The environment

HUMAN IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation,

pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have
triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable
water. These negative impacts can affect human behavior and can prompt
mass migrations or battles over clean water.
Lynx

A lynx is any of the four species (the Canada lynx,

Iberian lynx, Eurasian lynx, or blocat) within the
medium-sized
Wild cat genus Lynx. The name lynx originated in
Middle English via Latin from the Greek word
λύγξ, derived from the Indo-European
root leuk- ('light, brightness’) in reference to the
luminescence of its reflective eyes.
 Appearance
Lynx have a short tail, characteristic tufts of black hair on the tips of their
ears, large, padded paws for walking on snow and long whiskers on the face.
Under their neck, they have a ruff, which has black bars resembling a bow
tie, although this is often not visible.
Body colour varies from medium brown to goldish to beige-white, and is
occasionally marked with dark brown spots, especially on the limbs. All
species of lynx have white fur on their chests, bellies and on the insides of
their legs, fur which is an extension of the chest and belly fur. The lynx's
colouring, fur length and paw size vary according to the climate in their
range. In the Southwestern United States, they are short-haired, dark in
colour and their paws are smaller and less padded. As climates get colder
and more northerly, lynx have progressively thicker fur, lighter colour, and
their paws are larger and more padded to adapt to the snow. Their paws may
be larger than a human hand or foot.
The smallest species are the bobcat and the Canada lynx, while the largest is
the Eurasian lynx, with considerable variations within species.
1.Eurasian lynx
Species
The four living species of the genus Lynx are believed to have evolved
from Lynx issiodorensis, which lived in Europe and Africa during the
late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. The Pliocene felid Felis
rexroadensis from North America has been proposed as an even earlier
ancestor; however, this was larger than any living species, and is not
currently classified as a true lynx.
1.Eurasian lynx:
Of the four lynx species, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is the
largest in size. It is native to European, Central Asian,
and Siberian forests. While its conservation status has been
classified as "least concern", populations of Eurasian lynx have
been reduced or extirpated from much of Europe, where it is now
being reintroduced. During the summer, the Eurasian lynx has a
relatively short, reddish or brown coat which is replaced by a much
thicker silver-grey to greyish-brown coat during winter. The lynx
hunts by stalking and jumping on its prey, helped by the rugged,
forested country in which it resides. A favorite prey for the lynx in
its woodland habitat is roe deer. It will feed however on whatever
animal appears easiest, as it is an opportunistic predator much like
its cousins.
2. Canada lynx 2.Canada lynx:
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), or Canadian lynx,
is a North American felid that ranges
in forest and tundra regions across Canada and
into Alaska, as well as some parts of the northern
United States. Historically, the Canadian lynx ranged
from Alaska across Canada and into many of the
northern U.S. states. In the eastern states, it resided in
the transition zone in which boreal coniferous forests
yielded to deciduous forests. By 2010, after an 11-year
effort, it had been successfully reintroduced
into Colorado, where it had become extirpated in the
1970s. In 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
designated the Canada lynx a threatened species in
the lower 48 states.
The Canada lynx is a good climber and swimmer; it
constructs rough shelters under fallen trees or rock
ledges. It has a thick coat and broad paws, and is
twice as effective as the bobcat at supporting its
weight on the snow. The Canada lynx feeds almost
exclusively on snowshoe hares; its population is highly
dependent on the population of this prey animal. It will
also hunt medium-sized mammals and birds if hare
numbers fall.
 3.Iberian lynx:
3.Iberian lynx The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is
an endangered species native to the Iberian
Peninsula in Southern Europe. It was the most
endangered cat species in the world, but
conservation efforts have changed its status
from critical to endangered. According to the
Portuguese conservation group SOS Lynx, if
this species dies out, it will be the
first feline extinction since the Smilodon 10,000
years ago. The species used to be classified as
a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx, but is now
considered a separate species. Both species
occurred together in central Europe in
the Pleistocene epoch, being separated by
habitat choice. The Iberian lynx is believed to
have evolved from Lynx issiodorensis.
 4.Bobcat:
4.Bobcat The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a North American wild cat.
With 13 recognized subspecies, the bobcat is common
throughout southern Canada, the continental United
States, and northern Mexico. Like the Eurasian lynx, its
conservation status is "least concern." The bobcat is an
adaptable predator that inhabits deciduous, coniferous,
or mixed woodlands, but unlike other Lynx, does not
depend exclusively on the deep forest, and ranges from
swamps and desert lands to mountainous and agricultural
areas, its spotted coat serving as camouflage. The
population of the bobcat depends primarily on the
population of its prey. Nonetheless, the bobcat is often
killed by larger predators such as coyotes.
The bobcat resembles other species of the genus Lynx,
but is on average the smallest of the four. Its coat is
variable, though generally tan to grayish brown, with
black streaks on the body and dark bars on the forelegs
and tail. The ears are black-tipped and pointed, with
short, black tufts. There is generally an off-white color on
the lips, chin, and underparts. Bobcats in the desert
regions of the southwest have the lightest-colored coats,
while those in the northern, forested regions have the
darkest.
 Bibliography
https://www.libertatea.ro/lifestyle/specii-de-animale-pe-cale-de-disparitie-din-romania-si-din-lume-3864924
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/resource-library-human-impacts-environment