9/24/10
9:13AM
A Troubling Decline in the Caribou Herds of the Arctic
Across the Arctic Circle caribou populations are on the decline. Population decreases are being seen in Alaska, Canada, Russia and other Arctic locations. Scientists have come to the conclusion that this is a result of many factors including increase of warming in the arctic circle as well as the caribous not adapting to these changing conditions and other animals migrating farther north because of the warmer weather. With the increase in temperatures make spring come faster- which is mating season- but the caribou are not mating earlier meaning that calves are born past the peek vegetation season. Human development in Canada and Greenland is also affecting the population. Roads, mines, dams, drilling platforms and other things are also shrinking the land that the caribou have previously roamed free in.
What does the caribou population mean to us? They should be more than just a label for a major coffee company. The arctic indigenous people rely on the caribou populations for food and clothing. What happens if they aren’t around? Will Native People’s population decline? Then will we care- we hypothetically care about human life. The planet is warming faster mostly because of human activity speeding up the natural processes. Increased development and increased development all have played a role in the decline of the caribou populations. So should we slow the development of our economies? We are ideally trying to increase standards of living for all people. But the question is why should we care? Our actions do affect our planet. Many other species are on a decline for similar reasons. So should we develop in other places or not at all to save the caribou and other animals? The declining caribou populations will eventually affect other wildlife in that ecosystem. Perhaps we should come up with newer technologies that lessen our impact on the planet and the nature around us. Some comprise must be made because human and animal only have one planet to share. And it is not fair for someone or something to lose their home because of factors that we can control.
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/a_troubling_decline_in_the_caribou_herds_of_the_arctic_/2321/
1 comment:
Why should we care about the declining population of caribou? Because they are part of our ecosystem and because it is us mankind who caused that.
I believe that the ecology is a compact system in which damage to one part will affect other parts. If global warming is to mainly be blamed for their declining population and if global warming is mainly caused by human activities, then we are to be blamed and we should care!
Post a Comment