Rachel Thome's AP Biology Files: The Human Footprint ...Stop stepping on an animal's home!

     Would you be okay with another species just taking over your home? Or doing things that causes it to be destroyed? Probably not. Then what gives humans the right to do activities that destroy others species' habitats? Nothing. Habitat destruction and fragmentation has become a major issue since the Industrial Revolution, when more natural resources and land started to be used. And this issue has become progressively worse over the years. An acre of rainforest disappears every second, and in some of the US states 90% of their wetlands have been destroyed. This is an issue that needs to be tackeld NOW.
     Habitat destruction is when an animal's habitat is directly destroyed. For example, when trees are cut down and birds lose their nests. Habitat fragmentation, on the other hand, is when an animal's habitat is altered and no longer continuous, but instead is separated. This separation could occur due to man-made barriers, such as roads or bridges or dams. An example of habitat fragmentation would be the Three Gorges Dam on China's Yangtze River. This dam prevents certain aquatic animals from swimming up or down stream.
       Both habitat destruction and fragmentation can cause a lack of biodiversity. When habitats are destroyed or altered, not all species can adapt quick enough, and many individuals may die. This can sometimes even lead to species extinction. Also, when habitats, such as the rainforest, are destroyed this causes a decrease in the amount of carbon dioxide being absorbed, which in turn causes more carbon dioxide to remain in the atmosphere. In addition to that, habitat destruction
weakens the ability for areas to handle severe weather. For example, studies show that Hurricane Katrina wouldn't have been as bad if coastal wetlands hadn't been destroyed. These wetlands could have absorbed much of the incoming water.
       To lessen and stop habitat destruction and fragmentation, goverments and agencies should be more aware of which resources and land are safe to use and develop. Not only that, but efforts should be made to restore wetlands and to regrow naitive trees in areas of deforestation.