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Pollution: Pollution is a substance or thing that has poisonous effects on the environment. There is air, water, and soil pollution. One major effect is environment degradation, which is when there is increase in CO2 which leads to smog which blocks sunlight from reaching certain plants, stopping the process of photosynthesis.
Butler, K. (2014). 7 striking examples of deforestation from NASA. Retrieved Nov. 2, 2014, from http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/7-striking-examples-of-deforestation-from-nasa/a-planet-in
CBC. (2012, Feb 27). 10 invasive species threatening Canadian habitats. Retrieved Nov. 2, 2014, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/10-invasive-species-threatening-canadian-habitats-1.950951
Harrison, K. (2011, May 18). 7 Animals That Are Evolving Right Before Our Eyes. Retrieved Nov. 2, 2014, from http://www.cracked.com/article_19213_7-animals-that-are-evolving-right-before-our-eyes.html
Klein, L. (2011, Feb 18). A Genetic Mutation Allows Hudson River Fish to Adapt to PCBs. Retrieved Nov. 2, 2014, from http://communications.med.nyu.edu/media-relations/news/genetic-mutation-allows-hudson-river-fish-adapt-pcbs
Minard, A. (2011, Feb 17). Hudson River Fish Evolve Toxic PCB Immunity. Retrieved Nov. 2, 2014, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/110217-hudson-river-pcb-fish-evolution-water/
Welsh, J. (2011, Feb 17). Fish Evolved to Survive GE Toxins in Hudson River. Retrieved Nov. 2, 2014, from http://www.livescience.com/12897-fish-evolved-survive-ge-toxins-hudson-110218.html
Yoneda, Y. (2011, Mar 8). A Hudson River Fish Has Evolved to Be Immune to PCBs. Retrieved Nov. 2, 2014, from http://inhabitat.com/nyc/a-hudson-river-fish-has-evolved-to-be-immune-to-pcbs/
What actions that could be taken to make the river safer, are being taken. In 2009, General Electric, started experimental dredging in the river to clean up the 1.3 million pounds of toxins that they released. After a year of that, they saw the condition of the river, improve, so they decided to do it for the next 6 years and are still doing it now.
As for in the future, we as humans should think twice before polluting an area with that amount of toxins like that. But keep in mind that this was from the 1940's to the 1970's and pollution was not as big of a problem as it is now. Companies like that now have alternatives for their toxic waste.
This specific species of fish is lucky to evolve to become immune to these PCB's.
Population Growth: Population growth is an increase in the number of people that live in a certain area. Population Growth is really what makes all of these other kinds of species threatening activities so much more severe. Without population growth, this problems would not be as big. (Johns, 2014)
Over exploitation: Over exploitation is when too much of a resource is taken to the point of no return. Wildlife is being overexploited such as fish and other aquatic species like shrimp or salmon, because there is a greater demand for seafood, so people are taking more fish from oceans, rivers, and lakes than is sustainable.
Habitat Alteration: Humans threaten many species by changing or altering the environmental conditions of the species' habitat. An example of this is deforestation. We clear forests for agriculture and wood and paper products. According to many scientists, 80% of our forests have been lost due to this (Butler, 2014).
The fish were living in a considerably clean Hudson River until the 1940's when General Electric dumped 1.3 million pounds of PCBs (toxins) into the river between 1947-1977. The fish then quickly evolved to become resistant to the poisons that were released into the Hudson River. Although, the fish did take a hit at first, before the toxins were released into the river prior to 1947, Tomcod fish lived up to 7 years old, but shortly after the poisons were released, 97 percent of the population were living only 1-3 years old.
But this rather rapid genetic mutation causing the fish to become immune to the toxins, saved the species from endangerment or extinction. Recently the age of the fish are returning to normal and the fish are living longer. These fish in the Hudson River have a gene that is known to regulate toxic effects of PCBs (the toxin that was released) and regulate chemicals. They are the only fish that made it through the poisons.
There have been more fish living in the Hudson River now that the water has been treated and the quality has improved. (Minard, 2011).
Invasive Species: An invasive species is a species of plants or animals that is introduced to an environment that they are not from originally. They tend to spread and cause harm to the surrounding environment, other species and even human health. An example of this is Asian Carp that is invading our Great Lakes (CBC, 2012).
The Hudson River Fish (Tomcod) were the species being effected due to human activity. These fish are bottom feeding fish, usually around 10 inches long and had a lifespan of 7 years. Around 1947, the General Electric company dumped 1.3 million pounds of PCB's (toxic waste) into the river.
What this fish did, is what most scientists are calling 'very rare', 'unheard of' and 'rapid'. This fish mutated to evolve to become immune to these toxins. They have a gene encoding protein that regulates the toxic effects of PCBs in the fish. They are called Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors (AHR2). This fish has 6 base pairs in their DNA of the AHR2 gene, that protected them from these toxins. This is obviously an example of pollution of human activity threatening species. (Klein, 2011).
This species of fish should be able to 'keep up' and survive these toxins because the toxins stopped being released in 1977 due to Environmental Protection Agency. And the conditions of the river actually started to improve by 2009 (Welsh, 2011). So for now, these species of fish has evolved to survive these toxins by developing a code in one of their genes to become immune to the toxic wastes, and they are not in any immediate threat to endangerment or extinction unless there is another, new, toxin released that they cannot evolve quick enough to survive against.