PROTECTING THE YANGTZE
Josh Jamison | Kevin Yuan | Nicole Valdez
Yunnan Lake Newt (Extinct)
Species habitat
Kunming Lake and surrounding areas
Shallow lakes, ponds, marshes
Terrestrial and freshwater
Species ecological roles
Newts often serve as bioindicators for an ecosystem because they absorb oxygen and other substances through their skin. They are sensitive to subtle changes in the ph and are therefore a good indication to biologists of pollution and the overall health of the environment.
Value
They serve as a bioindicator so the loss of these newts means that 1. the ecosystem is in a bad state and 2. we no longer have a bioindicator for this habitat.
Causes for extinction or endangerment
“habitat destruction and degradation resulting from general pollution, land reclamation, domestic duck farming and the introduction of exotic fish and frog species.”
Consequences of the loss of the species
Biodiversity is lost in the lakes and rivers. The aesthetic aspect
we also lose a good bioindicator of pollution so biologists will have to rely on other species or other methods to track pollution.
Snow Leopard (Endangered)
Species habitat
Snow leopards live in the mountains of South and Eastern Asia.
They live in altitudes above mountainous tree lines during the summer but descend to lower elevations during the winter.
Species ecological roles
The snow leopard helps regulate the populations of many large animals that inhabit the mountains near the Yangtze River.
It also maintains the health of Yangtze inhabitants by eating the weak and sick.
Value
Snow leopard pelts can be sold for over $7,000 by poachers.
The snow leopard is an indicator to the health of their habitat to environmentalists.
Causes for extinction or endangerment
Poaching for snow leopard pelts is a major threat to their population.
Cattle herders kill snow leopards when they attack their livestock.
Climate change in the mountains of southern and eastern Asia poses as a threat to the snow leopard, as they have evolved to grow a thick coat of fur to maintain body heat.
Consequences of the loss of the species
The dwindling number of snow leopards can cause other species to overpopulate. These growing populations will demand more food which will include fish from the river. A smaller amount of fish that reach downstream will affect the populations that depend on them for food, including humans.
Rate of loss
There are an estimated 4,080-6,590 snow leopards left in both the wild and captivity.
Chinese Alligator (Improved By Intervention)
Species habitat
It’s found in the yangtze river as well as the swamps surrounding it. Also has underground burrow areas, and basking areas and nest sites on the ground.
Rivers, streams
Species ecological roles
Because they’re declining they have little impact on the ecosystem and are just large predator animals.
Value
it’s a precious and rare animal that represent a time before the chinese people took over their habitat
Although some fear the chinese alligator because it may attack them, there is no document attacks
Causes for extinction or endangerment
They are used for alternative medicine such as to treat gallbladders and also used as a food source.
Human population resulted in conversions of alligator’s habitat into rice fields.
Habitat Loss
Consequences of the loss of the species
Because we are already facing their loss it would barely have an impact on the ecosystem
Rate of loss
They are now increasing in population, slowly
Works Cited
- "Alligator Sinensis (Chinese Alligator, T'o, Yow Lung, Yangtze Alligator)." Animal Diversity Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
- Crocodile Specialist Group. 1996. Alligator sinensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T867A13086708. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T867A13086708.en. Downloaded on 15 December 2015.
- "Cynops Wolterstorffi." AmphibiaWeb -- Search Results. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
- "Newts." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
- "Snow Leopard." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
- "Snow Leopard." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
- Yang Datong, Michael Wai Neng Lau. 2004. Hypselotriton wolterstorffi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T59445A11942589. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59445A11942589.en. Downloaded on 14 December 2015.