3rd Hour Discussion Board - Humans Threaten Galapagos

[Admin]

Watch National Geographic's "Humans Threatening Galapagos", located at http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/news/culture-places-news/galapagos-invasive-wcvin.html . Reflect on the video and answer ONE of the following questions. In addition to your posted reflection, respond to the postings of TWO of your classmates.

1. In your opinion, which of the following is more important:
A. protecting endangered & threatened species from extinction even if some people may
not be able to visit & learn about the wildlife on the Galapagos Islands
B. protecting the rights of individuals to visit & learn about the wildlife on the
Galapagos Islands, even though some species may go extinct as a result
Defend your selection.

2. What is biodiversity? Why is it important to our world? How does the impact of humans on the Galapagos Islands threaten the world's biodiversity? Short of banning human visitors from the Galapagos Islands, what initiatives can we take to protect the animals on these islands?

Initial Posting: Due Wednesday, October 20 at 11:59 pm
Response Postings: Due Friday, October22 at 11:59 pm

[timmy buck buck]

Galapagos Islands should stop people from observing and interacting with the animals that live there. If it is causing them to become endangered then it is not worth it. Studying them just so that they become endangered and extinct is a waste of time. This is more important than letting the people visit the islands by far. You can't get those animals back but people will always be able to vist the islands and as or human rights, just tell them to get out they feelings and move on with their lives.

[aMAIZEing94]

In my opinion protecting endangered and threatened species from extinction even if some people may not be able to visit and learn about wildlife of the Galapagos Islands is more important than protecting the rights of individuals to visit and learn about the wildlife. I feel this way BECAUSE some species may go extinct as a result. We can always go back and visit the island to learn about the wildlife, while it's there, but if we keep abusing the situation (in this case the species), there will not be any wildlife to learn and visit. Besides, finding solutions to end human abuse of the environment (and the use of fossil fuels) on the island will help find ways to end the abuse all over the globe.

[krazedxasylum]

In my opinion protecting endangered & threatened species from extinction even if some people may not be able to visit & learn about the wildlife on the Galapagos Islands is a lot more important than protecting the rights of individuals to visit & learn about the wildlife on the Galapagos Islands even though some species may go extinct as a result. I believe this because if an certain populaiton of animals becomes extinct, then our food chain will be greatly affected. Possibly over population of a species may occur or other species could follow in extinction because they would have nothing to prey on, which will ulimatley affect us. Also, it does not seem like protecting the rights of individuals to visit & learn about the wildlife on the Galapagos Islands even though some species may go extinct as a result should prioritize over choice one because it should not be more important to educate people on animals that will soon become extinct rather than trying to prevent the species from becoming extinct.

[gamerdude94]

I think that we should limit the amount of tourists to preserve the animals on the galapagos islands. Although these people will not be able to visit these islands permanatley, they will still be able to see videos and read about the animals that live there. We need to preserve these islands because there are prime examples of darwins theory of evolution on these islands. This is a better option then having the firsthand experience for a few years until the animals die out. If we go with this option we will be able to examine the life on the galapagos islands for years to come.

[Richiee12]

Part A.- Protecting endangered & threatened species from extinction even if some people may not be able to visit & learn about the wildlife on the Galapagos Islands is more important.
Protecting endangered and threatened species from extinction will help society. Plants and animals are one of the basis of a society. Saving the wildlife can make Galapagos Islands appear to be a more beautiful country which could in return attract more visitors. Protecting the rights of individuals to visit & learn about the wildlife on the Galapagos Islands, may cause some species to go extinct and in all we're trying to PREVENT them from becoming extinct. If animals become extinct then this could damage the islanders food chain. It's not all about being able to visit and learn about the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, it's more like protecting the Earth, and making it a better place for humans, animals, and plants.

[Suga-Mama]

The Galapagos Islands are an ecological and biological treasure. It is one of the only places left in the world that have not been completely invaded and destroyed by human pollution. We need to keep it that way and protect the species that are endangered, and preserve the species that are still healthy on the islands. Personally I think that the Galapagos would be better off if humans had not started living there in the first place, but since they are they need to do everything they can to preserve the treasure they've almost destroyed. Humans can find somewhere else to develpe. There are just some places that need to be left alone in nature, like the Galapagos. Also, too many natural processes and species will be disturbed if human population and pollution is left unchecked.

[PaulyD]

I think that saving and protecting endangered species from extinction is WAY MORE IMPORTANT than people who won't be able to visit and learn about wildlife on the Galapogos Islands. I feel this way because some species might go extinct as a result. The species need the Galapogos more than we do because that's THEIR environment and our wanting to visit and learn about them isn't more important than their survival.

