Post by Andrei Tchentchik on Mar 12, 2020 19:06:20 GMT 2
(.#A.083).- Why save endangered species ... And then after?
Why save endangered species ... And then after ?
We know that, since the appearance of life on Earth, animal species disappear and others appear continuously on the planet. It is a natural phenomenon. In contrast, species have been disappearing at a much faster rate over the past 100 years, due to human factors such as pollution, commercial over-exploitation, poaching and deforestation. And then? Is it really so important to protect all the animals on our planet?
Some philosophers and scientists keep telling us that "if we don't save animals, how can we save ourselves?" Knowing and understanding animals better also means knowing yourself better. The desire to protect animals and nature in general demonstrates the value of a society. And if we want to aim for the optimal development of our resources, we must do so not only from an economic or social point of view, but also on a more environmental basis. It is the vision of sustainable development, the very one that dictates that we use our natural resources without excess, for the benefit of future generations who will also wish the benefits.
But still, why bother to protect snakes, crocodiles, sharks, spiders, or wolves and raptors? Because no matter whether an animal is disgusting, unloved or potentially dangerous, all animals play a role in nature and have the right to a chance for survival. We would be surprised at the services they can render us in return.
Question of balance
In nature, everything is interconnected. Unfortunately, we often imagine very badly all the repercussions linked to the disappearance of a single animal population from a corner of the forest, a marsh or a section of river. Imagine the consequences of a logging cut for the development of a new residential area, or the filling of a marsh to pass a road. Imagine spilling pollutants at the mouth of a river. What would happen? Obviously, shrubs, trees, aquatic plants and algae would be contaminated, die or disappear. Thereafter, the herbivorous animals, short of resources, should leave this territory, for lack of food. In turn, small predators would no longer have prey to bite into; the biggest predators too. And so on ... There would be imbalance and imbalance in this nature modified and reshaped by the human being. And as each animal plays a specific role in the food chain and in the balance of nature, everything would change. To illustrate the role of each in the environment, let us take as analogy a pyramid identical to those of Egypt. Each animal species is represented by a block of stone. If you remove a block at its base, nothing happens. The pyramid is solid enough with all of its other blocks. But if we remove several blocks at random, it weakens and, at some point, the removal of a single block is too much and causes it to collapse. It is identical with the pyramid of life. All species are important for maintaining this fragile balance in nature, even if, at first glance, their role does not seem obvious to understand.
Here is an example that illustrates the complexity of the links between animal species. As strange as it sounds, the killer whale affects the diet of the bald eagle in Alaska! Researchers have discovered that an increase in the number of killer whales causes a decrease in the number of sea otters, one of their favorite prey. The otter, for its part, eats sea urchins. So the fewer otters there are, the more plentiful the sea urchins are. Sea urchins consume large algae which serve as hiding places for fish and invertebrates along the banks. So the more sea urchins, the less seaweed and ... hiding places! As a result, the fish change areas. In Alaska, bald eagles are raptors consuming mostly fish they find in shallow areas by the ocean. Thus, without fish, they must turn to a new source of food. It was thus discovered that the decline of sea otters in Alaska, due to the predation of killer whales, forced the eagles to change their diet and to choose seabirds as prey. What a headache!
Nature, source of life
By observing nature, humans have invented a thousand and one things. Think of Leonardo da Vinci who drew flying machines while watching the flight of bats. In terms of human health, animals and plants often tell us which way to go to stay in shape. Take the example of chimpanzees who consume different plants depending on the ailments they contract (digestive disorders, malaria attacks, parasites ...). They learned which plants relieved which ailments and in which doses! Will we discover new drugs thanks to chimpanzees? This is what veterinarian Sabrina Krief has been supporting since studying the behavior of these primates in Uganda. Humans therefore have an advantage in saving this monkey and the 190 or so primate species that live in the tropical forests of Asia, Africa and South America.
