The main environmental cue that initiates winter dormancy in mosquitoes has to do with seasonal changes rather than temperature change. The main reason why mosquitoes in Canada are becoming genetically similar to those of mosquitoes in southern U.S. is because of climate change. The two climates are becoming much similar and since the mosquitoes change genetically according to seasonal change rather than temperature change they have become more alike genetically. “Evidence such as the simulation of the southern climate showed a fitness loss of about 88%, but this was due to incorrect seasonal cues. The temperature wasn’t much of a factor” (Bradshaw 1477). Although the mosquitoes are becoming similar genetically, just by placing them in a different environment is proof that they wouldn’t be able to survive. If the climate changed drastically enough it could mean extinction. This shows that mosquitoes don’t react to the temperature in the environment but they more specifically react to the seasonal changes that occur in the environment.

As humans its part of our job to keep the world going. The actions we take almost always affect the environment around us. Other living things such as birds, plants, and insects all have a job in our environment as well. Without these animals we wouldn’t be able to live our lives, they are all part of the ecosystem as well as us. If one goes extinct it’s going to affect another organism. If bees went extinct, plants wouldn’t be able to pollinate and it would cause an extinction of that plant which could also possibly be part of a larger animals diet. It’s almost like a domino effect, once one falls it will nock down the others. So if we cause a change in the environment which kills off one organism its most likely going to affect more than just one. The thing about environmental changes is that it not only affects one organism but it affects all of us. This combined with the domino effect could cause an extinction of more than just a couple of organisms. If organisms can’t adapt to the environment it could cause an extinction of species.

Bibliography

Bradshaw, William E. “CLIMATE CHANGE: Evolutionary Response to Rapid Climate Change.” Bio Rad. D2L. 5 Feb. 2008
<http://d2l.arizona.edu/d2l/orgTools/ouHome/ouHome.asp?ou=47679>

 

 

 

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It seems that mosquitoes are able to evolve and adapt to the new climate, yet the numbers diminish because it becomes impossible for the whole communion to evolve (in part survival of the fittest). Even though, this organisms adapt to new "standards" of living, we cannot depend on their evolutionary response to the climate changer. We must act now while we have time, if not to reverse the damage we have caused, at least to stop further damage to be done. As said before, the extinction of the organisms could and most likely will follow a domino effect, there fore it could be mosquitoes today, livestock tomorrow, and subsequently Humans.

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