these items lead to serious population problems for endangered species.
 Spread the word! Use your voice to speak up for the animals who can’t
speak for themselves. Zoo and wildlife organizations depend on YOU to
help spread their message for the animals who can’t talk. Easy examples of
spreading the word include: sharing social posts, sharing links to articles,
and signing petitions.
 Donate to organizations created to help our zoo animals and wildlife.
 Grow native plants! Native plants are food for many local species.
Challenge yourself to landscape with native plants, and your local animal
friends will thank you!
 Support local accredited zoos and aquariums! Zoos and aquariums help to
protect species by educating others. Also, lots of zoos have breeding
programs that help boost endangered population species.
 Drive carefully! It might seem silly, but often roads are made through an
animal’s habitat, forcing them to cross dangerous highways and busy roads.
 Always keep pets on leashes when hiking or in nature to avoid putting the
wildlife (or your pets) in danger.
 Learn! Educate yourself on local endangered animals, as well as species
native to your area. You never know who you are sharing your city with!
 CONCLUSION:
“The current extinction has its own novel cause: not an asteroid or a massive volcanic
eruption but one weedy species”.
-Elizabeth Kolbart

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We have to find out endangered species. Endangered animals are animals which are
deemed to become extinct due to various factors. The International Union for the
conservation of nature (IUCN) is the body in charge for regulating the animals’ level of
endangerment. Speaking of endangered animals, the IUCN has categorized the levels of
the endangerment. The levels are endangered, critically endangered, and vulnerable, near
threatened, least concern, extinct [3]
. These levels help us to conserve endangered species.
 REFERENCES:
1. Musick, J.A., Harbin, M.M., Berkeley, S.A., Burgess, G.H., Eklund, A.M.,
Findley, L., Gilmore, R.G., Golden, J.T., Ha, D.S., Huntsman, G.R., McGovern,
J.C., Parker, S.J., Poss, S.G., Sala, E., Schmidt, T.W., Sedberry, G.R., Weeks, H.
and Wright, S.G. 2000. Marine, estuarine, and diadromous fish stocks at risk of
extinction in North America (exclusive of Pacific salmonids). Fisheries 25: 6-30
2. Myers, N. 1993. Sharing the earth with whales. In: Les Kaufman and Kenneth
Mallory (eds.). The Last Extinction. 2nd Edition. The MIT Press. 242 p
3. https://importantindia.com/30264/endangered-animals-short-essay
4. https://wildanimalhealthfund.org/2021/03/10-ways-you-can-help-endangered-
animals/