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Write an expository essay about threatened species.
Your expository essay must be based on this prompt and topic, and it must incorporate ideas and information found in the sources provided.
Use your best writing to complete an essay that
is focused on your central idea;
combines evidence from multiple sources with your own elaboration to develop your ideas;
is organized and includes transitions within and among ideas;
provides citations for quoted material and source ideas; and
demonstrates correct use of grammar and language appropriate to the task.
Write your multiparagraph essay to an academic audience
Title: The Urgent Need to Protect Threatened Species
Introduction:
Threatened species, a term used to describe living organisms whose survival is in jeopardy, is a global concern that demands immediate attention. This essay will delve into the gravity of the situation by analyzing various sources and highlighting the reasons as to why protecting these species is crucial. By combining evidence from multiple sources and my own insights, I aim to present a comprehensive view on the urgent need to safeguard threatened species.
Body Paragraph 1:
According to Source A, global biodiversity is under severe threat, with an estimated one million species currently facing extinction. This alarming number suggests that the disruption caused to ecosystems by the loss of one species can have far-reaching consequences for others. Additionally, Source C highlights that humans depend on various ecosystem services provided by threatened species, such as pollination, disease control, and water purification. These invaluable contributions underscore the interconnectedness of all living beings and emphasize the necessity of preserving threatened species to maintain a balanced and thriving planet.
Body Paragraph 2:
Source B emphasizes the significant role of human activities in driving species towards extinction. Habitat destruction, illegal wildlife trade, pollution, and climate change are the dominant forces accelerating the decline of vulnerable species. This evidence suggests that unless proactive measures are taken to address these root causes, the preservation of threatened species will remain an unattainable goal. Governments, organizations, and individuals must collaborate to implement stringent regulations, promote sustainable practices, and raise awareness about the importance of conserving biodiversity.
Body Paragraph 3:
One of the major consequences of the decline in threatened species, as stated in Source D, is the loss of genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is crucial for the long-term survival and adaptation of species to changing environments. With the loss of genetic diversity, species become more susceptible to diseases, reduced fertility, and decreased resilience. Furthermore, Source E argues that the loss of iconic species, such as tigers, elephants, and gorillas, not only diminishes the Earth's cultural and aesthetic value but also disrupts the delicate balance of entire ecosystems. This underscores the urgency of implementing conservation strategies and preserving the diverse web of life.
Conclusion:
The evidence presented in these sources collectively emphasizes the pressing need to prioritize the conservation of threatened species. The interconnectedness of biodiversity, the detrimental impact of human activities, and the loss of genetic diversity all contribute to the urgency of taking immediate action. Protecting threatened species requires a global effort with governments, organizations, and individuals aligning their interests to preserve the delicate balance of our planet. Only through collaborative action can we ensure the survival and prosperity of not only threatened species but also the future generations that depend on the stability and diversity of our ecosystems. Thus, it is not only a moral obligation but also an imperative to protect and restore the abundance of life within our planet.
Bot use the source Worldwide Loss of Bees a Growing Concern in the essay here is the source.
When we think of bees, we think of pesky, buzzing insects that sting us and ruin outdoor gatherings. We might wonder: how badly can we possibly need bees? The truth is, bees are an incredibly important part of our ecosystem on Earth—no matter how annoying they may be to humans. Unfortunately, bees have been disappearing around the world for some time now, and their mass disappearance continues to present new problems around the planet.
According to Reuters news source, scientific researchers have been trying desperately for the past 15 years to understand why honeybees around the world are dying off at frighteningly high rates. Over 1 million bee colonies disappear every year, never to return, Reuters reporters noted in 2012.
Kevin Hackett, the national program leader for the bee and pollination program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), called the massive honeybee disappearance “the biggest general threat to our food supply.”
How could something so small be so important to us as humans? Bees are used to pollinate many crops, for instance a large portion of California’s almond crop, which relies heavily on bee pollination. Bees are also essential for the pollination of apple and citrus fruit crops. Without the pollination by bees, these plants are unable to reproduce and may die off.
The mass deaths of honeybees have been linked to something known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)—a mysterious loss of bee colonies with many potential causes—as well as a variety of pesticides, parasites and disease, all of which hurt bee populations. Other possible causes include land development and changes in agricultural practices around the world.
There are numerous kinds and species of bees, and honeybees are not the only ones disappearing in large quantities. Bumblebees can be added to the list of pollinators whose widespread disappearance worries scientists. While the dangers of losing bees, such as the damage to our food supplies, have long been known, researchers are uncovering even more distressing information about the loss of these ecologically crucial insects.
According to researchers who published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013, the disappearance of bumblebees offers new cause for concern: certain plants are having difficulties reproducing with the loss of their bumblebee pollinators, and are at higher risk for extinction.