[tweetywizard]

I believe that saving the endangered species even if people wouldn't be able to look and learn about them is important. This is important because if the species on the island go extinct then the thing that made the island unique will be gone (the animals). The island will always be there, the animals won't, so we have to take good care of them so that once we save the endangered animals, the people and other tourist will be able to go and learn about them. So Lets Save Those Animals People!!!

[Siillee-Differenter]

What is biodiversity? Why is it important to our world? How does the impact of humans on the Galapagos Islands threaten the world's biodiversity? Short of banning human visitors from the Galapagos Islands, what initiatives can we take to protect the animals on these islands?

Biodiversity is the sum total of the genetically based variety of all organisms in the biospere. It is important to our world because it is one of Earth's greatest natural resources. Humans on the Galapagos Islands threaten the world's biodiversity by introducing toxic compounds into food webs. More carbon dioxide and pollutants are being exposed to the air as more tourists visit and the population increases. To help protect the animals on these islands conservation could be used. Less fossil fuels could be burned and a limited amount of tourists.

[NorthStar]

2. What is biodiversity? Why is it important to our world? How does the impact of humans on the Galapagos Islands threaten the world's biodiversity? Short of banning human visitors from the Galapagos Islands, what initiatives can we take to protect the animals on these islands?

Biodiversity is the variety of species, their genetic make-up, and the natural communities in which they occur. As more people visit or make their homes on the islands and exchange goods from the continent, the site's natural resources are increasingly threatened. The use of coal and diesel fuel for electricity on some of the islands results in both greenhouse gas emissions and damage to the marine environment effect all of the rare marine species in the Galapogos the effect of their envorionment show that it can happen on a global scale.

[iluvowls]

I believe it is more important to protect the endangered animals then to make Galapagos accessible for humans to study the wildlife. It is not neccessary for people to look at and study animals, especially since it can result in the animals dying off. Humans have already endangered thse animals by spilling the oil from the boat that killed off more than %60 of the geicos. The result of causing these animals to be endangered is that it can effect our food chain. Animals that feed on these animals will not have them so they will start to eat other animals which are needed for another species to eat which will in turn, kill off a species. It is important thaat humans give animals their own environments to live.

[iluvowls]

The Galapagos Islands are an ecological and biological treasure. It is one of the only places left in the world that have not been completely invaded and destroyed by human pollution. We need to keep it that way and protect the species that are endangered, and preserve the species that are still healthy on the islands. Personally I think that the Galapagos would be better off if humans had not started living there in the first place, but since they are they need to do everything they can to preserve the treasure they've almost destroyed. Humans can find somewhere else to develpe. There are just some places that need to be left alone in nature, like the Galapagos. Also, too many natural processes and species will be disturbed if human population and pollution is left unchecked.

I agree that we need to leave Galapagos alone. Humans do not need to invade every part on the Earth beacuse there is plenty enough room on the other continents for them. I believe that humans have their homes, and animals have their own homes. I do think it is a good thing that almost everyone there recycles but it is still not good enough. It would have been much better for the animals on this island to have been left alone.

[Flipper]

I think wildlife conservation is very important and should be the number 1 priortety in the Galapagos. Humans cause too many disturbances in the habitats of all the famous animals and reptiles that inhabit the Galapagos. It is important to learn about the endangered animals there but it is more important to see to it that those animals will still be there one hundred years from now. With all of the chaos and pollution that follow human civilization, it will be a very difficult task to see to it that the species in the galapagos will not go extinct. If the species there were left alone for ten years or so then it will be okay for humans to go there in small groups to study the animals and compare and contrast them to the thousands of other species along the earth. But with the high demand for land and power... that is virtually impossible.

[iluvowls]

I think that saving and protecting endangered species from extinction is WAY MORE IMPORTANT than people who won't be able to visit and learn about wildlife on the Galapogos Islands. I feel this way because some species might go extinct as a result. The species need the Galapogos more than we do because that's THEIR environment and our wanting to visit and learn about them isn't more important than their survival.

I totally agree that the animals' survival is more important than our wanting to visit and learn about them. Humans get so excited over great things that they abuse them and make them less special. It is a shame that our species is so selfish and feels that they need to have everything to themselves. I believe that we should just let the animals be and live our lives back on our own continents. If we don't, we will only be hurting ourselves in the end anyeay because we will mess up the food chain.