Causes of Endangerment

When discussing the causes of endangerment, it is important to understand that individual species are not the only factors involved in this dilemma. Endangerment is a broad issue, one that involves the habitats and environments where species live and interact with one another. Although some measures are being taken to help specific cases of endangerment, the universal problem cannot be solved until humans protect the natural environments where endangered species dwell.

There are many reasons why a particular species may become endangered. Below are several factors leading to endangerment:


Habitat Destruction

The habitats are constantly changing because of the continuous change occurring in the planet. Rapid habitat loss is the main cause of endangerment. Rapid habitat loss is caused when changes that are supposed to be gradual happens at a very fast pace until there is no time for individual species to adjust and react in the new environment. Human beings are the biggest influence on rapid habitat loss. For example, human activities have caused the loss of microbes in soils that is important in supporting tropical forests , thus resulting in the destruction of habitats. Results of human activities also include the extinction of fish and various aquatic species in polluted habitats.

Although it is not easy to realize that human beings have a given a great impact on specific species, but it is obvious that human activities have greatly contributed to the endangerment of species. If the destruction of forests still continue at a very fast pace, massive amounts of animal species will fade away. This is because it will take centuries for a destroyed forest to be re-grown and these forests are the very habitat of these animal species. For example, although tropical forests may look as though they are lush, they are actually highly susceptible to destruction. This is because the soils in which they grow are lacking in nutrients.


Introduction of Exotic Species

Native species are animals that are part of a specific geographic area. They are well adapted to their local environment and are familiar to the presence of other native species within the same general habitat. Exotic species which are intruder are introduced into new environments, either intentionally or accidentally by human activities.

However, exotic species may seen harmless but they are able to cause serious disruption which can affect the delicate ecological balances.
Introduced exotic species are able to put native species in danger by preying on them. This results in the alteration of the natural habitat and will cause a greater competition for food. Examples of exotic species are insects, rats, pigs, cats, and other foreign species have actually caused the endangerment and extinction of hundreds of species during the past five centuries.


Overexploitation

A species that faces overexploitation is one that may become severely endangered or even extinct due to the rate in which the species is being used. Due to the trade in animal parts, many species continue to suffer high rates of exploitation. Even today, there are demands for items such as rhino horns and tiger bones in several areas of Asia. It is here that there exists a strong market for traditional medicines made from these animal parts.


Pollution

Pollution has a great impact on the natural environment and the organisms that live in it especially to endangered and threatened species that rely heavily upon specialized environments or lie high upon the food chain. Pollution is directly or indirectly responsible for eradicating and creating endangered species.

By the 21st century, the Earth is full of chemical pollution. Furthermore, the threat posed by atmospheric pollution and climate change threatens to degrade and destroy habitats for creatures from polar bears to plankton.
These threats multiply with time. For instance, pesticide poisoning of the water weakened the Amphibians’ natural immunity to fungus that has already wiped out several species and critically endangered many others.