The US authorities responsible for wildlife security are trying to upgrade the protection of stoneflies from National Parks. Two rare species of insects from the Glacier National Park are attacked by global warming. The climate change affects the mountain watercourses where they live. These species of stonefly called the meltwater lednian, and the western glacier live in streams alimented by cold water. The frozen water produced through the melting of snowfields and glaciers is a favorable environment for them.
The glaciers from the Glacier National Park are assumed to vanish by the end of 2030. Jonathan Giersch, a scientist from the US Geological Survey, argues that these insects are a symbol of health for the alpine population. He is monitoring stoneflies’ decline, and he argues that the glaciers are an important source of the welfare of so many species. The melting of the glaciers does not only affect these insects, but also a lot of aquatic species.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service expect an answer from the authorities, asking them to put stoneflies on the list of endangered species to get protection. A population of western glacier stoneflies was revealed in the Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park and the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. Nevertheless, officials responsible for the security of wildlife asserted that climate change and droughts could lead stoneflies toward extinction.
Experts claim that the watercourses habitat will decrease down to 80% in 15 years, affecting the life and home of stoneflies. Specialists did not yet find a method to preserve this species. Some biologists have thought of the possibility of raising these insects in labs, and then sowing different watercourses with them. But until they manage to develop stoneflies under the microscope, those streams could vanish, due to climate change.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Wildearth Guardians had signed a petition that requests for the safety of stoneflies. These groups made public their announcement on Monday. In recent years, these two corporations managed to obtain governments’ help for the protection of hundreds of species from all over the US.
Wildlife officials have suggested the Endangered Species Act for the welfare of these insects. Would you sign a petition that will help this species survive the global warming? Would you contribute to stoneflies’ protection?
Image source: wikipedia
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