Climate change leads to endangered species extinction!

Endangered species are considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Once, A.W. Williams says, “The earth is large enough for all to share, but mankind’s heart is not large enough to share.” When deeply concerned about the reasons for extinction, climate change ranks very high. Even if it is a natural phenomenon, human behavior aggravates climate change. Therefore, it is problematic to the lives of organisms since 19^th May is commemorated annually as world endangered species day to raise awareness.

Background

The National Endangered Species Day 2023 theme is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. It is the most powerful legal tool for protecting species at risk of extinction. The Endangered Species Act has built up a stellar success rate, saving 99% of the species it protects from extinction.

It’s also the 18th anniversary of National Endangered Species Day. This day is celebrated mainly in the United States but is also becoming popular in other regions worldwide. National Endangered Species Day spreads the vital message of conserving species that fall in the endangered category. So many plants and animal species are under the threat of extinction due to climate change, anthropogenic activities, and natural causes. National Endangered Species Day raises awareness about the importance of such species and encourages world leaders to take action. 

The story behind the Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act (ESA)-USA  is the most influential law to protect species from extinction worldwide. Ninety-nine percent of species protected by the list have avoided death.  Read more from here, Archived. These species are listed after certain research studies with experts in the field. Through research, they identified population densities and possible risks of the species becoming extinct. Also, they considered many factors, including direct threats, habitat, food availability, reproduction rate, and climate, to categorize species as endangered. 

Status of endangered species Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a country that is rich in biodiversity. However, now the country’s human population is growing very fast, and because of that, habitat loss, pollution, and urbanization are happening so fast, threatening wildlife. At the same time, they are threatened with extinction, threatening flora and fauna to extinct. Below are some of the animals we hear about daily, at a very high risk of death. But, unfortunately, humans conflict with most of them.

Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus Maximus), The Sloth Bear (Melursus Ursinus),  Leopard (Panthera Pardus Kotiya), The Black-Necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), The Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus), Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys Coriacea), Red Slender Loris (Loris Tardigradus), Blue Whale (Balaenoptera Musculus), Toque Macaque (Macaca Sinica), Purple-Faced Langur (Semnopithecus Vetulus), Meminna (Moschiola Meminna), Tennent’s Leaf-Nosed Lizard (Ceratophora Tennentii).  

According to our analysis, Sri Lanka has published its latest assessment of the conservation status of birds, showing a worrying increase in the number of species considered threatened since the last assessment was published in 2012. The assessment covers 244 endemic and migratory species and lists 19 as critically endangered, 48 as endangered, and 14 as vulnerable,  the three “threatened” categories. It highlights the loss of habitat due to climate change as a critical threat, which could shrink the suitable range for mountain species by up to 90%. Birds and terrestrial and aquatic organisms are in the endangered species category. Climate change and Sri Lankan behavior bring severe threats to Species Island wide. 

Climate change affects endangered species.

Climate change significantly affects endangered species, exacerbating existing threats and pushing them further toward extinction. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation is one of the significant issues.  Climate change alters temperature and precipitation patterns, leading to changes in ecosystems and vegetation. This can result in the loss and fragmentation of habitats critical for endangered species, making it harder for them to find suitable areas to live, feed, breed, and migrate.

• Range Shifts and Disruptions

As temperatures rise, species may need to shift their ranges to track suitable climatic conditions. Although some species can do so, some endangered species may not be able to disperse or adapt quickly enough, leading to reduced population sizes and increased vulnerability to other threats.

• Altered Phenology

 Climate change can disrupt the timing of critical ecological events such as migration, breeding, and flowering. For example, if a plant species flowers before its pollinators emerge or prey species become available after the predator’s breeding season, it can have cascading effects on endangered species that rely on these interactions for survival.

• Increased Extinction Risk

 Climate change compounds the threats endangered species face, such as habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation. These cumulative pressures make it even more challenging for species to recover and increase their risk of extinction.

• Ocean Acidification

Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere lead to ocean acidification. This negatively affects marine ecosystems and endangers species such as coral reefs, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms. Coral reefs, for example, provide essential habitats for numerous species, and their decline impacts the entire ecosystem. 

• Changing Ecosystem Interactions

 Climate change disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems and alters species interactions. For example, warmer temperatures may favor the expansion of invasive species, which can outcompete native endangered species for resources and habitat.

 Conclusion

Addressing climate change and its impacts on endangered species requires global attention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, mitigate the causes of climate change, protect and restore critical habitats, and promote sustainable practices. Conservation strategies should also include adaptive management approaches to assist endangered species in coping with changing environmental conditions. 

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