Preventing Extinction

Human beings are having an enormous impact on the diversity of life on Earth. With the building of roads and cities and the spread of agriculture, more and more habitats on Earth are being destroyed. This destruction, along with climate change, are two of the big threats to organisms, leading to more endangered species and more species extinction.

For taxonomists and systematists, who do research on biological diversity, the loss of species is particularly meaningful. For this discussion, read the article, “The Missouri Botanical Garden is on a mission to save the planet’s species from extinction.” The garden is in St. Louis. If you are interested in its work or in visiting, check out its YouTube channel.

Address the following questions in your initial post:

1. What are the impacts of habitat destruction on the research of these biologists?
2. Which of the researchers described in the article is most impressive to you? Why?
3. Do you think it is worth the effort to try to catalog and save the plants of planet Earth? Why or why not?
4. Would you like to do this kind of work? Why or why not?