Blanding Turtle Essay

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Blanding Turtle Talal Al-Aboud (211310414) HUMA1220 – Canadian Culture and Language Prof Courtney Fairweather June 4, 2011 Blanding Turtle The words “endangered species” and “extirpated” are different but in some ways, they are similar. The word “endangered species” refers to the low number of a particular animal that can cause the animal to disappear completely. The word “extirpated” is also not positive in nature. “Extirpated” can be roughly defined as the not existing anymore. In other words when the word “extirpated” is used to describe a particular animal or insect, it describes the result of not existing anymore. Fortunately for the Blanding Turtle, it is not extirpated but care must be taken, as it is an endangered species. Caution is necessary with the Blanding Turtle for three reasons: the species sexual maturation of the Blanding Turtle, the low numbers of Blanding Turtles and importance the Blanding Turtle has on the environment. How quickly a turtle is able to reproduce is important if it is an endangered species. The sooner an animal can reproduce ,the more likelihood that it will not become extinct .Unfortunately for the Blanding`s Turtle, it takes fourteen years from birth for the Blanding turtle to begin its reproduction period (Brackett,1998,p.9). In addition, the Blanding turtles, reproduction is affected by higher latitudes (Brackett, 1998.p.9). This means that in Nova scotia, where most of the Blanding Turtles live, reproduction is delayed. There is in fact evidence that it is immature sexually from thirteen to seventeen years old in Canada (Brackett,1990,P.9) .They may not reproduce until they are nineteen years old. Thus the Blanding Turtles late start at reproduction a long with its delay in reproduction due to Canada`s high latitude do not help the chances of the turtles survival . There are several reasons why the
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