Name: Pauline Joy M.

Dile Due: January 14, 2023

Course, Year and Section: BSEDSC 1-1 Instructor: Ace Bryan Cabal

Activity 14: When Technology and Humans Cross

1. Look in the net or other source of information for species (plants or animals) which are
listed as threatened, endangered or critically endangered (other than those mentioned in
the lesson).

• Orangutan – Critically Endangered

• Black Rhino – Threatened
• Dugong – Threatened
• Mangrove Tree - Endangered

2. State the reasons why these organisms are in that condition (threatened, endangered,
critically endangered).

• Orangutan – Critically Endangered

The loss and deterioration of the tropical rain forest, especially the lowland
forests in Borneo and Sumatra, is the main cause of orangutans’ extremely endangered
condition. Additionally, illegal commerce played a substantial role in the population
reduction of these species.

• Black Rhino – Threatened

Illegal wildlife trade is to blame for black rhinos' severely endangered state.
Asian countries like China and Vietnam also employ their horns in traditional medicine,
and their horns are in high demand.

• Dugong – Threatened
Dugongs have been under risk because of the destruction of sea grass
habitat brought on by coastal development or industrial activities that cause water
contamination. There isn’t enough sea grass for them to reproduce naturally.

• Mangrove Tree – Endangered

Where the coast meets the rainforest is where you can find mangrove forests
that developed on stilts. Due to their vulnerability to contaminating agents and oil
spills in the ocean, these trees are in danger of going extinct.

3. Explain why you think it’s important for these organisms to be protected.

The value of biodiversity can be argued for a variety of reasons. The biodiversity is
our ecological life support, so that comes first. Intake of oxygen, clean air and water,
 pollination, wastewater treatment, and several other ecological functions are all provided
by it. Since practically all forms of agriculture depend on biodiversity, it also provides raw
materials for food, wood, and other products used in human production and consumption.
Resources from biodiversity are also available for use in the medical sector. It can serve as
a hub for emerging scientific breakthroughs. Finally, it is crucial to protect it because it is
both our home and the home of all living things on the planet.

For me, the ability of threatened species—including plants, animals, and

habitats—to preserve the ecological and biological richness of our world serves as the sole
basis for saving them. Each animal contributes in a different way to maintaining the
biodiversity of our planet. When creatures become extinct or their population is so low
that they can no longer support their species, our biodiversity will progressively
deteriorate and become incapable of doing its real function, which is to sustain life on
Earth. Habitats should also be maintained since they are home to a variety of species,
some of which cannot survive outside of their natural habitats without human
intervention. In order to protect them from harm and to stop wildlife and people from
interacting, which may result in the animals being injured or worse, killed, we must
safeguard their habitats.

4. Discuss the reasons why you think biodiversity is important and why endangered animals
and habitats should be protected.

Because healthy ecosystems protect the climate, maintain our soil, and provide us
with food. All we must do to survive is blend into our ecosystem. The ecology will sustain
our survival if we can maintain it in a healthy state, demonstrating that we have not failed
as a species. If the ecosystem starts to deteriorate and become unhealthy (since that is
the reality), we will all gradually start to suffer and later realize what we have done.
Furthermore, each component of the ecosystem should be protected because without any
one of them, the entire ecosystem—which is made up of a diversity of living beings and
processes—would suffer. As I mentioned previously, for an ecosystem to support life, it
must always be in a state of equilibrium. It is a nightmare to think about a world without
fresh water, animals, or forests. Because of this, we must act now, while it is still early, to
safeguard our ecosystem and keep it intact so that future generations can experience a
better world with a healthy environment.

5. Why should ecosystems be kept healthy, with every member of the ecosystem protected?

Healthy ecosystems maintain our soil's vitality, clean the air, control the climate,
recycle nutrients, and give us food. They supply the equipment and raw materials needed
to make medications and other products.