Trump's wall poses threat to endangered wildlife and plants
- 5 years ago
MURICA — Looks like Trump's wall could cause great damage to the plants and wildlife.
According to a study from Stanford University published in the journal BioScience, the construction of a border wall between the US and Mexico could have serious consequences for the wildlife and environment surrounding the area.
The US-Mexico border crosses through six eco-regions. These areas are home to diverse flora and fauna including 62 species tagged as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The wall will mainly degrade landscape connectivity, preventing species from reaching resources, mates and affecting migration.
The report states that the wall would disconnect 346 species from half of their habitat including the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep, the Sonoran pronghorn and the Mexican gray wolf.
According to a report from the Center for Biological Diversity, the population of Mexican gray wolves is critically endangered growing by only four wolves from 2014 to 2017.
Apart from affecting wildlife, the wall will also affect the flow of three major rivers: the Rio Grande, Colorado, and Tijuana Rivers.
This also affects between 100 and 500 rivers and streams connected to them.
A study by the University of Texas at Austin released in July last year reported that the wall could threaten the Tamaulipan thornscrub ecosystem, the endangered wildflower Zapata bladderpod, and the threatened whiskerbush cactus.
Researchers from this study suggest alternatives that could allow for wildlife movements such as wildlife crossings and electronic sensors.
According to a study from Stanford University published in the journal BioScience, the construction of a border wall between the US and Mexico could have serious consequences for the wildlife and environment surrounding the area.
The US-Mexico border crosses through six eco-regions. These areas are home to diverse flora and fauna including 62 species tagged as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The wall will mainly degrade landscape connectivity, preventing species from reaching resources, mates and affecting migration.
The report states that the wall would disconnect 346 species from half of their habitat including the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep, the Sonoran pronghorn and the Mexican gray wolf.
According to a report from the Center for Biological Diversity, the population of Mexican gray wolves is critically endangered growing by only four wolves from 2014 to 2017.
Apart from affecting wildlife, the wall will also affect the flow of three major rivers: the Rio Grande, Colorado, and Tijuana Rivers.
This also affects between 100 and 500 rivers and streams connected to them.
A study by the University of Texas at Austin released in July last year reported that the wall could threaten the Tamaulipan thornscrub ecosystem, the endangered wildflower Zapata bladderpod, and the threatened whiskerbush cactus.
Researchers from this study suggest alternatives that could allow for wildlife movements such as wildlife crossings and electronic sensors.