Research the impact of habitat destruction
It must contain the same APA citation (both in-text parenthetical format and References at the end) as a written paper would have.
Please address the following prompts:
Where in the oceans is the issue occurring?
How did the impact originate or manifest itself? What are humans doing to cause the impact?
How does the impact to the oceans affect humans?
How are scientists involved in understanding and solving the problem using experimentation/data?
What solutions on a scientific, technological and/or societal level have been considered/implemented to reduce the impact?
What actions can you take to reduce the impact?
Utilize proper writing and citation style and reputable resources to support your discussion/peer review of the issue and solution
Make sure you parenthetically cite your sources as well as have a References cited section in APA format.You must have at least 1 valid scientific web source(scientific non-profit organization or government agency, such as EPA or Chesapeake Bay Foundation) and 2 valid “soft science” secondary sources (such as National Geographic, Science, Nature or newspapers). And a total of 6 sources
Habitat Destruction
Habitat destruction is one of the most significant issues affecting plants, animals, and human beings worldwide. The earth’s ability to sustain life and reproduce has been affected by the implications of habitat loss. Habitat destruction involves the alteration of necessary and fundamental conditions for plants and animal survival (Jackson, 2020). Habitat destruction is an example of habitat loss, including habitat fragmentation and habitat degradation. The paper is a discussion of habitat destruction.
Destruction of marine habitat occurs when fundamental conditions necessary for plants and animals to survive in water are compromised. Oceans across the world experience habitat loss because most human beings settle near oceans (Knowlton, 2020). The entire ocean biodiversity is impacted by habitat loss, such as marshes, estuaries, swamps, and wetlands. Nature and human activities have been a major cause of ocean destruction. Oceans’ issue occurs when natural disruptions, such as surges, typhoons, and tsunamis, affect marine plants and animal habitats. Climate change is one of the natural and human causes of the destruction of ocean habitats. For Instance, water evaporation caused by high temperatures leads to loss of marine life, such as plants and animals, such as fish (Lam,et, al., 2019). Various habitats affected include coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrasses, and sea ice.
Ocean habitat is categorized into the soft-bottom habitat, hard bottom habitat, and intermediate habitats. Each habitat consist of unique characterizes when destructed leads to loss of life, reproduction, and biodiversity (Knowlton, 2020).The type of habitat depends on the depth, temperatures, sediments, and bacteria. Soft-bottom habitat is considered the largest habitat. Hard-bottom habitat consists of rocks and coral reefs, jetties, and other human-made features. Intertidal habitat is characterized by hard and soft rock, where plants growing in the habitat may be exposed to ultraviolet rays, wave action, and desiccation (Zhai,et,al.,2020). According to reports, the number of ocean animals, such as sharks and rays, have declined tremendously. Human activates, such as cutting down mangrove vegetation, pollution, coastal development, such as construction, aquaculture, and mining activates, have led to habitat loss.
Habitat destruction has been a constant issue over the years, where millions of species have lost life, and others are becoming extinct (Jackson, 2020). Seventy-five percent of animals live in forests and cannot survive the destruction of plants and cutting down trees. Animals such as tigers, rhinos, and wild dogs have become extinct due to human activities. The impact of habitat destruction originated in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, where technology and industrialization developed. Marine life has been the most affected compared to tarsal life (Zhai,et,al.,2020). Human activities have been the leading cause of habitat destruction, such as pollution, by directing industrial effluents into Water sources, farm chemicals, and oil spillage from ships.
The chemicals and trash flowing into oceans and other water reservoirs form a layer that limits marine animals and plants from breathing and repairing, for Instance, turtle and fish. Marine animals, such as turtles, may feed on garbage consisting of chemicals, hence choking and dying from the intoxication. Industrial waste and other kinds of trash affect the overall life cycle and food chain. Untreated sewage, military ammunition, and waste dumped from ships and airplanes have affected marine life. Coastal development has affected marine life, where buildings are built-in along the coast and on the island disrupting marine animals’ movement. Coastal development, such as the Bahamas, has also led t aquaculture and mining, leading to the cohabitation hahas destroyed reefs through trawling fishing nets affecting the plants and death of animals (Jackson, 2020). Cutting down mangrove plants has affected plants’ life cycle and marine animals that depend on them for survival.
How does the impact on the oceans affect humans?
Habitat destruction in oceans has been a significant threat to human and animal survival. Coastal development has led to flooding during high rainfall seasons, causing a rise in sea level. The floods impact human health, damage properties, and disrupt human activities; for Instance, humans contract water-borne diseases, such as bilharzia and malaria due to mosquito breeding sites (Zhai,et,al.,2020). On the other hand, loss of marine life may lead to inadequate food. Most marine foods are a source of human food, such as fish and other kinds of seafood.
