Final Task for Endangered Species

It seems that we have finished the topic. We're going to start with a new one next week. Now, I would like you to complete the final task.

Task (Individual)

Based on the notes in the previous entries, the lessons in the classroom, and your reading, create a concept map on the topic 'Endangered Species'.

Submit your work through email (woozixin@gmail.com) before 12.00am 26st September 2010.

Feedback for 20th September Task

Hi, 6 Adil pupils!

I have received your work for Task 1 (20th September lesson). I must say that all of you did a good job. Well done!

I have replied your email and give some feedback. Please check your email and read my comments.

Anyway, based on your work, I would like to share some interesting points that some of your friends have come up with.

Task : Other ways to prevent extinction

1. Educate young children at school. (This is very good. That is why we are having this lesson in our school.)

2. Campaigns for awareness. (NGOs can be responsible for this. Read more about World Wildlife Fund, a non-government organization. We can also have campaigns globally.)

3. Enforce the law. (Relate to my class notes, points no. 4 and 5)

Please do think of the points above. Good job, everyone!

20th September Class Notes

5 Things You Can Do To Prevent Animal Extinction

1) Provide habitat for wildlife by planting native vegetation in your yard.

• The spread of non-native species has greatly impacted native populations around the world. Invasive species compete with native species for resources and habitat. They can even prey on native species directly, forcing native species toward extinction

2) Minimize use of herbicides and pesticides.

• herbicides and pesticides are hazardous pollutants. Many herbicides and pesticides take a long time to degrade, and build up in the soils or throughout the food chain. Some groups of animals such as amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and suffer greatly as a result of the high levels of herbicides and pesticides in their habitat. 

3) Recycle.

• Buy recycled paper to protect forest species.

4) Avoid supporting the market in illegal wildlife including: tortoiseshell, ivory and coral.

• Sometimes the souvenirs are made from species nearing extinction. 

5) Protect wildlife habitat. 

• By protecting habitat, entire communities of animals can be protected together, and when communities are kept intact, less conservation intervention is required to ensure species survival.

Task 1(individual work) :

After reading the notes above, suggest 2 other ways on how to prevent extinction.

Submit your work through email (woozixin@gmail.com) before 12.00am 21st September 2010.

16th September Class Notes

Effects of endangered species

Within all species, individuals interact with each other - feeding together, mating together, and living together. Some species have a pecking order as well, and each individual has a role to play within it.

However, it is not only individuals within a species that interact. Different species of animals interact with each other all the time. For instance, animals eat other animals through their interactions in a food web. But plants are included in this web as well as they, too, are eaten by animals. Therefore, the food web would be affected if some species are endangered.

Task 1 (Individual work) :

Predict what will happen  when all the frogs extinct. Submit your work through email (woozixin@gmail.com) before 12.00am 17th September 2010.

13th September Class Notes

The last two centuries witnessed accelerated rates of animal and plants extinction and endangerment which took place alongside industrial progress and rapid growth in human populations. There are several reasons why animals and plants are facing the threat of extinction.

1) Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

·         Habitat loss, as a result of human demand, is widely considered to be the most important cause of animals and plants extinction.

·         Tropical Rainforests are the main habitats for tropical animals and plants. When tropical rainforests are cleared for wood / timber resources, development of petroleum resources, mineral resources, for cash-crop plantations and subsistence farming, animals and plants will lose their natural habitat.

2) National and International Wildlife Trade

·         Poaching and (legal and illegal) wildlife trade are another common threat to animals.

Ø  Pet Trade – endangered animal, for instance, orang utan is bought illegally as pet.

Ø  Fur Trade – animal such as jaguar, leopards and cheetah are killed and their skin is taken to be made accessories such as handbag, belt and jacket.  

Ø  Body Parts Trade - body parts of some endangered animals (such as the tiger), which are used in traditional medicine and as aphrodisiacs

3) Climate change / Global warming

• The warmer global temperature affects the animals and plants in different ways.
• In fact, global warming is predicted to put at least 20-30% of plant and animal species at risk of extinction, and up to 40-70% in worst case scenarios.
• As an example, frogs are an especially vulnerable species. The climate warming has been suggested as a possible cause for the disappearance of the golden toad in Costa Rica.

4) Pollution

• Environmental pollution which in many ways causes global warming, is another cause for animal demise.

9th September Class Notes

What is endangered species?

An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental.

What is extinction?

In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms (taxon), normally a species.

Task 1 ( Pair work) :

In pairs, search for five endangered species in the world. For each species, find the latest population. Record your data in a table. Submit your work through email (woozixin@gmail.com) before 12.00am 10th September 2010.