Nature can be considered a large pharmacy. There are thousands of compounds essential to the survival of humans. The animal world is therefore, in a way, part of our survival kit. Used since the 19th century, the leech is now used in surgery for the virtues of its anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory saliva. The active elements of the venom of a viper from Brazil have been synthesized into a drug that controls blood pressure. The scorpion's venom is used to research brain tumors. Sharks contribute to studies on muscle degeneration and certain forms of cancer. Honey bees improve human health by targeting and attacking certain microbes in our bodies. One of only two poisonous lizards on Earth, the Gila Monster, is said to secrete a substance into its venom that can help treat diabetes. Finally, by studying a species of African frog, we realized that it produced a molecule preventing infections resulting from bodily harm. Scientists are interested in this ability of frogs in their research on HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Imagine the potential of the 5,500 species of frog which, for the most part, do not all produce the same molecule! We could find many remedies for our small and big sores. Unfortunately, amphibians are wasting away quickly due to pollution, loss of habitat and climate change. In 2008, scientists declared that more than a third of the amphibians on the planet were seriously threatened.
Plants also play a vital role in our health. Out of the 150 most prescribed drugs, around 100 come from plants. Several active ingredients found in these plants can fortunately be synthesized in the laboratory. This is the case of aspirin which comes from the willow. In contrast, the synthesis of anticancer molecules contained in the Canada yew is impossible. We must therefore pick the shrub if we want to reap the benefits. Some specialized companies have this mandate.
An important economic engine for Canada
Did you know that over 85% of Canadians believe in the importance of nature and encourage the protection of endangered species? Economically, this translates into more than 20 million Canadians who spend billions of dollars annually on “nature” activities such as mountain walks, camping, fishing, hunting, photography, bird watching, visiting zoos or nature centers. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Canadians make their living from wildlife. Even in terms of tourism, Canada attracts many travelers for the beauty of its forests, the splendor of its mountains and the majesty of its rivers. Let's keep an eye on OUR nature and protect these gems.
In fact, why not protect animals just because they are BEAUTIFUL? A butterfly that delicately lands on a flower; a chickadee that pecks seeds at your feeder; the frogs that sing in the spring during the mating season; a moose coming out in the fog near your campsite ... Even the still abundant animal species need our support. If humans do not take action to keep our planet “green and blue”, hundreds of animal species will have disappeared within 50 years and others currently abundant will deserve the status of threatened species in 2050 : an unenviable fate. As inhabitants of the Earth, we must take steps to reverse this trend, because we are the main culprits of this ecological disorder. It is therefore up to us to ensure that over the next decades, our children and grandchildren can enjoy the beauties of nature as we do.
© Association of Endangered Species 2020. All rights reserved.
F I N .
Why save endangered species ... And then after ?
We know that, since the appearance of life on Earth, animal species disappear and others appear continuously on the planet. It is a natural phenomenon. In contrast, species have been disappearing at a much faster rate over the past 100 years, due to human factors such as pollution, commercial over-exploitation, poaching and deforestation. And then? Is it really so important to protect all the animals on our planet?
Some philosophers and scientists keep telling us that "if we don't save animals, how can we save ourselves?" Knowing and understanding animals better also means knowing yourself better. The desire to protect animals and nature in general demonstrates the value of a society. And if we want to aim for the optimal development of our resources, we must do so not only from an economic or social point of view, but also on a more environmental basis. It is the vision of sustainable development, the very one that dictates that we use our natural resources without excess, for the benefit of future generations who will also wish the benefits.
But still, why bother to protect snakes, crocodiles, sharks, spiders, or wolves and raptors? Because no matter whether an animal is disgusting, unloved or potentially dangerous, all animals play a role in nature and have the right to a chance for survival. We would be surprised at the services they can render us in return.
Question of balance
In nature, everything is interconnected. Unfortunately, we often imagine very badly all the repercussions linked to the disappearance of a single animal population from a corner of the forest, a marsh or a section of river. Imagine the consequences of a logging cut for the development of a new residential area, or the filling of a marsh to pass a road. Imagine spilling pollutants at the mouth of a river. What would happen? Obviously, shrubs, trees, aquatic plants and algae would be contaminated, die or disappear. Thereafter, the herbivorous animals, short of resources, should leave this territory, for lack of food. In turn, small predators would no longer have prey to bite into; the biggest predators too. And so on ... There would be imbalance and imbalance in this nature modified and reshaped by the human being. And as each animal plays a specific role in the food chain and in the balance of nature, everything would change. To illustrate the role of each in the environment, let us take as analogy a pyramid identical to those of Egypt. Each animal species is represented by a block of stone. If you remove a block at its base, nothing happens. The pyramid is solid enough with all of its other blocks. But if we remove several blocks at random, it weakens and, at some point, the removal of a single block is too much and causes it to collapse. It is identical with the pyramid of life. All species are important for maintaining this fragile balance in nature, even if, at first glance, their role does not seem obvious to understand.
