4/29/2019 3 Comments Habitats in harmonyWhat do you think of when someone says the word “home?” You probably think of the sounds, the smells, the tastes, and the sights you see when you walk into the place that keeps you safe. You hear the sounds of your siblings playing or the greetings from your parents after school. You smell the sweet scent of cookies baking in the oven. Maybe you even feel the warmth and comfort of your own bed. Overall, your home has a huge impact on you. You feel comfort, happiness, and a sense of safety and belonging at home. But what would happen if your home was taken away from you? How could you live without the one thing that is guaranteed to give you comfort and protection? It would be almost impossible. Now, think of this situation from the perspective of an animal. Whether it be a large black bear roaming the forest, or a tiny songbird resting in its nest high up in the trees, all animals have homes that are equally important to them as our homes are important to us. The only difference is that animals have specific natural habitats that are required for their survival. A habitat is the natural home or environment of an animal. Natural habitats provide animals with the right amount of food, shelter, and the correct environment needed for them to survive and prosper. Different habitats provide different resources for different animals to live, but ultimately, all habitats provide a home. This is why it is extremely important for us as humans to protect those homes and their inhabitants. In order to understand how important the conservation of habitats are, it is crucial to understand how much animals depend on them for survival. A habitat or ecosystem provides four things: food and water, control of climate and disease, nutrient cycles and oxygen, and recreational or social benefits. Each aspect of an ecosystem contributes to another, allowing for balance and growth within it. Without one, the whole cycle becomes disrupted, and the survival of the animals living there is put on the line. Climate affects what animals and plants can live in a certain area, ultimately maintaining the food cycle. Nutrient cycles and oxygen also allow for plants to grow and the area to stay healthy. I could list so many other ways a habitat can affect the lives of its inhabitants, but the list would go on and on. What’s most important is that we understand how what may seem like a small change can make a significant impact on our world. When we drive our cars around the city, throw a soda can out the window, or watch as a black cloud of smoke emerges from a factory in the city, we don’t think much of it. These are just ordinary things that happen every day. Many of us don’t think twice. However, we should think twice about these things. We actually need to think twice, or maybe even hundreds of times. Air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, and climate change are all extremely significant issues that are affecting animal habitats across the world. These problems are only getting worse. Toxins being absorbed by fish and other sea life due to water pollution is causing death and disease among the ocean’s inhabitants. Deforestation is taking away the homes of millions of birds, squirrels, and other animals that depend on the protection of the forest. Climate change and warming temperatures from air pollution are actively causing ice to melt in polar bear habitats. Again, the list goes on and on as to the animals all being affected by human activity on the Earth. How we treat the Earth itself has a direct impact on the survival of precious wildlife, which is why we need to treat it so much better than we are now. If you would like to know more about the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation, check out The National Wildlife Federation for more information. To find more ways to support conservation and take action, visit Wildlife Conservation Society.
3 Comments
Chloe
4/30/2019 07:25:02 am
Hey Audrey!
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6/9/2019 03:11:23 pm
Thanks for another educational post, Chloe! What I love about this is that you educate your readers without sounding preachy. Instead, you share the facts in an accessible way--even for the non-scientsits among us. Promise me you'll keep this scholarly blog going! It would be very impressive to colleges. :-)
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