Extinct/Endangered Animals & ESA

Written by: Caroline Kim

September 5, 2022

It’s widely known that environmental concerns reach beyond just human life; it significantly influences all living organisms. The detrimental effects can be seen from many angles, one of which is endangered/extinct wildlife species. Just within North America, the Red Wolf species is threatened by “climate change and the resulting rise in sea levels” (North America’s most endangered animals). The Kemp Ridley, a sea turtle, has been endangered due to fishing. However, more recent attention to the issue has brought about more policies and systems to help rescue and protect these turtles. Overfishing can result in population diminishing not only of the collected species, but also the predators of those species and the predators of the predator. The ecosystem’s function is all interconnected, and one disruption can cause quite a bit of damage. Additionally, climate change can cause alterations in habitat (precipitation, climate, drier/damper lands, different plants, and overall population fluctuation depending on which species thrive better in the given conditions). Food chains and competition are disrupted, and new challenges are presented when a species goes extinct, or another species that relies significantly on a single species may also diminish due to a lack of resources.

There are a few categories of extinction: phyletic/pseudo extinction (extinct but leaves behind an evolved version) and terminal extinction (no evolved descendants and is either destroyed at once or gradually disappearing over time). The national wildlife federation is working to protect endangered U.S. species by strengthening the endangered species act, holding agencies accountable, advocating for funding, restoring habitats, and reducing wildlife threats (Protecting Endangered Species). The Endangered Species Act recognizes the historical and ecological value of certain animals, and so it works to enforce protection from extinction (Parham). Once officially listed as an endangered species (after thorough consideration of “habitat, disease, and predation”, it is protected under the ESA; protection and research are also done in relation to the species (Parham).

Sources:

Magazine, Smithsonian. “North America's Most Endangered Animals.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 18 May 2011, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/north-americas-most-endangered-animals-174367735/.

Iberdrola. “Extinct Species: Why Do They Disappear?” Iberdrola, Iberdrola, 22 Apr. 2021, https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/extinct-animals.

“Protecting Endangered Species.” National Wildlife Federation, https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Wildlife-Conservation/Endangered-Species.

Parham, Georgia, and Tina Shaw. “Preventing Extinction and Supporting Biodiversity: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.” FWS.gov, 25 Oct. 2021, https://www.fws.gov/story/preventing-extinction-and-supporting-biodiversity.