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What is Biodiversity?
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of both plant and animal species present in one self-sustaining ecological environment. This includes everything from the whales in our seas to the bacteria floating in our waters. All of these specimens form intricate food webs that are very hierarchical in nature. These webs allow the species present to both support and live off of each other.
Why Do Food Chains Matter?
Why Do Food Chains Matter?
These food chains or webs are essential to the survival and health of our ecosystems. This dynamic is especially fragile within our waterways, as there are not as many animals that can fill the place of another if it goes extinct. These chains provide not only food but also the transfer of energy, population control, and stability for the ecosystem. Stability is especially important in our polluted world, because it makes ecosystems more resilient to pollution, climate change, or invasive species.
Impact of Pollution on Animals
Impact of Pollution on Animals
Pollution is one of the biggest threat to our biodiversity. Here are some of the main threats:
Plastic and Garbage: This debris can strangle or starve aquatic life, as they cannot digest plastic once it has been consumed.
Chemical runoff: Chemical often impact all levels of the food chain, harming reproduction and metabolism rates.
Ocean acidification: Caused by the ocean absorbing 25% of Earth's carbon emissions. This bleaches and kills coral reefs and severely alters fish behaviors. This can impact their sense of smell, putting them in danger.
Lowering oxygen level: The continuation of all these kinds of pollution has inevitably led to a lower oxygen level in our waterways. This puts even more stress on our aquatic life, making ecosystems much weaker in the face of change.
What We Can Do
What We Can Do
Reduce how much plastic we use
Dispose of chemicals properly
Do not use lawn herbicides and pesticides
Maintain your car to prevent leaking oil
Support conservation efforts
Learn about clean water initiatives near you
Learn about where your water comes from and how to protect it
By doing some of these simple things above, we can ensure that our most vital resource is protected and that we continue to have access to all the benefits our water has to offer.
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