How do earthquakes affect wildlife?

Answer 1

At first, they obviously destructive to all wildlife and anything organic or "living" initially. Then, afterwards, the opposite occurs. Lava from a volcano can actually make the ground more fertile than it was previous and plants tend to grow very well after a small eruption.

Answer 2

One, could be through drowning and burying. Of course there are probably others, as well.

Two, could be due to the destruction of food sources, or the contamination of water sources. A change in the pH balance of the soils in the area is also likely, as the lahar will likely contain volcanic debris. This could cause a change in the prevailing vegetation, and thus also affect food sources.

Three, the mudflow that mixed into water like the ocean can effect fishes and other marine animals that live in the sea or ocean or any other waterway like a river, pond, or reservoir.

Those are just a few ways. I'm sure if you think about it, you will get your own answers, this is more like a common sense question.

Answer 3

Wild animals have evolved to respond to their natural environment, coping with seasonal flooding, wild fires, volcanoes and earthquakes. Most often loss of wildlife in the face of a catastrophic environmental event is a result of changes made to the ecosystem. Habitat fragmentation, in particular, prevents them from responding as they normally would.

How Wildlife Responds to Natural DisastersWild animals are tuned in to their environment (much more than people are). Even domesticated or tamed animals often show a similar flight response in the face of potential environmental disaster. In Sri Lanka, Asian Elephants carrying tourists on the beach ran away minutes before the tsunami struck. Many locals spoke of being saved as they chased their dogs who were also running away from the wall of water. This response reduces losses. Environmental Disasters with Low Impact on WildlifeEarthquakes and hurricanes tend to have little effect on wild animals. The animals will naturally move to areas of safety where possible. Most reported damage from earthquakes is to man-made structures and the people inside them. Animals are often aware of the approach of tsunamis, which may follow ocean-based earthquakes, and hurricanes, allowing them to move to safer habitat. In areas where natural vegetation is present, native plants often mitigate the effect of tsunamis and hurricanes on wild animals.

Answer 4

There are many ways in which a landslide can affect wildlife habitats. The landslide can completely eliminate the homes of the wildlife or even block them from getting to their food and water sources.