Studio 2:

Part A: Using Wikipedia-2

Step 1: Find and Read a Wikipedia Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species
Step 2: Explain the Problem
Humans are ignoring the threat of extinction of numerous species of plants and animals.
Though there are laws put in place to protect these species, it is often difficult for governments to
enforce such laws; Therefore, these species slip through the cracks.
Step 3: Look at Different Perspectives
The protection of endangered species is highly controversial. While most everyone
advocates for some degree of animal and plant conservation, the amount of resources that are
dedicated to the cause is a source of concern for many. Some groups believe that animals and
plants need to be protected at all costs as they are integral to our ecosystem and important to our
survival while others are staunchly dedicated to saving these species for moral reasons.
Step 4: List Key Terms

Endangered species
Endangered animals
Endangered plants
IUCN Red List
Endangered Species Act
Humans and endangered species
Government action for endangered species
Why save endangered species
Holocene Epoch
Species Recovery Plans

Step 5: Write Questions for Exploration

How have humans directly impacted endangered species?

Which species are the most endangered and why?
What are the different opinions of people on saving endangered species?
What are the ecological and economical values of conserving endangered species?

Part B: Beyond Wikipedia-2

1. Research

2. Record
3. Cite
Holocene Epoch:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction
http://www.livescience.com/28219-holocene-epoch.html

We are living in a time known as the Holocene Epoch which began at the end of the
Paleolithic Ice Age and continues today.
This was the beginning of an era that wiped out the wooly mammoths and possibly their
close relatives, elephants, in the next few decades. Then it was due to climate change,
now it is on our conscience.
The prime of human involvement in the decline of animal species was from the late
twentieth century to the present day twenty-first century.

Endangered species:
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-endangered-species-act?
gclid=Cj0KEQjwvIO_BRDt27qG3YX0w4wBEiQAsGu3eRD6PoFumWnH0ah4__CE2Wqr
uJ_pefosbWp6wuyRpHIaAo-O8P8HAQ

Every organism whether plant or animal plays a key role in their ecosystem. By choosing
to save one species such as the gray wolf (point number six), there can be a domino effect
of improvements in other aspects of that particular ecosystem.

https://www.fws.gov/endangered/

Threatened and endangered species will soon receive $44.8 million in grants from the
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) in 20 U.S. states.
CESCF is authorized under section 6 of the Endangered Species Act that makes states
work with private landowner, conservation groups, and government agencies to protect
federally-listed species and their habitats

Why Save Endangered Species

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150715-why-save-an-endangered-species

These organisms provide us with food, nourishment, and even oxygen.

Organisms as small as photosynthesis-receiving plankton in our oceans and the leafy
trees all around us give off oxygen that we cannot live without.
The most common and obvious reason why endangered species however should not be
saved is the fact that there is a large cost involved- billions of dollars

IUCN Red List

https://www.iucn.org/theme/species/our-work/iucn-red-list-threatened-species

A way that biologists and researchers have showed us how threatened and endangered
species are coping is the IUCN Red List
Shows the overall conservation status of endangered or threatened species that are at risk
of extinction.

Part C: Reflect-3
In this portfolio, I found that Wikipedia was truly a nice source to start off my researching
process. Wikipedia gave me the opportunity to find key words in the general topic of
Endangered Species such as the IUCN Red List, which I had never even heard of before, but
will now make an effort to discus in my proposal. When digging around I also discovered that
we are in an era called the Holocene Epoch which has been occurring since the end of the last
Ice Age. This time stretches from the extinction of the wooly mammoth to our present where the
close relative of the wooly mammoth, elephants, now also face extinction in the coming decades.
These are two terms I had never heard before in my life, but by digging a little deeper past the
broad term of endangered species, I discovered their existence.
Like I said, Wikipedia was a great source for starting me out on my proposed LOI
researching journey, but it was such a vast collection of terms and information that did not go
into much depth. My information from the BBC article however provided so much information
on why we as a society should save endangered species and why we also should not. The most
common reason as to why we should not is the overwhelming cost of preservation and
conservation. This information was briefly discussed in the Wikipedia article, but not just
blatantly stated. Most of the information I found off of Wikipedia was much more informative
and detailed which is important when looking for that extra step in research.
I found most of my sources to be quite credible when it came to the author and
information presented, it just took more time to explore the website I was given to get to the
information I needed. The article from fws.gov for instance did not initially provide me with
good information on the topic of endangered species until I clicked on their News tab and
found an article on a recent budget provided to protect species in 20 states by the CESCF. This
information was surprising to me because based on previous research it seemed as though
government funding was being decreased to protect endangered species. The article on nrdc.org
provided a detailed list of commonly unknown knowledge about endangered species which was
quite resourceful. It explained the effect of endangered species becoming extinct, like the gray
wolf, and how its loss creates a spike in population in the animals that they consumed, elk, which
completely throws off an ecosystem.
This was a good way to start my researching process and gain a better understanding of
my LOI. Based on the information I found, I believe that I am going to look more closely on the
specific cases of a species being pushed to near extinction by human activities. Human impacts
are a huge aspect of why species become endangered and so it leaves me wondering just how
many cases of extinction we have created in the last century or so. I plan to look up specific
cases such as the commonly known African elephant and the less commonly known endangered

species of hummingbird (or other animals these were just the first to come to mind). While
researching them I could ask specifically what natural elements do they need to survive? How
have we taken away those elements? Have we hunted them to endangerment? What was the
purpose of hunting them? What are their chances of making a comeback? With these questions, I
believe I am on the right track to finding much more in depth information for my LOI.