Additionally, ocean destruction impacts human economic activities, such as fishing and tourism. Tourism and fishing are major economic activities conducted by human beings to gain a living (Bissessur, Baider, and Florens, 2017). Destruction of marine habitats may lead to poverty and unemployment in the society. Destruction of marine habitat leads to the extinction of marine plants, such as reefs, used to create baskets and decorative items for economic purposes. On the other hand, destruction of habitat impact transport, where sailing ships become a challenge, affecting business networks, military activities, and tourism.
From 1970 to 2016, the fall of sixty-eight species worldwide, such as fish, birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians. According to scientists, only fifty percent of natural habitat is required to revive the ecosystem. Habitat loss can be reversed if humans take urgent precautions I changing daily activities, how humans produce food and consume food (Isbell,et,al.,20i5). To achieve an ecological balance, human beings need to undertake a systematic shift in ocean management, energy creation, and the production of food with the natural world. According to scientists, biodiversity is being lost at a higher rate, where the number of species lost and animals extinct is beyond count. The most affected by the destruction of humanity include the Caribbean, and Latin American, recording a decline of ninety-four percent. Reducing wastage, eco-friendly strategies, organic fertilizers, production methods, and proper land use will Help in regaining and reversing back biodiversity.
Policies concerning the wildlife trade should be implemented to restrict animals’ trade, such as seafood and grey parrots. According to the international union of conservation, one-hundred thousand species of plants and animals are under the threat of extinction. The panel of scientists in 2019 provided that one million species are under the human threat of extinction (Udall, 2017). Organizations worldwide are advised to conduct conservation planning, advocate for environmental science, enhance community stability, and develop energy-saving methods. Organizations should train employees and members of the community on the importance of conserving the community. The federal government should protect the land by placing restrictions on land use to prevent habitat loss and limit nature loss. Society should control the consumption of produce, mainly marine food (Bissessur, Baider, and Florens, 2017). Overharvesting in marine food should be initiated through human consumption behavior and placing policies that restrict over-harvesting.
Additionally, to reduce climate change, which has led to an increase and decrease in sea level, loss of marine and terrestrial life and loss of fascinating features and natural arts should be mitigated (Zhai,et,al.,2020). Climate change can be mitigated through afforestation, reforestation, automatic boats, reduction of burning charcoal, and organic fertilizers. Climate change has been a significant cause of habitat destruction caused by extreme weather conditions and human activities. Use of the latest technology, such as electric vehicles, electric cooking appliances, use of exhausters in burning waste products, and electric boats, would reduce pollution and destruction of natural habitat.
I would reduce the impact of habitat destruction by using new technology, such as carbon-free emitters, to avoid pollution. Also, I would recycle and reuse waste instead of dumping, which affects water sanitation. I would advise anglers to harvest enough fish to avoid over-harvesting and wastage. Also, I would plant trees, flowers, and establish an organic farm to enhance, and balanced the ecosystem and promote continuity of the life and food chain. Lastly, I would create awareness on the need to reduce impacts of habitat destruction through formation of an environmental club and development of strategies in environmental management.
References
Isbell, F., Tilman, D., Polasky, S., & Loreau, M. (2015). The biodiversity‐dependent ecosystem service debt. Ecology letters, 18(2), 119-134.
Bissessur, P., Baider, C., & Florens, F. B. V. (2017). Rapid population decline of an endemic oceanic island plant despite resilience to extensive habitat destruction and occurrence within protected areas. Plant Ecology & Diversity, 10(4), 293-302.
Udall, S. L. (2017). Battle against extinction: native fish management in the American West. University of Arizona Press.
Jackson, J. (2020). Humanity’s Changing Relationship to the Ocean.
Lam, V. W., Chavanich, S., Djoundourian, S., Dupont, S., Gaill, F., Holzer, G., … & Hall-Spencer, J. M. (2019). Dealing with the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and Asia. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 28, 100560.
Knowlton, N. (2020). Ocean Optimism: Moving Beyond the Obituaries in Marine Conservation. Annual Review of Marine Science, 13.
Zhai, T., Wang, J., Fang, Y., Qin, Y., Huang, L., & Chen, Y. (2020). Assessing ecological risks caused by human activities in rapid urbanization coastal areas: Towards an integrated approach to determining key areas of terrestrial-oceanic ecosystems preservation and restoration. Science of The Total Environment, 708, 135153.
