Do we need that Endangered Species Act?
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was an innovative measure for the future of nature and continues to protect the diversity of the animal and plant kingdom of the United States. This law is important to the survival of all living things because every living organism depends on the life of another living thing to survive, including humans. Aquatic species in Florida are essential for the health of the environment in which it lives. For example, because all creatures and plants depend on each other for survival, when one species is allowed to become extinct, all other species in that ecosystem will do one of two things, either die off or overpopulate an area. The result of an extinct species is that there will be either too much or too little of another animal, plant, or resource. When human activity is allowed to hunt or exploit any plant or animal in a way that is unregulated, the chances for extinction increase because humans have an innate ability to overuse a resource. There are hundreds of endangered, threatened, and at-risk species in Florida wetlands and marine environments. Although there are hundreds of plants and animals listed as threatened or endangered species, this paper will only highlight a few species and explain why each is important for the continuation of a healthy ecosystem in the Florida aquatic environment. Therefore, this paper will attempt to show the necessity for The Endangered Species Act to continue in the waters of Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission drafted a plan of how to manage imperiled species, before they become threatened or endangered species. The plan will cover continued protection and restoration for about 57 animal species. Eight mammals have lost habitat and are fragmented across the state, many of which depend on a healthy aquatic environment to survive. Over 21 bird species are included in the plan, including water-foul such as the Blue Heron, Egrets, and Pelicans. 12 species of reptiles are included in the plan, so are 4 amphibians and 9 fish. Three invertebrates such as crayfish, which depend on the watery ecosystem of the Everglades to survive need this plan to avoid extinction. The plan covers 10 years and considers each species need for adequate food, shelter, and space for breeding. The plan also considers human needs without further degradation to wildlife habitat.
Human activity has caused the decline of natural populations of animals and plant species in Florida and across the planet. Humans have threatened the populations of thousands of species, endangered hundreds, and have destroyed natural habitat in the name of progress of humans to the point of possibly driving many species that are not accounted for, to extinction. Turtles are part of that balance which has been disrupted due to human activity.
There are five species of Sea Turtles that live off the coast of Florida. They are the Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, Leatherback, and Loggerhead. Each species has to fight for survival by battling natural threats, such as crocodiles and raccoons, which eat the turtle eggs and hatchlings, when possible. With all of the natural threats, if a hatchling grows to become and adult, it was very lucky. In addition to the threat of predators, human activity has been an issue for the turtles. Although the turtles are protected in the United States, there are no laws to protect them in other countries. The turtles are subject to hunters who kill the turtles for the shells, skins, oils, and other parts that are used for decoration, medicines, and food. Another human activity that threatens the turtles is the hunt for their eggs, which are a rich, nutritious meal. Other human activity which threatens the sea turtles are the rubbish that floats in the ocean. This rubbish is usually plastic bags, rings, and fishing nets. The plastic is usually wrapped around a sea turtle and deforms or kills the animal. Fishing nets are a huge threat because sea turtles caught in the nets are typically harmed, killed, or captured and used as food. Human threats are much more preventable than predator threats because humans have the ability to reason and use self-control. However, humans also have the ability to view animals as less important living creatures and, therefore, humans may not care about the animals that are harmed in the process. In the United States, sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The green turtle is a herbivore are the largest of the sea turtles, growing to be over 700 pounds. These turtles are not able to retract their necks, which makes them even more susceptible to capture. Green turtles can hold their breath for an impressive length of time, several hours. Green turtles rarely come to shore except when laying eggs. To warm themselves, they usually swim near the surface of the water. They are an important part of the ecosystem because they eat algae, and seagrasses, as well as their eggs, provide a source of good nutrition for predators. (National Geographic)
The Kemp's Ridley turtle is an amazing creature. It is unfortunate that this turtle is the most endangered of all sea turtles. Human activity, including harvesting eggs, has been the key to the decline of an estimated 1,000 of these turtles worldwide. The Kemp’s Ridley nesting lands are protected, and fishing ships have special devices to protect turtles, but that is not enough to save them yet. These small sea turtles begin their lives facing predatory animals as they journey to the ocean from the nests in the sand. The hatchlings emerge after dark to make the first dangerous trek to the water, where they may be safe temporarily. More predators wait in the salty sea, where many become a healthy meal for another creature. However, nature is build for prey and predator, and the cycle continues. Humans do not need to be part of that cycle, and the Kemp's Ridley turtle needs more protection if the species is going to succeed. These beautiful sea turtles live for about 50 years in the wild and grow to about 2 feet and weight about 100 pounds. They like to live in shallow water, close to crabs and other shellfish, but they will also eat seaweed and other sea grasses. Females lay eggs at around eleven years of age, and only every three years. They tend to lay the eggs on the same beach where they hatched, which makes it fairly easy to predict where to limit human activity during nesting season.
