Endangered Species
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- Date Submitted: 03/21/2014 06:05 PM
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Endangered Species
Raymond Smith
BIO/280
January 27, 2014
Shameema Sarker
Endangered Species
The Gulf of Mexico is a large marine ecosystem and is located at the Southeastern corner of North America. The Gulf is bordered by the United States to the North, five Mexican states to the West, the island of Cuba to the Southeast, and is partially isolated from the Atlantic to the East. The Gulf of Mexico has a very high diversity of marine habitats. The habitats include tropical Estuaries, shallow inshore waters with soft sandy bottoms, rocky bottom and reef communities, and a large area of deep sea. These habitat variations help to sustain a large diversity of over 300 marine life species, including sea birds, marine mammals, and sea turtles just to name a few.
Biodiversity is at risk in the Gulf of Mexico. Critical habitats, such as coral reefs, mangrove forests, and sea grass meadows, are being lost at a frightening rate. Some of the major factors are the development of coastlines for industry, agriculture, and tourism. Over fishing can cause dramatic shifts throughout ocean ecosystems, slowing or even preventing restoration of depleted fish populations and their habitat.
There are several threatened and endangered species in this large marine aquatic ecosystem. Some of the primary reasons for this are polluted water, and loss of habitat. On the threatened and endangered species list is the Gulf sturgeon, Florida manatee, the brown pelican, and the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, these are only four of many species that are endangered or threatened.
The Gulf sturgeon is an anadromous fish, migrating from salt water into large coastal rivers. Although much of the sturgeon’s life is spent in fresh water, it utilizes bays and estuaries for feeding and migration. Major threats to this rare, primitive species include physical barriers to their spawning grounds like locks and dams, habitat loss, and poor water quality. The Gulf...
Raymond Smith
BIO/280
January 27, 2014
Shameema Sarker
Endangered Species
The Gulf of Mexico is a large marine ecosystem and is located at the Southeastern corner of North America. The Gulf is bordered by the United States to the North, five Mexican states to the West, the island of Cuba to the Southeast, and is partially isolated from the Atlantic to the East. The Gulf of Mexico has a very high diversity of marine habitats. The habitats include tropical Estuaries, shallow inshore waters with soft sandy bottoms, rocky bottom and reef communities, and a large area of deep sea. These habitat variations help to sustain a large diversity of over 300 marine life species, including sea birds, marine mammals, and sea turtles just to name a few.
Biodiversity is at risk in the Gulf of Mexico. Critical habitats, such as coral reefs, mangrove forests, and sea grass meadows, are being lost at a frightening rate. Some of the major factors are the development of coastlines for industry, agriculture, and tourism. Over fishing can cause dramatic shifts throughout ocean ecosystems, slowing or even preventing restoration of depleted fish populations and their habitat.
There are several threatened and endangered species in this large marine aquatic ecosystem. Some of the primary reasons for this are polluted water, and loss of habitat. On the threatened and endangered species list is the Gulf sturgeon, Florida manatee, the brown pelican, and the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, these are only four of many species that are endangered or threatened.
The Gulf sturgeon is an anadromous fish, migrating from salt water into large coastal rivers. Although much of the sturgeon’s life is spent in fresh water, it utilizes bays and estuaries for feeding and migration. Major threats to this rare, primitive species include physical barriers to their spawning grounds like locks and dams, habitat loss, and poor water quality. The Gulf...