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Endangered Marine Animals

  • May 16, 2011 6:39 pm

The ocean is one of the most important sources of life for human kind. Many rely on the food and livelihood that the ocean can provide. With the increase in pollution, many marine species are facing the threat of extinction and has been considered endangered. The ocean gives mankind an abundant source of resources. The ocean is vast and very deep. It still has so many unexplored frontiers. Because of this fact, it is believed to be invulnerable to any kind of exploitation. However, this is not the truth. Marine animals are prone and very vulnerable to extinction, and this is the harsh reality to it. Many species underwater are decreasing in a very fast rate and becoming one of the most endangered animals. Most of these species are very popular to humans; these species are often seen in the television and read in magazines.


There are so many species underwater that are already listed as endangered. Some of the most popular species that are already endangered are whales, sharks, dolphins, manatees and dugongs. Other species that are endangered are salmon and sea turtles. There are even species that does not live underwater but are affected by the increasing rate of species that are decreasing, like the seabirds. And there are still many more that rising names of species that will soon be included in the list of endangered species. Most of these species used to be mistaken as abundant, but now they are considered endangered. Studies and actions should be done to prevent the extinction of these species, or else the next generation will not see them anymore.

Studying marine animals is not an easy task to do compared to studying land animals. It is very difficult to perceive the threats to marine species because, unlike the species found on land, they can’t easily be monitored underwater. However, just like land species, they are as vulnerable or even more vulnerable to problems like destruction of habitat, overexploitation and other pollutions. Some species that lives in the shallow parts of the water to breath oxygen can easily be affected by human activities. The turtles, whales, manatees and dugongs can easily be caught in fishing gears or hit by boats. Coastal developments also affect the habitat of sea turtles as they lay their eggs on land. So many animals that take millions of years to evolve have been vanishing in a very fast rate. There are so many of these species that can’t be found in their natural habitat anymore. And the next generation will unfortunately not see these beautiful creatures anymore.

The main human activity that affects the marine animals is unsustainable fishing and production of pollution. Other factors that affect these species are loss of habitat, and spread of diseases. These problems can’t easily be remedied because they can’t be solved straightforward. Most marine animals live in small habitats and they stay there, while there are also a number of marine animals that needs to be protected as they migrate and travel to distant and vast routes. Their feeding and breeding grounds should also be protected. Fortunately, there are Marine Protected Areas designated all over the world to protect these species.
Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been designated in many places worldwide, which can help protect and restore threatened species, but MPAs are limited in size and therefore, limited to the marine life that inhabits those areas.

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.

Effect of Pesticides on Animals

  • May 16, 2011 6:19 pm

Pesticides have more environmental effect than its use. Almost all pesticides affect other species besides its target pests. Moreover, they pose a threat to endangered animals as well. Pesticides can affect other species, the air, water, food and other bottom sediments. Pesticide does not affect land and water only when it is used, it can also contaminate, when it escapes manufacturing sites, discarded, or when it runs off on fields.

The factors that affect the volume of pesticides that goes to other places besides its target are its propensity, vapor, pressure, resistance to break down and its solubility to water. There are even pesticides that destroy the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.


Pesticides can become air pollution, when wind brings them to other places when they are sprayed. Through this, the pesticide will contaminate other areas. Pesticides sprayed on crops can drift off to nearby wildlife and may affect the habitat of other animals and plants. Pesticides can easily travel through wind. That is why ground spraying produces less drift offs compared to aerial pesticides. The best thing for farmers to do is create a buffer zone around their crop area. Planting evergreen trees around their crop area so that the tree will prevent drift off pesticides to travel to other places can do this. In Netherlands, this buffer zone is legally required.

Tropospheric ozone is a pollution created by volatile organic compounds produced by pesticides that fumigate the soil, which reacted with other chemicals. 6 percent of all the Tropospheric ozone level was due to pesticides.

Animals that ate foods where pesticide residue remains may be poisoned. There are wild animals that enter crop field right after pesticide spraying. Food sources of animals may be gone due to the widespread application of pesticides. The diet and eating system of these animals will be disrupted because of this. And the entire food chain will also be affected. There are pesticides that create toxic level in the body and poison the animal over time. This is why there are many countries that discourage the use of pesticides through the Biodiversity action plans.

Pesticides are very dangerous to animals and to the households, because cross contamination of chemicals have very bad effects. That is why it is best to use organic pesticides instead of chemical pesticides. No matter what people do, there will always be pests living in their homes, and they should do whatever it takes to control or eradicate these pests. Instead of using chemical pesticides, an organic pesticide is the best alternative for it.

People just can’t let pests in their homes become a predicament; they should do something about it because pests are also very hazardous to health. Mark Ruben, Nature’s pest Best Manager, suggests the use of organic pesticides instead of doing more harm that is already created by pest through using chemical pesticides. The entire family can be contaminated with chemicals in using chemical pesticides, especially the pet. The family pet can also transfer chemicals that are harmful too. So consider using organic pesticides.