Canadian Highway Construction Can Endanger Snapping Turtles and Bobolinks

The mechanism by which a natural ecosystem becomes incapable of sustaining its native species is known as habitat degradation (also known as habitat loss or habitat reduction). Organisms used to live on the site are replaced or die, resulting in a decrease in biodiversity and species richness.

Such displacement leading to destruction can be caused by the construction of a highway in North Dumfries, Canada.

Highway 401 Construction

Employees from the GRCA will be on-site for the entire four-year construction period, documenting and logging the entire operation.

Several endangered species are on the verge of displacement.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will begin replacing the Grand River bridges on Highway 401 this spring, which will directly affect wildlife in the region.

Many people are worried about protecting the local wildlife after the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks crossed their fingers for MTO to proceed with development.

Sue Foxton, vice chairwoman of the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and mayor of North Dumfries, said the two organizations would collaborate together to ensure the species' protection.

"We said we'd conserve endangered wildlife and take care of the land, and then this happens. I'm sure GRCA will deal with the ministry on these matters through Samantha Lawson, the executive director, and Chris White, the chairman of the board, and I'll try to touch the ground and get them back into logic.

GRCA personnel would also be on hand during the four-year building cycle to track and archive the whole project, according to Foxton.

"While things are happening, the workers will be there. Anything that needs to be covered and how it can be handled will be documented and recorded by the workers. They'll then check-in and make sure everything is in order."

Affected Species

According to a paper published by Dance Environmental Inc., the following species are the ones to be directly affected by the construction:

Snapping Turtles
Nighthawks
Eastern-Whip-Poor-Will
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Barn Swallow

Habitat Loss

Habitat loss happens as natural ecosystems can no longer sustain the animals that live there, causing wildlife to be displaced or destroyed. Deforestation, dredging ponds, bottom trawling, urbanization, filling of wetlands, and mowing fields are only a few examples.

Threats to Biodiversity

The biggest threat to biodiversity is habitat destruction. Forests, swamps, wetlands, wetlands, and other ecosystems are disappearing around the world as they are harvested for human use and cleared to make room for farms, homes, highways, pipelines, and other sustainable construction features. Significant natural ecosystems will continue to be destroyed without a clear effort to establish terrestrial and marine protected areas.

It has been listed as a major threat to 85 percent of all species on the IUCN Red List (those species officially classified as "Threatened" and "Endangered").

The turning of natural forests into farmland is aided by increasing food production.

Expansion of agricultural land, extensive harvesting of timber, wood for food, other forest materials, and overgrazing are the main causes of forest destruction and erosion.