Effects of Water Pollution in Canada to Animals
Effects of Water Pollution in Canada to Animals
Introduction
Water pollution encompasses the contamination of water in aquifers, lakes, oceans and other water bodies. Water pollution is a critical issue of environmental concern in almost all parts of the world. It has an inherent capacity to affect the daily life of human beings and animals. This is because it leads to a massive degradation of habitats for animals and other environmental components.
Canada has one of the world’s greatest reserves for freshwater. These reserves occur in rivers, lakes and underground aquifers among other bodies. Despite the expansive reserves of freshwater resources, Canada faces the threat of water pollution. There are numerous factors that have been influential in the escalating problem of water pollution in this country. These factors include industrial processes, extensive agricultural activities and mining among other anthropogenic activities. Consequently, it is pertinent to examine the effect of water pollution in Canada to the ecosystems of animal daily life.
Water Pollution in Canada
Canada has an extensive endowment of freshwater resources. The country has some of the world’s largest rivers in terms of rivers. Additionally, the country has expansive freshwater lakes and also lies in close proximity to oceans. Consequently, the availability of freshwater in Canada is not a problem. However, extensive anthropogenic activities have formed the basis of environmental pollution in Canada. In addition to water, environmental pollution in Canada also encompasses radioactive contamination, noise pollution and soil pollution among others.
There are numerous factors that cause water pollution in Canada (Donald, 2002). The country’s economy has an exemplary framework for industrialization. This includes processing factories, chemical industries and refineries among others. On a daily basis, these industries release a lot of solid and liquid waste into the country’s freshwater bodies.
Apart from industrial processes another cause of water pollution in Canada is agriculture. Canada is self sufficient in terms of agricultural production. Expansive irrigation schemes are evident across the country. Both the large scale and small scale farming activities contribute immensely towards the country’s environmental challenge of water pollution (Calhoun, 2009). In most agricultural plantations, chemical inputs are essential inputs. When it rains, the runoff washes away these chemicals into water bodies.
The country’s mining sector is also a massive contributor towards water pollution. Although the mining sector in Canada uses excellent technological platforms, it lacks an effective mechanism for averting water pollution. For instance, hydraulic fracturing has an inherent capacity to pollute water in underground aquifers. Domestic waste also serves as a significant contributor towards the problem of water pollution in Canada.
During the last few decades, the extent of anthropogenic activities in Canada has been on the rise (Dwivedi, 2001). This is because of the significant annual increases in the country’s population. Consequently, the increase in domestic waste results into an escalation in the environmental challenge of water pollution.
Effects of Water Pollution on Animals
Water pollution in Canada has extensive implications for the environment. These environmental implications affect animals as well as human beings. Animals are among the most pertinent components of the ecosystem. This is because they help in maintaining the necessary levels of ecosystem productivity and balance. For instance, animals play a pertinent role in enhancing ecosystem balance by consuming the oxygen that emanates from the process of photosynthesis (Boyd, 2003).
The absence of animals would lead to ecosystem instability due to the surplus flow of oxygen. Consequently, animals are an integral part of the environment. However, continuous water pollution in Canada exposes the fauna to numerous threats. Following is an evaluation of the various consequences of water pollution to fauna in Canada.
Habitat Degradation
Habitat Degradation is among the most pertinent threats of water pollution in Canada. This encompasses the destruction of the immediate environment in which animals exist. This mostly applies to wild species of fauna in the expansive landmass of Canada. The country boasts of thousands of species of animals. In addition to the maintenance of ecosystem balance, these animals are part of Canadian national heritage.
From an economic perspective (Goel, 2006), these animals contribute immensely towards government’s income through tourism. Habitat degradation undermines the country’s capacity to protect its fauna. Through habitat degradation, the existence of animals which depend on such habitats is in jeopardy. Water pollution in Canada has led to the degradation of numerous marine habitats in the country. Animals which occupy such habitats are thus endangered. The pollution of marine habitats occurs through the release of toxic substances into such habitats.
Habitat degradation might also cause instant death of many animals (Agarwal, 2005). This mostly occurs when habitat degradation exposes the animals to the threat of predators. From another perspective, it is also vital to no note that habitat degradation has an inherent ability to undermine the reproductive capacity of animals. This affects continuity of animal species and might even cause the extinction of some animals (Hill, 2010).
Loss of Biodiversity
Apart from habitat degradation, another implication of water pollution in Canada pertains to the loss of biodiversity. Biodiversity encompasses both the flora and fauna species in their immediate ecosystems. The absence of biodiversity can lead to critical environmental imbalances such as the deterioration of air quality. The escalating rates of water pollution in Canada cause loss of biodiversity. This directly affects animals since they are part of the country’s biodiversity.
Water pollution causes biodiversity loss in numerous ways (Miller, 2008). Firstly, it creates an unfavorable environment for animals. This affects animals which depend on terrestrial habitats as well as those in aquatic environs. The second way in which water pollution causes loss of biodiversity is the suppression of reproductive capacity. Reproduction is extremely essential towards the conservation of biodiversity. This justifies way continuous water pollution poses a threat to biodiversity in the Canada.
From a different perspective, it is also pertinent to highlight that the loss of biodiversity also contributes towards the deterioration of global environmental standards (Cooney, 2012). Conservation of flora is an essential pillar in the Millennium Development Goals. Consequently, Canada must establish sufficient mechanisms for alleviating the environmental challenge of biodiversity loss.
Intoxication of Animals
Water pollution in Canada also causes intoxication of animals. Animals must consume water on a daily basis. However, some of the water has high concentrations of poisonous compounds from industries and waste chemicals. When animals ingest such water, they also ingest the poisonous compounds. Consequently, this forms the basis of animal intoxication. The intoxication of fauna also serves as a significant contributor towards the loss of biodiversity (Wood, 2000).
Mitigating the Problem of Water Pollution
In order to protect the fauna, it is extremely essential to establish an effective mechanism for mitigating the environmental challenge of water pollution in the country. There are various alternatives for dealing with this problem. Firstly, the government should establish a strict policy that regulates the release of waste products into water bodies. Such policies would discourage companies from contaminating water bodies in Canada.
Environmental lobby groups in Canada would also be helpful in addressing the problem (Miller, 2008). Through extensive lobbying, the Canadian government would be under pressure to safeguard the country’s fauna. The country’s population also has a role to play in the mitigation of water pollution. For instance, it is fundamentally essential for people to discard waste in an environmentally sensitive manner. This would serve as a significant milestone in protecting the animals the entire biodiversity (Callan, 2007).
Conclusion
The paper examines the different ways in which water pollution in Canada affects the ecosystems of animals. Both the large scale and small scale farming activities contribute immensely towards the country’s environmental challenge of water pollution. In most agricultural plantations, chemical inputs are used. When it rains, the runoff washes away these chemicals into water bodies. The country’s mining sector is also a massive contributor towards water pollution.
Habitat degradation encompasses the destruction of the immediate environment in which animals exist. This mostly applies to wild species of fauna in the expansive landmass of Canada. The country boasts of thousands of species of animals. In addition to the maintenance of ecosystem balance, these animals are part of Canadian national heritage. The escalating rates of water pollution in Canada cause biodiversity loss. This directly affects animals since they are part of the country’s biodiversity. Water pollution causes biodiversity loss in numerous ways. For instance, it creates an unfavorable environment for animals.
References
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