Leatherback turtles are the largest and perhaps the oldest species of turtles on the planet. They grow to about seven feet long and over 2,000 pounds. The species has been traced back to about 100 million years ago and once covered the planet. However, the Leatherback is now endangered and needs extensive protection against extinction. The Leatherback is named for its leathery shell that is not like other turtles. Most turtles have hard shells, but the Leatherback’s shell is rubbery which may allow for the deep dives and long submersion times of over 4,000 feet and about 85 minutes. Leatherbacks are found in all temperatures of water, including the cold waters near Norway and the warm waters of New Zealand. They can generate body heat and maintain it because of their adaptations which include a thick layer of body fat. The Leatherback migrates almost 4,000 miles to breed and lay about 80 eggs in a hole before coving the hole with sand and returning to the ocean. The gender of the baby turtles is determined by temperature. At about 85 degrees Fahrenheit a mix of males and females will hatch. Cooler temperatures will create all males and in warmer temperatures al females will hatch. Only females will return to their hatching site, but the males stay at sea all of their lives. In addition to natural predators, human activity is responsible for the decline of Leatherbacks. It is estimated that only one out of one thousand hatchlings will survive to adulthood, Many of the Leatherbacks die from ingesting floating plastic, which looks like jellyfish, which is the Leatherback's favorite food.
Loggerhead turtles have been a threatened species since 1978 and are the most abundant in population and distribution of all the marine turtle species in the waters around Florida and the rest of the United States. Like the Leatherbacks, the Loggerheads enjoy a wide range of waters across the world. However, they stick close to land and will go into inland waters frequently to feed. They are about one-third the size of the Leatherbacks and have hard shells. They are carnivores who enjoy jellyfish, crabs, and fish, but they will balance that diet with seaweed and other aquatic grasses as well. The females return to the place of their birth, to lay eggs, which helps scientists count hatchlings. However, the numbers seem to be declining even though they are on the endangered species list. Their numbers may also be declining from nesting grounds that have been developed by humans for housing and business opportunities in other parts of the world.
Sea turtles need protection to increase in population and continue the important ecological balance of the planet. Human activity needs to be monitored for the continued survival of the planet, including humans. However, Sea turtles are only one of the many species which are endangered or threatened to be endangered and need protection to survive.
Another endangered species that lives, breeds, and is effected by human activity is the manatee. This gentle animal lives in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and is endangered because of human activity, such as hunting, boat propellers, and fishing nets. The manatee is a marine mammal that eats mostly sea grass, algae, and aquatic plants. Its place in the ecosystem helps control aquatic plant life, so it does not get out of control. Manatees give birth to one calf at a time underwater, and live to be about 40 years old in the wild. They are an average of 8 to 13 feet long and can weigh up to 1,300 pounds. Males are typically larger than females. However, a nursing female can eat as much as a male twice her size. The population of manatees has decreased significantly over the last one hundred years due to human activity. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 may attempt to protect the manatee. However, it is difficult to enforce as most humans who kill the manatee, do so accidentally with boats and fishing nets. (National Geographic) The stories are similar for the other four species of turtles that live along the coast of Florida and inland. Some are herbivores; some are carnivores. However, they all are part of the ecosystem and help to keep life in balance. (National Geographic)
In addition to the mammals which are threatened and endangered by human activity, at least, two large reptiles, the American Crocodile, and the American Alligator are endangered species. Both populations have had their habitats filled in for housing projects, hotels, and shopping centers or farmland. These giant lizard looking animals are an essential part of the swamp ecosystem and need humans to be more careful about the destruction they cause to other living things.
The American Crocodile is recovering from the endangered species list and is now listed as threatened. The American Crocodile was listed as endangered in 1975 when there were only about twenty nesting sites. Human activity, loss of habitat, and fragmentation of the species were listed as the main causes for the low species population. Since then, the Endangered Species Act has protected American Crocodile habitat, and the population has grown. And there are approximately 100 nesting sites along the southern Florida coastline. This shy reptile may be large. However, it is more scared of humans than humans need to be of the crocodile. For example, because crocodiles must rely on external sources for body temperature regulation, they will often sun themselves with their mouth open. If a human scares them, they will bound into the water and wait for the human to leave before they return to their warm, sunny spot. Crocodiles are carnivores and will eat almost anything that moves, especially if that thing is in the water or near the edge. So, like all living things, these fantastic animals help keep the population of other animals in balance.
The American alligator is slowly recovering from being on the endangered species list due to legislation that restricts human activity near or with alligators. Part of the success can be credited to the reduction of a human demand for alligator based products, such as skins for boots and purses, and the increased endangered species education. Scientists estimate the population to be around one million. The species had survived for about 150 million years, which means that this is a leftover species from a time when dinosaurs roamed the planet. The American Alligator lives in bodies of freshwater in Florida and Louisiana. These large ancient reptiles can grow to about an average of 12 feet and weigh about 1,000 pounds. They are awkward on land, but accomplished and graceful swimmers. Alligator mothers tend to hatchlings for about two years. Unfortunately, the hatchlings are prey for other predators, such as birds, raccoons, large cats, and other alligators. Alligators are important for the a and biodiversity of the ecosystem. They help keep other populations in check. They will rarely attack a human unless food is scarce.