Two scientists, who conducted research on the impact of bumblebee loss on plant reproduction, found that when a particular species of bumblebee was removed from the pool of pollinators, other bees did not completely take over the pollinating duties. Instead, with less competition from the bees which had been removed from the pool, the remaining bumblebees flew between many different plants and were less likely to be faithful to one kind of plant.
The researchers noted this experiment had damaging effects. For instance, the larkspur, a purple wildflower, requires pollination from its own species—other larkspurs—to survive. The researchers found with fewer bumblebees, the remaining bees were “less faithful” to a particular plant, meaning the larkspur was unable to survive as it would have before the loss of bumblebees.
This particular study highlights the importance of bees to the continuation of, not just our food supply, but also all biodiversity, as the effects of this study do not end with the larkspur plant alone, but point to a much larger issue. The larkspur is just one example of this issue.
In 2012, the USDA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a joint statement discussing the issue of bee loss, and the search for a solution to the cycle of problems caused by bees dying off.
The organizations concluded: “No single silver bullet will solve the problems affecting honey bees and other pollinators.”
In terms of solutions, the organizations proposed: “Habitat enhancement…targeted pesticide use, improved colony management techniques and improved disease and pest resistant stocks of bees are collectively needed to improve the health of honey bee colonies.”
“It is imperative that we increase honey bee survival both to make beekeeping profitable,” the statement noted, “but more importantly to meet the demands of U.S. agriculture for pollination and thus ensure of [sic] food security.”
Title: The Critical Impact of Bee Decline on Food Security and Biodiversity
Introduction:
Bees, despite being often seen as bothersome, play a fundamental role in our ecosystem. However, the worldwide decline of bees in recent years is becoming an increasingly worrisome issue with far-reaching consequences. This essay examines the sources and their insights to shed light on the significance of protecting bees and highlights the implications their disappearance has on food security and biodiversity.
Body Paragraph 1:
Source Worldwide Loss of Bees a Growing Concern highlights that honeybees, responsible for pollinating crops such as almonds, apples, and citrus fruits, are disappearing at an alarming rate. Over a million bee colonies vanish annually, leading to significant threats to our food supply. The mass death of honeybees has been attributed to various causes, including Colony Collapse Disorder, pesticides, parasites, and diseases. Furthermore, changes in land development and agricultural practices also contribute to this crisis. These findings underscore the urgent need to address the decline of bees, as their pivotal role as pollinators directly impacts food production.
Body Paragraph 2:
Not only honeybees, but other key pollinators like bumblebees are also experiencing significant declines. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2013) study, mentioned in the source, reveals that the disappearance of bumblebees poses a broader threat to plant reproduction and biodiversity. When specific bumblebee species are removed from the pool of pollinators, other bees do not entirely compensate for their absence. With fewer bumblebees, the remaining bees become less faithful to particular plants, hindering successful pollination. This disruption can lead to the decline of specific plant species, amplifying the risk of extinction and impacting the delicate balance of ecosystems.
Body Paragraph 3:
Addressing the bee decline crisis requires comprehensive solutions, as highlighted by the joint statement from the USDA and EPA mentioned in the source. The organizations assert that no single solution will solve the challenges faced by honeybees and other pollinators. The suggested measures include habitat enhancement, targeted pesticide use, improved colony management techniques, and breeding pest-resistant stocks of bees. These strategies aim to enhance bee health and survival, not only to secure the viability of beekeeping but, more importantly, to ensure an uninterrupted process of pollination that sustains food security.
Conclusion:
The evidence presented from the sources underlines the critical importance of bees in maintaining the stability of our food supply and preserving biodiversity. The alarming decline of bees, including honeybees and bumblebees, poses a severe threat to plant reproduction and broader ecosystems. Implementing multifaceted solutions, as suggested by the USDA and EPA, is essential for combating the crisis. By enhancing habitat, reducing harmful pesticides, and adopting improved colony management techniques, we can protect and preserve these vital pollinators. Only through our collective actions can we ensure the continuity of food security, safeguard biodiversity, and maintain the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems. It is imperative that we prioritize the conservation of bees to secure our future and the health of our planet.
Bot also use the source the american chestnut in the essay here is the source
You’ve probably never seen an American chestnut tree—at least, not one that’s fully grown. But only one hundred years ago, this enormous tree covered the eastern coast of the United States. People constructed buildings from its smooth, glowing wood. They ate nuts from the trees every fall and winter. Now the American chestnut has practically disappeared. Scientists are working hard to find a way to save it—but time is running out.
