Week 3 Biodiversity

What is biodiversity? a variety of life on earth
Why is biodiversity important? Having biodiversity is very important and necessary to help sustain life on earth. The life cycle is clearly that a cycle of events that help clean our environment, provide food, produce oxygen, pollinate crops. Through biodiversity different species have specific jobs to help maintain the lives of other species in their own way.
Key Terms:
Endangered: plants and animals that are in such low numbers they are endangered of extinction.
Threatened: any native species likely to become an endangered species within the future.
Extinction: no longer exiting.

Mini assingment 3:

Being a NY native I have decided to present a list of a few endangered or threatened animals within the state. Keep in mind that this is modified list of animals. This project was very enlightening to me and the many who may have participated. The animals that I have provided pictures for and the others on my list are all animals that I have never personally seen in NY unless it was at an acquarium or zoo. I found it very interesting that these animals are all native to NY. I find it very sad that we are unable to experience these wonders of the world unless they are protected.
Human beings take advantage of the fact that we can change our environment to suit our needs but we are among the most selfish and unnatural of species. I feel this way because human beings no longer follow the natural flow of the life cycle. We tear down other species habitats to provide housing and business ventures. This does not occur in other habitats. We need to realize that we are both the cause and solution. We can come together and educate one another in the preservation of the world. We now live in a very technologically advanced world and it is sometimes better to resort to past times and live a simplier life for the benefit of our world.

For the residents of NYS you can view http://www.dec.ny.gov/ which is a government funded website and you can learn what can be done to help preserve our environment. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation also list all of the endangered species, also those that are threatened to be endangered.

Here are a few endangered species found in NYS:
Molluscs: Dwarf Wedge Mussle
Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail
American Burying Beetle
Insects: Karner Blue Butterfly
Fish: Round Whitefish
Silver Chub
Amphibians: Tiger Salamander
Northern Cricket Frog
Reptiles: Leatherback Sea Turtle
Bog turtle
Birds: Golden Eagle
Short eared owl
Mammals: Blue Whale
Sperm Whale