Why should we worry about the extinction of species?

Answer 1

Species are inter-dependent in any ecosystem. Every species has its place in the food chain. Remove one, and those dependent on it will be lost. Soon, those dependent on that species would be lost too. Eventually, over a fairly long period of time, you will find a significant alteration of the ecosystem that may actually have become inhabitable.

Extinction of a species is not a regular phenomenon. Permanent displacement of its habitat is. As cities, towns and farms have grown, flora and fauna have been eliminated or displaced from these areas. Over a couple of centuries, a lot has changed. We fool ourselves by saying that we have saved a particular species from extinction, because we conserve some rare orang utans from Indonesia in our well maintained zoos, as the only living samples. But as far as its traditional eco-system goes, the orang-utan is already lost to that Indonesian rain forest.

So I must add, that extinction of a species from the planet is dangerous for the local ecosystem, but permanent displacement from its traditional habitat is just as bad. Having permanently displaced it once, keeping it as a specimen in a Hong Kong or a Virginia zoo are both pretty useless, and the species may well be allowed to die anyway. We've taken away their lifestyle from them, we might as well take away their life.

Answer 2

No need for the individual to worry about species extinction. Not much an individual can do to reverse the course of extinction. The majority of extinctions have occurred naturally. A species goes extinct because it cant adapt to change in it's ecosystem and environment.

I see previous answers assessing the value of a species based on it's place in the food chain, niche or ecosystem. Well, that's all fine, but when a species numbers decline to such a point, as to be near extinction, the system and food chain have already adapted to the absence of that species.

We have examples of forced extinctions by man. The passenger pigeon is the classic example. As far as we know there have been no negative consequences from the demise of that bird.

If the condor goes extinct will other plants and animals suffer? No. There is already a species to take its place. A species better adapted. Two species of vultures.

Answer 3

There are both moral and practical aspects to this question.

Firstly, the moral question is, if we are causing the extinction of species then should we do anything about it? I think the answer is yes. Our position as dominant species on the planet brings with it responsibilities. Once a species is gone, it is gone forever (Sci-Fi cloning and time travel stories aside). If we're responsible for that it should make us feel bad. We should feel the loss on an emotional level as well as worrying about "how does this affect me?".

Secondly, there are the more selfish, practical aspects - i.e. what impact the extinction is likely to have on us.

The tropical oceans and rainforests are proving to be a treasure trove of chemical compounds which have medicinal properties. With each extinction we potentially lose access to that compound (or even the opportunity to discover it) forever.

For teaching and exam/question purposes, ecological systems are normally described quite simply (e.g. food "chains"). In reality, the relationships within an ecosystem is a much more complex web of interdependencies - not solely based on food. Lose one component and it is possible that the whole ecosystem will collapse - think if the tightly coupled symbiotic relationships that exist between some flowes and insects for pollination as an example. A seemingly minor change can wreak havoc where such complex dependencies exist. Think of a stack of cans in a supermarket - one of those pyramidal arrangements. Just pull out the wrong can and the whole thing comes down. A small change, but the interdependency within the whole structure produces catastrophic results. Complex ecosystems do have a degree of resiliency, but there may be key components which have dramatic impact when disturbed.

Even if the extinction is not man made, we may still have cause for concern. There is a current disease of bananas which is destroying crops across the world. Bananas are a major source of food for human beings in many countries. This is causing economic hardship. Imagine a disease that wipes out all rice, or potatoes, or cattle. Hundreds of millions of people would starve.

Answer 4

Don't you like species? Something wrong with them?

Seriously, it's to do with the way all life forms interact together in an ecosystem so that the loss of any impoverishes all of it.

And the total amount of genetic variety from which so far unknown strains and hybrids could be bred, for food or other purposes.

Scientists are discovering new strains and species all the time, and new uses for known ones. For example, wild rice and maize is found in hundreds or thousands of different types, which can lead to better food production when they are interbred with existing cultivated types. That is, if we don't make them extinct first.

Remember plants and animals are used not only for food but for medicine, fuel, clothing and other uses. Quite likely we have already destroyed many species of plant (including fungi), insects and sea creatures which could have been used in the future against cancer, AIDS or whatever.

Answer 5

since 99% of all the species that ever lived on this planet are extinct, i dont worry too much. nature abhors a vacuum, when one species dies out another arises to replace it.

Answer 6

Becasue we are a species too!(homo sapien sapien) Generally species become extinct because of something we've done. We need to watch why they die off because chances are what affects one living thing will affect another and eventually WE will become extinct.

Answer 7

If all species are extinct there would be scarcity of food. And scarcity of food means that we would starve because the balance of food and the population of the world or country won't be balanced, so we would starve to death.

Answer 8

It is because without various lifeforms many food chains will be affected and this disturbance can affect humans also.So for our own good we should conserve species and not destroy them

Answer 9

Cos we'll be next..and that means YOU!!

Answer 10

simply becoz it can greatly affect our environment.........