Species extinction is happening at an alarming rate according to scientists. In this lesson, students are asked to consider why extinction is a problem that we should concern us. They are taught that destruction of habitat is the main reason many species are threatened. The lesson explores ways that engineers can help save endangered species.

Engineers can prevent extinction by developing ways to preserve diverse biological habitats. Materials engineers develop materials that mimic the qualities of wood to be used instead of rainforest timber. Chemical engineers have developed a way to lessen the harmful effects starfish have on coral reef. Environmental engineers are developing ways to combat global warming, which adversely affects coral reef. Engineers consult both the sciences and ethics issues as they shape their designs. biodiverse coral reef ethics extinct global warming rainforest species It may be helpful for students to have some background in global warming and in biodiverse habitats, such as rainforests and coral reefs. It would also be useful for students to have an understanding of food webs, which demonstrate the interdependency of plants and animals in an ecosystem. After this lesson, students should be able to: Understand why it is important to prevent extinction. List ways that engineering can prevent extinction. What does it mean for a species to become extinct? (Answer: It means that those plants or animals have completely died out, and no longer exist on Earth.) Good answers! Scientists claim that species are going extinct every day, by the hundreds. In the rainforest alone, there are about 50,000 species going extinct each year. Why should we care about extinction? (Solicit responses. Refer to background information for possible answers.) How can we prevent it? If we can put a stop to the destruction of natural habitats, this will go a long ways towards avoiding species extinction. Habitats may be threatened in a number of ways: rainforests can be destroyed by clear cutting, which is the practice of cutting down all trees in a large area of forest; and coral reefs and polar ice caps are two habitats that are threatened by rising temperatures due to global warming. What are engineers doing to save natural habitats and prevent extinction? As part of the design process, engineers listen to scientists to gather information that will help them design products to fight extinction. For example, some scientific studies have shown that greenhouse gas emissions have contributed to global warming, which in turn could endanger some plants and animals. Using this scientific evidence, engineers can design products (like cars) that reduce harmful emissions as a way of reducing the risk of extinction. Engineers create both direct and indirect solutions to prevent extinction: materials engineers are developing alternatives to wood; architectural engineers are making buildings more energy efficient; mechanical engineers are producing clean energy; and chemical, civil and other engineers are working to save coral reefs. Animal and plant species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate. It has been estimated that in the rain forests alone, over a hundred plant, animal and insect species are lost each day, which translates to 50,000 species a year. The most biologically diverse areas of the world tend to see the greatest species extinction. Hence, the rainforest and coral reef, known as the "rainforest of the sea," tend to be at the center of researchers' concern. Overwhelming evidence suggests that the loss of these biodiverse habitats is a direct cause of plant and animal extinction. Here are a few reasons that could be cited for preventing extinction of a species: Curative medicine: Biodiverse habitats provide us with valuable resources, such as pharmaceuticals that are derived from plants. Some scientists believe that the rainforest may contain substances that could help treat cancer, prevent HIV, or cure Multiple Sclerosis. Biodiverse stability: If a particular plant or animal species goes extinct, this affects a particular food chain and eventually the food web. A healthy, diverse ecosystem is better at preserving soil nutrients, maintaining good water quality, breaking down organic waste and buffering against extreme regional climate change. Aesthetic: Biodiverse places have a natural beauty that we should preserve. Ethical: Every living thing has a right to live. Many types of engineers work on creating products that help save plants and animals. For example, material engineers can develop new building supplies that mimic wood in function (such as structural support), form (the way it looks) and cost. If engineers are successful, then the need for actual timber in the rainforest should diminish. This can reduce the harmful practice of clear cutting rainforest timber, which destroys precious habitat for many plants and animals. Some engineers are working on saving coral reefs and the diverse animal and plant life that depend on them. Coral reefs are destroyed in a number of other ways: pesticide runoff encourages the growth of algae that smothers coral, which needs sunlight to survive; industrial toxins are dumped into the ocean and poison coral; and careless construction, logging and farming all lead to erosion which smothers and kills coral. Civil and agricultural engineerscan play a role in the prevention of coral death by encouraging better farming practices which eliminate pesticide runoff and exhibit erosion control, and environmental engineers can develop a more responsible way of handling industrial waste. Coral reefs are also threatened by an overpopulation of starfish, which feed on coral, and are overwhelming their own food source. Chemical engineers in Japan have isolated a chemical produced by sea urchins that attracts starfish. Using this chemical, the starfish is attracted away from the coral and relocated to other places in the ocean or exterminated. Engineers are indirectly helping to preserve habitat through combating global warming. The phenomenon of global warming may be alleviated as engineers help our society use less energy (gas and electrical) and use more clean energy (energy produced in a way that does not contribute to global warming, such as wind, solar, and biomass). Engineers do not necessarily have coral reef or the rainforest in mind when they are doing this work, but nonetheless these biodiverse habitats benefit. A species of plant, animal or insect has completely died out and no longer exists. In the classification of living things (e.g., plants, animals and insects), this is the most specific level of classification. Describes a habitat that has many different types of plants, animals and insects. Having the possibility of becoming extinct. News Flash! For practical, ethical and aesthetic reasons, it is important that we try to prevent endangered plants, animals and instincts from going extinct. Engineers from a wide variety of disciplines are working on developing products that can help protect the habitats in which those endangered species live. Discussion Topic: Ask students to share stories about a pet that has passed away. How did it make them feel? What if that type of pet no longer existed at all, so that they could not even go to the pet store to buy another one? What are their reactions to that hypothetical situation? What if your pet were one of the last few animals of its kind? What would you do to save the species? Draw a Cartoon: Have each student take out a piece of paper and pencil. They should draw a cartoon that demonstrates an understanding of what extinction is, why we would want to prevent endangered animals from going extinct, and what engineers are doing to help. TV News Blurb: Have students pretend that they are introducing a news report on an endangered species that describes what engineers are doing to save the species. For example, they could say, "Next, up, we'll look at a story on polar bears, an animal that is endangered due to melting ice caps. Some environmental engineers are working to save these animals by designing a unique strategy to lower greenhouse gases to keep our Earth cool." Have students write letters to their Congress representative on topics related to extinction. For example, they could ask, "What steps are being taken to curb global warming?" or "Are the forests and natural habitat in my state being preserved?" Have students think of an animal they believe is soon-to-be extinct. Have them research why it is endangered and determine what might be done to help save the species. Their work could be presented to the class or submitted in a written report. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, accessed March 12, 2009. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/images/pinnipeds/mediterraneanmonkseal_ifaw.jpg Riebeek, Holli. National Aeronautic and Space Administration, Earth Observatory, Paleoclimatology: Climate Close-up, December 22, 2005, accessed March 12, 2009. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Paleoclimatology_CloseUp/Images/coral_reef.jpg