Here is an example that illustrates the complexity of the links between animal species. As strange as it sounds, the killer whale affects the diet of the bald eagle in Alaska! Researchers have discovered that an increase in the number of killer whales causes a decrease in the number of sea otters, one of their favorite prey. The otter, for its part, eats sea urchins. So the fewer otters there are, the more plentiful the sea urchins are. Sea urchins consume large algae which serve as hiding places for fish and invertebrates along the banks. So the more sea urchins, the less seaweed and ... hiding places! As a result, the fish change areas. In Alaska, bald eagles are raptors consuming mostly fish they find in shallow areas by the ocean. Thus, without fish, they must turn to a new source of food. It was thus discovered that the decline of sea otters in Alaska, due to the predation of killer whales, forced the eagles to change their diet and to choose seabirds as prey. What a headache!
Nature, source of life
By observing nature, humans have invented a thousand and one things. Think of Leonardo da Vinci who drew flying machines while watching the flight of bats. In terms of human health, animals and plants often tell us which way to go to stay in shape. Take the example of chimpanzees who consume different plants depending on the ailments they contract (digestive disorders, malaria attacks, parasites ...). They learned which plants relieved which ailments and in which doses! Will we discover new drugs thanks to chimpanzees? This is what veterinarian Sabrina Krief has been supporting since studying the behavior of these primates in Uganda. Humans therefore have an advantage in saving this monkey and the 190 or so primate species that live in the tropical forests of Asia, Africa and South America.
Nature can be considered a large pharmacy. There are thousands of compounds essential to the survival of humans. The animal world is therefore, in a way, part of our survival kit. Used since the 19th century, the leech is now used in surgery for the virtues of its anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory saliva. The active elements of the venom of a viper from Brazil have been synthesized into a drug that controls blood pressure. The scorpion's venom is used to research brain tumors. Sharks contribute to studies on muscle degeneration and certain forms of cancer. Honey bees improve human health by targeting and attacking certain microbes in our bodies. One of only two poisonous lizards on Earth, the Gila Monster, is said to secrete a substance into its venom that can help treat diabetes. Finally, by studying a species of African frog, we realized that it produced a molecule preventing infections resulting from bodily harm. Scientists are interested in this ability of frogs in their research on HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Imagine the potential of the 5,500 species of frog which, for the most part, do not all produce the same molecule! We could find many remedies for our small and big sores. Unfortunately, amphibians are wasting away quickly due to pollution, loss of habitat and climate change. In 2008, scientists declared that more than a third of the amphibians on the planet were seriously threatened.
Plants also play a vital role in our health. Out of the 150 most prescribed drugs, around 100 come from plants. Several active ingredients found in these plants can fortunately be synthesized in the laboratory. This is the case of aspirin which comes from the willow. In contrast, the synthesis of anticancer molecules contained in the Canada yew is impossible. We must therefore pick the shrub if we want to reap the benefits. Some specialized companies have this mandate.
An important economic engine for Canada
Did you know that over 85% of Canadians believe in the importance of nature and encourage the protection of endangered species? Economically, this translates into more than 20 million Canadians who spend billions of dollars annually on “nature” activities such as mountain walks, camping, fishing, hunting, photography, bird watching, visiting zoos or nature centers. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Canadians make their living from wildlife. Even in terms of tourism, Canada attracts many travelers for the beauty of its forests, the splendor of its mountains and the majesty of its rivers. Let's keep an eye on OUR nature and protect these gems.
In fact, why not protect animals just because they are BEAUTIFUL? A butterfly that delicately lands on a flower; a chickadee that pecks seeds at your feeder; the frogs that sing in the spring during the mating season; a moose coming out in the fog near your campsite ... Even the still abundant animal species need our support. If humans do not take action to keep our planet “green and blue”, hundreds of animal species will have disappeared within 50 years and others currently abundant will deserve the status of threatened species in 2050 : an unenviable fate. As inhabitants of the Earth, we must take steps to reverse this trend, because we are the main culprits of this ecological disorder. It is therefore up to us to ensure that over the next decades, our children and grandchildren can enjoy the beauties of nature as we do.
© Association of Endangered Species 2020. All rights reserved.
F I N .
