For a number of reasons we should aim to preserve biodiversity.

Humans have started and continue to cause the Earth’s sixth mass extinction event. Climate change may contribute the most to the contemporary loss of biodiversity. Many have noticed the effects of climate change

lready and one can predict what the future holds given climate change trends; the Galapagos

Islands have exhibited these effects and can offer insight as to how climate change affects

island species and others.


Endemic island species tend to suffer at the hands of climate change since they have

nowhere else to go and cannot adapt quickly. Climate change has increased the frequency of

extreme weather patterns (El Niño-Southern Oscillation [ENSO] and La Niña events) as well as

climate variability. The increase in ENSO events aids terrestrial species who experience greater

rainfall and increased food availability consequently yet significantly harms many marine

species. La Niña does the opposite and helps marine species but harms terrestrial species.

These climate events have occurred for thousands of years but their increased frequency

significantly threatens biodiversity. Species already threatened by other factors like overfishing

may be pushed over the edge without enough time to recover between adverse climate events.

The Galapagos penguin and waved albatross both have a high chance of extinction predicted

that is substantially increased by the increase in frequency of ENSO events.

The effects of climate come to light when examining the population trends of many endemic

island species. In order to ensure the survival of many island populations, we must aim to

prevent further climate change. Even places with strict ecological laws and practices like the

Galapagos suffer because of actions like fossil fuel combustion elsewhere on the planet. Drastic

changes must be made to reduce our harm to the environment. Efforts focusing on individual

species help but might not be enough to save the majority of species at risk.


Posted by Calvin Keating (9).


Dueñas, Alejandra, Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui, and Thijs Bosker. “The Effects of Climate

Change on Wildlife Biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands.” Climate Change Ecology 2 (2021):

100026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecochg.2021.100026.

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 29, 2023 at 7:03 PM

    Hi Calvin! It's certainly interesting how different weather patterns both help and hinder marine and terrestrial organisms depending on the direction of air flow. It is clear that as climate change progresses

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill GobbiNovember 29, 2023 at 7:05 PM

      (sorry I accidentally pressed publish lol) as climate change progresses that there appears to be a severe increase in in climate weather around the world. If the weather is affecting people, you can be sure that the weather is also affecting animals globally. I wonder if there is any type of weather event in particular that affects wildlife the most negatively?

      Delete
  2. AnonymousNovember 30, 2023 at 10:58 PM

    Hi Jill, that's definitely true; environmental issues that harm us always harm other organisms too, some more than others of course. I am guessing in terms of weather events that El Niño and La Niña are the most impactful; however, I am not certain. I think Bill Nye might know the answer to this inquiry. - Calvin

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 5, 2023 at 9:04 AM

    Hi Calvin! This was a great post with some very interesting information. I find it devastating that with all the information we have about the climate change and how destructive it is to so many organisms worldwide, and very little drastic measures are being done to try and reverse it/not cause any further damage.
    -Lyssa Cunha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 9, 2023 at 4:38 PM

      Hi Lyssa, I agree. It certainly is sad. We can do things to combat climate change but we will only thrive if large changes take place and sooner rather than later

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Strain-Induced Jamming in a Spirostomum Ambiguum Cell

Spirostomum ambiguum are single-celled organisms that reside on sediment beds of brackish water habitats. These worm-like organisms range in size from 1 to 4 mm and feast on surrounding bacteria. However, there is more to meet the eye regarding this tiny aquatic organism. In a fraction of the time it takes to blink, Spirotomum ambiguum can shrink to more than half its original length. This contraction generates a gravitational force equivalent (g-force - a measure of acceleration) that is 10,000 times greater than that experienced by any other contracting cell. The energy produced is large enough to destroy the internal structures of a cell. However, this single-cell organism manages to dissipate this energy. Manu Prakash and Ray Chang of Stanford University noticed after imaging the insides of Spirostomum ambiguum cells before and after they had undergone a contraction event that their internal structures vacuoles (fluid-filled sacs) appear to entangle in the folds of a membrane-like ...
Read more

Did Corona Virus Feel Much Longer than it Actually Was? It May Have Also Changed Your Personality

 Everyone knows of those big historical events in which each person knows exactly where they were and what they were doing when they got the news. The release of the first iPhone, the announcement of the first African American president, and the national legalization of same-sex marriage are just to name a few. Endless monumental events help shape our society and give us a sense of community. Each is revolutionary in its own ways and vary per person, but some happen to make a more direct impact on all of us. Unfortunately, repeated time and time again these events are typically negative due to a trauma stress response. Coronavirus beginning 2020 is and will always be a unifying factor for every person who can recall the events. Its unique, sudden, and unpredictable nature makes it prominent in our government, healthcare, and local communities. What I’ve come to the realization of is that Coronavirus also had a drastic effect on our life order and even our personalities. In an artic...
Read more

Slimy Skincare: The Effects of Snail Mucin on Skin

If you’ve been on the right side of TikTok for a decent amount of time, you’ve definitely noticed an uptick in the popularity of snail mucin in skincare. The skincare industry never fails in shifting the goalposts for women all over the world. There is always some new fad or brand that is the “must-have” for the week and then vanishes into obscurity. Even worse, some of these fads can end up negatively impacting your skin. I definitely don’t need to remind anyone of the tragedy that was the St. Ives scrub (holy microtears). Usually, trends in beauty and skincare are driven by brands rather than particular ingredients or additives, which makes the popularity of snail mucin even more notable. Are the beauty influencers finally onto something, or is this yet another damaging trend that no one will remember in a month? A study done in May 2022 using hairless mice as a proxy for human skin showed that snail mucin does in fact lessen the effects of aging. In this study, exposure to UV rays w...
Read more