Bronte Wells
Air pollution is a pressing issue that affects all life forms, including endangered animals. While the impact of air pollution on humans and domestic animals has been well-documented, its effects on wildlife are less understood. Air pollution poses a significant threat to endangered animals, exacerbating their vulnerability to extinction. This paragraph aims to explore the detrimental effects of air pollution on endangered species and highlight the urgent need to address this global challenge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution can harm wildlife in two main ways | Affecting the quality of the environment or habitat in which they live; affecting the availability and quality of the food supply |
| How air pollution harms habitats | Acid rain can change the chemistry and quality of soils and water, making water bodies too acidic for some animals to survive; acid rain can increase the release of heavy metals such as aluminium into water habitats, which is toxic to many animals including fish |
| How air pollution harms food supply and quality | Heavy metals, toxics, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other air pollutants enter the food chain, damaging the supply and quality of food; these pollutants collect and increase in concentration as they move up the food chain (bioaccumulation); top-level predators such as bears and eagles are particularly susceptible to bioaccumulation |
| Air pollutants can poison wildlife by | Disrupting endocrine function; causing organ injury; increasing vulnerability to stresses and diseases; lowering reproductive success; causing death |
| Changes in the abundance of any species due to air pollution | Can dramatically influence the abundance and health of dependent species; for example, the loss of some fish species may benefit certain types of ducks that feed on insects, but could be detrimental to eagles and other animals that depend on fish as a food source |
| Air pollution can cause | Direct mortality; debilitating industrial-related injury and disease; physiological stress; anaemia; bioaccumulation |
| Air pollution can alter | Animal behaviour; social and mating behaviours |
| Air pollution can cause | Biodiversity loss; changes in species distribution |
Acid rain
The water in lakes and streams can become too acidic for aquatic animals to survive, and acid rain can also increase the release of heavy metals such as aluminium into water systems. Many aquatic animals cannot tolerate low pH environments, and the mucus on the gills of fish can become sticky, causing them to be unable to receive oxygen from the water. This can lead to the death of aquatic animals, which then affects the food supply of other animals within the habitat, throwing the entire food web and ecosystem out of balance.
For example, acid rain can cause phytoplankton in lakes to die, which insects rely on for food. As the insects die, there is less food for fish, birds, frogs, and salamanders, demonstrating how acid rain can affect the entire food web.
The effects of acid rain can be mitigated under certain conditions, such as having a thick layer of soil or certain types of bedrock under the soil to absorb the rain. However, it still poses a significant threat to the environment and can have far-reaching consequences for many animals, including endangered species.
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Heavy metals
To mitigate the effects of heavy metal pollution, various techniques such as bioremediation and phytoremediation have been explored. Bioremediation involves using living organisms like bacteria, fungi, and plants to remove toxic substances from the environment. Phytoremediation, on the other hand, utilises plants to extract or reduce heavy metals from the soil. Certain plant species, like Brassica juncea and Helianthus annuus, have been found effective in removing heavy metals from contaminated sites.
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Food supply
Air pollution has a detrimental effect on the food supply of endangered animals. It can cause a decline in the population of species that other animals depend on for food. For example, air pollution can lead to an increase in the levels of aluminium in water, which is toxic to fish. This, in turn, can negatively impact birds and mammals that rely on fish as a food source.
Air pollution can also cause changes in the pH levels of aquatic environments, which can affect the fish population. Most fish cannot tolerate a pH level below 4.5, and the subsequent acidification and toxicity can impact the breeding success of amphibians. The reduction in the number of amphibians can then have a detrimental effect on the food supply of predators such as birds and mammals.
Furthermore, air pollution can cause toxic pollutants to be deposited on soil and water, which are then taken up by plants and ingested by animals. This can lead to health issues for animals and impact their ability to reproduce. For example, pollutants can cause a decrease in the release of carotenoids from plants, which are a significant food source for insects. The scarcity of insects then causes food scarcity for insect-eating birds.
Air pollution can also directly impact the food supply of endangered animals. For example, it can cause a reduction in the number of insects available for birds to eat, as well as impact the breeding success of amphibians, which are a food source for other animals.
Overall, air pollution can have far-reaching consequences on the food supply of endangered animals, affecting both the quality and availability of their food sources.
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Habitat destruction
Human activities, such as land clearing for animal grazing or crop cultivation, contribute significantly to habitat destruction. This practice is prevalent in the Amazon, where nearly 80% of cleared land is used for cattle grazing. As a result, the Amazon now emits more carbon dioxide than it absorbs, contributing to climate change.
Soil and water degradation are other consequences of land clearing. Acid rain, a product of air pollution, can alter the chemistry and quality of soils and water sources. This alteration can make water bodies too acidic for some aquatic life to survive or disrupt their physiological functions. Additionally, acid rain can increase the release of heavy metals like aluminum into water bodies, proving toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms.
The situation is dire in waterways, coastal areas, and the ocean. Coastal estuaries and marshes, which provide breeding grounds for many marine species, are being dredged and filled, hindering species' ability to reproduce and nurture their young. Deforestation can also cause erosion, with silt entering shallow marine waters and blocking the sunlight necessary for coral reefs to survive.
The destruction of habitats driven by animal agriculture is a significant contributor to the extinction of plant and animal species. It is estimated that 137 different species of plants, animals, and birds are lost daily due to forest destruction worldwide. Unique species like orangutans, gorillas, pandas, sloths, butterflies, and rhinos are among those most at risk due to the loss of their natural habitats for food production.
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Behavioural changes
Air pollution can also cause changes in the habitats of animals, which in turn affects their behaviour. For instance, an increase in parasites and a decrease in food sources can be caused by long-term air pollution. This can lead to food scarcity for birds, as toxic emissions impact the release of carotenoids from plants, a significant food source for insects.
The impact of air pollution on animal behaviour is not limited to direct exposure. Contaminants can enter the food chain, affecting the quality and availability of food sources. This can lead to bioaccumulation, where pollutants increase in concentration as they move up the food chain, posing a significant threat to top-level predators such as eagles and bears.
Additionally, air pollution can cause respiratory issues, organ damage, and even death in animals. As a result, animals may exhibit behavioural changes as they become more susceptible to diseases and experience a decline in reproductive success.
The behavioural changes in animals due to air pollution are complex and far-reaching, impacting their health, reproduction, and overall survival. These changes can have cascading effects on ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need to address air pollution to protect endangered animals and maintain ecological balance.
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Frequently asked questions
Air pollution affects the quality of the environment and habitats of endangered animals, as well as the availability and quality of their food supply. It can cause direct mortality, injury, disease, physiological stress, anaemia, and bioaccumulation.
Air pollution can change the chemistry and quality of soils and water. For example, acid rain can make water bodies too acidic for some animals to survive, and can increase the release of heavy metals such as aluminium into water habitats, which is toxic to many animals, including fish.
Heavy metals, toxics, and other air pollutants can enter the food chain, damaging the supply and quality of food for endangered animals. These pollutants collect in the tissues of animals and increase in concentration as they are eaten by other animals along the food chain, a process known as bioaccumulation.
Pollutants can trigger unusual behaviour in animals. For example, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, and PCBs can directly influence the social and mating behaviours of animals.
Air pollution can cause changes in the distribution of certain wildlife species, as well as biodiversity loss, which can increase the risk of infectious diseases. It can also make animals more susceptible to stresses and diseases, lower reproductive success, and increase mortality rates.