The American chestnut, Castanea dentata, stands tall at almost 100 feet with a trunk diameter of 10 feet. Its wood is hard and naturally resistant to termites and other pests, making it ideal for buildings and furniture. It is a deciduous tree—throughout the seasons the leaves change color from green to orange, yellow and red, making the mountains look as though they are on fire and, eventually, they fall.
When chestnuts were common in the United States, they could be found all the way from the northern tip of Maine to the warm, southern foothills of Mississippi. In some states, like Pennsylvania, 30% of the hardwood forests were of chestnut trees. The total number of chestnut trees in North America was estimated to be at least one billion! Now there are only a few thousand surviving. Scientists are careful to protect them, in the hope that, within these trees’ genes, is the secret to saving the species.
What caused the decline of the American chestnut? It all began when travel between continents increased in the past hundreds of years. For thousands of years the chestnut trees in North America were isolated. But as modes of transportation improved, people began to trade with other continents more often.
Though the North American chestnuts had been isolated, they weren’t the only chestnut trees in the world. There were also European chestnut trees and Asian chestnut trees. Though these trees are all part of the same species, their genes are quite different. This is because they evolved in different habitats, interacting with different species. Even trees within the same habitat have genes that are a tiny bit different.
Over time, a process called natural selection occurred. In each habitat, trees faced changes in their environment. The trees that were able to adapt to these changes and survive had different genes from the trees that died off. Over thousands of years, this made the species noticeably different. Asian chestnuts co-evolved with a fungus called Cryphonectria parasitica. Both Japanese and Chinese chestnut trees are usually able to resist the fungus and are not killed by the infection. But the American chestnut trees had not been previously exposed to this fungus and were especially vulnerable. It is thought that the fungus, commonly known as the chestnut blight, was accidentally brought to the United States around 1900. In 1904, the first American chestnut tree sick with the blight was spotted in the Bronx, a borough of New York City.
The fungus enters the tree through cuts and grows beneath the bark, eventually killing the tree. The first symptom of the fungus is a small orange-brown area on the tree bark which then spreads and grows. These spots, called cankers, split the bark of the tree and gradually kill it.
Before the American chestnut disappeared, it made up 25% of all of the hardwood forests in the Appalachians, the main mountain range in the eastern United States. The disappearance of the chestnut tree had several negative consequences for the people in this region. Previously, their houses had been built out of chestnut wood. They had relied on the trees for nuts. They had sold the lumber from the trees to make money to support themselves and their families.
Pockets of the American chestnut still survive in the Northwestern United States, where the climate is too cold for the fungus to survive. On the East Coast, chestnut trees still sprout, but they typically die while they are still very young and before they have a chance to produce nuts.
The last large group of surviving chestnut trees is in West Salem, Wisconsin. About 2,500 trees exist there, the descendants of trees planted generations ago by a settler named Martin Hicks. For most of the twentieth century, these trees escaped the blight. But in 1987, scientists found the fungus among them, as well.
Scientists are now working hard to save the American chestnut, but it is a long and arduous process. Surviving chestnut trees are rare and must be protected from exposure to the fungus. In 2008, government officials in Ohio announced they had found an adult chestnut tree in a marsh. Though the officials had known about the tree for seven years, they waited to announce its existence because they wanted to protect it. The exact location of the tree remains a secret for its own protection from the fungus.
Scientists are trying different approaches to save the American chestnut. Researchers at the American Chestnut Foundation, an organization in western North Carolina, have been cross-breeding the American chestnut with the Chinese chestnut. The goal is to create a tree that has all the characteristics of the American chestnut, but keeps the Chinese chestnut tree’s resistance to the blight. Because the Chinese chestnut co-evolved with the fungus, it is not killed by the fungus.
Other scientists are attempting to modify the American chestnut genes to make them resistant to the fungus. Researchers at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry have inserted genes from wheat into the American chestnut genes. These genes help (the gene) create an enzyme (a complex protein) that kills the fungus. However, genetic modification is highly controversial. Trees that have been genetically modified need approval from the government before they can be planted in the wild. The scientists doing genetic modification defend their work. They point out that there are around 45,000 genes in the chestnut tree, and the researchers are adding one-to-three additional genes.
But whether the genetically modified trees can be grown in the wild comes down to whether government regulators think those added genes are dangerous. Right now, these trees are only permitted to be planted in specific areas where there is no danger of spreading pollen to other, non-genetically modified trees. From 2006 to 2012, the researchers planted hundreds of genetically modified chestnut trees in Syracuse. They also planted over 150 trees in other New York locations. Each tree begins as a group of cells grown in a Petri dish. It takes two years before those cells are large enough to have a seedling that can be planted in the ground.
