Man Up Humanity! Take Responsibility

Many Scientists consider humans as the most invasive species, as humans greatly change an environment and impact living things that reside there. Are we being stewards of the world? Take a look at an issue in which human intervention has positively or negatively affected the biodiversity of our ecosystems.

In my opinion, humanity is an invasive species and thus are terrible stewards of the world. Any plant, animal or microbe that is not native to a given ecosystem which is likely to harm the ecosystem, human health or cause economic losses is an invasive species.(greeniacs.com) Humanity, being the most mobile species, can live anywhere on earth, and everywhere we go we harm the ecosystem. Through pollution, over harvesting , the introduction of invasive species and habitat destruction, humanity affects the biodiversity of every ecosystem. By affecting this diversity of living things, we jeopardize the species' existence, and in turn the entire ecosystem and all that is in it, including humanity. As stewards we are suppose to be taking care of our planet, yet we do so many things to harm it.

Pollution is a Major factor affecting the biodiversity of our world. The burning of fossil fuels have lead to an increase of green house gasses and the chemicals, toxins and waste we release into the environment poison countless ecosystems. Because of this, many species are being harmed, even endangered and extinct. The Irish Char, a fish that was present in sizable amounts in the early 1980s was extinct from Irish lakes and rivers by 1990 due to excess amounts of phosphorus from agricultural run offs.

Not only does humanity poison ecosystems and habitats. we destroy them too. Habitat destruction affects all animals in the ecosystem as their homes are destroyed through deforestation, wetland drainage and the conversion of habitats for our growing agricultural needs. Plant species and constantly destroyed for agriculture, firewood and building materials. How can anyone expect something to live when heir habitat, their homes, no longer exist?

As humanity's population grows so does our demand for food, which leads to over harvesting. The biodiversity of our planet is being lessened every year because we consume resources faster than they can be replenished. It is estimated that 70% of the world's important fish stocks are over exploited, paper use has grown six times since 1961 and fresh water consumption has tripled since 1950. (BBC) Commercial fishing catches more fish than we need, faster than they can reproduce and replace what was taken. If we continue over harvesting like this many species will cease to exist. Does this sound like we're taken care of the earth? I don't think so!

Humanity is the most mobile species and wherever we go, we bring alien species with us, whether it be intentional, like the small Indian mongoose, or unintentional like zebra mussels, it still happens.

Zebra mussels, native to the Caspian Sea region of Asia, were likely brought into the Great Lakes area accidentally on the hulls or in the ballast water of vessels. The Zebra mussels spread rapidly, clogging pipes, cooling systems of boat engines and boat hulls and devouring most of the available microscopic food supply. Their sharp edges cut the feet of swimmers in the lakes as well. Governments are working feverishly to educate boaters so the mussels don't spread any farther.




Though the introduction of this invasive species was done by accident, the introduction of the small Indian mongoose was not. The mongoose (nominated as "100 World's Worst Invaders") is native to Asia. The small Indian mongoose has however, been introduced widely to the West indies, Mauritius, Hawaii and several other islands to control rats, snakes and other pests in sugarcane and other crop fields. However, the mongoose started killing domestic poultry and indigenous animals. The mongoose has been held responsible for the extinction of several animals. Oh, and did I mention that it's also a vector for rabies? The mongoose of course is completely innocent sense it was humanity that is responsible for introducing this invasive species in the first place!



All of this greatly affects the biodiversity of our world. As stewards of the earth, humanity is doing a terrible job. We are suppose to be taking care of our planet and everything on it, yet we are ruining its biodiversity by killing and endangering so many plants and animals. Biodiversity is essential to the strength of the entire ecosystem. I hate to break it to humanity, but we're doing a crap job at caring for our world. Humanity has got to get educated on what we are doing! Take on responsibility for our actions.W must take care of our one and only planet earth if we intend to keep living on it, and that includes taking care of everything that resides here! Man (or woman!) up humanity!

Sources

Global Invasive Species Database

http://www.issg.org.database/species/ecology.asp?=86&fr=1&sts=sss&lang=EN

The Effect of Human Population on Biodiversity

http://www.ecology.org/biod/poulation/human_pop.html

The Irish Char Conservation Group

http://www.charr.org/cong/lough_cong_char.htm

http://www.gma.org/surfing/human/zebra.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/programmes/tv/state_planetlover.shtml