Birds have an important role for the aquatic environment of Florida. Birds eat insects, snails, and aquatic plants such as duckweed. Much like the larger animals on the endangered species list, birds have a large part of the life cycle in the ecosystem in which they live. Their essential role as insect eaters helps to keep the populations of certain insects in balance. Several birds are on the endangered species list, including the Everglades snail kite, wood stork, Cape Sable seaside sparrow, red-cockaded woodpecker, piping plover, bald eagle, and roseate tern.
The Snail Kite has been listed as endangered since 1967 and resides entirely in Southern Florida. The Snail Kite has a specialized diet of apple snails and depends on the water quality and quantity of the Everglades. This raptor is about the same size as the Western Red Tailed Hawk but not as graceful. Unlike most aquatic based birds, it does not dive into the water to capture snails. Instead, it prefers to capture them with its talons. The habitat of the Snail Kite is limited to the freshwater of the marshes where apple snails are found. Human activity from agriculture, runoff, sewer drainage and another water quality degradation activities has reduced the feeding grounds of these essential birds. It is important that humans continue to restore the balance of natural habitat around and in the Everglades, so more bird populations are not endangered or threatened. For example, the Wood Stork and Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow compete with the Snail Kite for hunting and nesting grounds. Both of those birds are also endangered. They are all dependant on the hydrology of the area. Because humans have destroyed the natural habitat by draining the water of the Everglades area, more than half of the wetlands for using the land for agriculture and housing. After it had taken nature over 5,000 years to create the Everglades, only one-fifth of the area is left, leaving man-made canals, levees, and disruptive flow control measures that include salt and fresh water mixing which left nature little room to adapt, which it has not been able to do very well. Many other birds are endangered, threatened or in danger of protected status. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 may need to be updated to include human activity that is currently not in the law to protect these species from extinction.
In addition to the many animals which are endangered or threatened, essential plant species are also of great concern and require protection. For example, the Florida Everglades ecosystem was threatened by human activity by draining much of the water to make room for agriculture. Native aquatic animals and plants lost essential habitat. The result of this loss was that many species became endangered and possibly extinct, as it is not possible to know exactly all of the species that lived in the area before human activity destroyed the natural habitat. (South Florida Museum of Natural History)
When the wetlands were drained, grasses and other plants living in the water could not survive. The plants which remained have had a difficult challenge with survival. For example, there are at least four different species of mint that are listed as endangered, one seagrass, one species of water willow, and several other aquatic plants that manatee and other herbivores have relied on for survival. All of these are endangered, threatened, or extinct due to human activity. When humans destroy the habitat of other living things, the result is that more than one species is affected. Because humans drained wetlands for use as agriculture and farm production such as cattle grazing, many animal species either had to relocate or they started to die off.
Protecting the aquatic environment of the Florida wetlands and coastline is an essential key to future survival for both humans and nature.
Environmental impact reports have only been used habitually since the late 1970s. Before that period, it would seem that the impact of human activity on the environment was not as important to the health of the aquatic ecosystem as it is today. For example, not until the Everglades National Park was established in 1947 was there any concern to protect the natural habitat of what wild flora and fauna were left in the area. This data is important to know because colonists and early settlers were focused more on stripping the land for human use than they were about protecting nature to keep the land healthy. However, it is common practice to provide the governmental authorities with an Environmental Impact Statement before any human activity, such as building roads, structures, or other construction of any kind takes place near wildlife habitats.
According to information found at the National Park Service website, the Everglades National Park, the water that once flowed freely from the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee, through low lands and into areas that covered almost 11,000 square miles for thousands of years, provided a delicate and balanced ecosystem for thousands of species. However, early settlers saw the land as another opportunity to conquer, tame, and turn into farmland, without regard to the natural balance of life in the wetlands, the humans began the drainage process in the early 1900’s. Back then laws were not in place to protect the environment and its inhabitants. However, in 1947, the Everglades Nation Park was established through the undying support of conservationists, scientists, and others who wanted to protect the wetland ecosystem.
Works Cited
"Florida's Federally Listed Plant Species." / Florida Statewide Endangered and Threatened Plant Conservation Program / Forest Health / Our Forests / Florida Forest Service / Divisions & Offices / Home. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
"Florida Statewide Endangered and Threatened Plant Conservation Program." / Forest Health / Our Forests / Florida Forest Service / Divisions & Offices / Home. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
"Threats to the Everglades." :: Florida Museum of Natural History. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
"Imperiled Species." Imperiled Species. Web. 10 Mar. 2016
United States. National Park Service. "Sea Turtles." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
"Manatees, Manatee Pictures, Manatee Facts - National Geographic." National Geographic. Web. 10 Mar. 2016
"Green Turtles, Green Turtle Pictures, Green Turtle Facts - National Geographic." National Geographic. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
United States. National Park Service. "History & Culture." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2016