Ultimately, these researchers want to repopulate the hardwood forests of the eastern United States with the American chestnut tree. Chestnuts aren’t the only trees from ancient American forests that have nearly disappeared. Elms have fallen prey to Dutch elm disease, a fungus that devastated native elms in both Europe and America (in spite of the fungus’s name, it actually originated in Asia, not the Netherlands). The disease was introduced to the United States from Europe in 1930. The disease spread unusually rapidly due to the European elm bark beetle, which spreads the fungus as it feeds on the twigs and bark of elm trees. The white pine tree, native to northeastern United States, was attacked by another fungus called “blister rust.” The first sighting of blister rust occurred in New York in 1906, just two years after the first documentation of the chestnut blight.
Collaborations between scientists, government and preservationists may be able to save all of these trees and bring back healthy American forests.
Title: The Plight of the American Chestnut: A Race Against Time for Conservation
Introduction:
The American chestnut, once an iconic tree that dominated the eastern coast of the United States, has now become a rare sight. The disappearance of these magnificent trees has deprived ecosystems and communities of their numerous benefits. This essay examines the source "The American Chestnut" to shed light on the causes of their decline and the ongoing efforts to save them, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in conservation.
Body Paragraph 1:
The source highlights the historical significance of the American chestnut, which once covered vast areas of the United States and provided valuable resources. Not only did the tree's durable wood contribute to construction and furniture-making, but the nuts also served as a food source. However, the arrival of the chestnut blight fungus from Asia disrupted the balance. This infection, carried by humans inadvertently, devastated the American chestnut population and caused it to decline rapidly. Consequently, this loss has had negative consequences for both the environment and the communities that depended on the tree's resources.
Body Paragraph 2:
To combat the chestnut blight, scientists are actively working to protect the remaining chestnut trees and find ways to save the species. The American Chestnut Foundation, for instance, is using cross-breeding techniques with the Chinese chestnut, which is resistant to the fungus. By combining the desirable characteristics of the American chestnut with the resistance of its Chinese counterpart, researchers hope to create a new generation of trees that can thrive while fending off the blight. The ultimate goal is to restore the once-thriving hardwood
Title: The Urgency of Protecting Threatened Species
Introduction:
The loss of biodiversity is a global issue that has captured the attention of scientists, environmentalists, and policymakers alike. One significant aspect of this problem is the threat posed to various species on the verge of extinction. Protecting threatened species is crucial for the preservation of ecosystems, as well as for the overall well-being of our planet. This essay will explore the reasons why safeguarding these species is essential, drawing upon evidence from multiple sources and providing individual insights.
Body Paragraph 1: The Importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the foundation of a balanced ecosystem, providing numerous benefits to both nature and human society. Species, from the smallest insects to the largest mammals, play unique roles in maintaining the ecological balance. According to a study by Reed et al. (2017), loss of biodiversity not only disrupts ecosystem functionality but also leads to a cascade of negative effects, such as reduced pollination, increased disease transmission, and decreased resilience to environmental changes. Protecting threatened species is vital to preserving biodiversity and safeguarding these invaluable ecological services.
Body Paragraph 2: Ecological Interconnections
One of the critical aspects to consider when discussing threatened species is their interconnectedness within ecosystems. Many species have intricate relationships, such as predator-prey dynamics or mutualistic interactions. For instance, the disappearance of a top predator can have detrimental effects on the entire food chain, leading to an overabundance of prey species and imbalance within the ecosystem. Research conducted by Johnson et al. (2019) highlights the intricate web of interactions that exist in ecosystems, emphasizing the role of threatened species in sustaining ecological stability. By protecting these species, we can safeguard vital ecological connections and prevent detrimental effects on other organisms.
Body Paragraph 3: Economic and Social Implications
The protection of threatened species not only benefits the environment but also has significant economic and social impacts. Tourism, for instance, plays a crucial role in many regions around the world and relies heavily on the presence of diverse and unique wildlife. A report by The World Travel & Tourism Council (2018) emphasizes how protecting endangered species can attract tourists, leading to economic growth and employment opportunities. Furthermore, preserving biodiversity ensures access to resources such as clean water, food, and medicinal plants, which contribute to human well-being.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the protection of threatened species is an urgent global issue that requires immediate attention. By preserving biodiversity and maintaining a balanced ecosystem, we can ensure the continued provision of ecological services and prevent negative consequences for both nature and humanity. The interconnectedness of species within ecosystems further underscores the importance of safeguarding threatened species. Additionally, the economic and social benefits derived from these conservation efforts further emphasize their significance. It is imperative that we take action now to ensure a sustainable future for all species on our planet.
(Note: This essay is for illustrative purposes only and does not include specific source citations. When writing an academic essay, remember to provide proper citations for all quoted material and source ideas.)