Professional Documents
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Endangered Species
Endangered Species
Websites
http://endangered.fws.gov/ http://endangered.fws.gov/features/rl_frog/rlf rog.html http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/issues/inv asivespecies.cfm http://endangered.fws.gov/glossary.pdf http://news.fws.gov/newsreleases/showNew s.cfm?newsId=8F4A82F1-EE32-D71A21F0F54EC683910C
threatened endangered critical habitat candidate species habitat conservation plans (HCPs) recovery plans
What are the three classifications of species listed as endangered or threatened? Look up the website on the red-legged frog and look at the history, current status, reasons for decline, and ideas for recoverybe prepared to discuss as an indicator species for other endangered species recovery
Definition of Endangered
Species judged to be endangered with extinction*
* Listed on the Endangered Species List by state, federal, international and some private organizations.
Definition of Threatened
An animal or plant species likely to
become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Causes of Extinction:
Natural Causes Hunting Introduced Predators Non-predatory Exotics Habitat Modification
Natural Causes
Extinction is a natural biological process, based on fossil record birds typically have a species lifespan of 2 million years and mammals about 600,000 years.
Hunting
Unwise and unregulated hunting has contributed to the extinction of some species; Passenger Pigeon, Whales, Spotted cats, rhinos.
Introduced Predators
Exotic species often out-compete native species (Mongoose was introduced to control rats) What invasive species threatens the survival of native species in the San Joaquin Delta and what is the Fish and Wildlife Service doing about it?
How was this species introduced? Are there any other potential harmful effects, other than competition with native species?
Non-predatory Exotics
Agents of competition and disease
Goats in Hawaii, Starlings out compete many song birds, Sitka deer in central Texas out-compete White-tails.
HABITAT MODIFICATION
-Loss of habitat or habitat fragmentation due to human development i.e.
1916 Migratory Bird Treaty Act led to regulation of water fowl hunting. 1930s Soil Conservation Service, Civilian Conservation Corps all helped to establish and preserve wildlife habitat. 1908 National Bison Range established to protect and preserve the remaining buffalo. 1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act.
Authorized the Secretary of the Interior to determine the wildlife facing extinction in the United States. Emergency Powers. U.S. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife does background research on species proposed for listing.
Authorized the acquisition of terrestrial habitat using funds from the Land and Water Conservation Act as a means of protecting endangered species. Importation of endangered species and their products was prohibited. 1973 the Act was modified to include plants and it also stressed that the integrity of ecosystems be maintained because of scientific, aesthetic, education, historical and ecological values.
habitat. How many candidate species are there? 144 species of animals are candidate species. 145 species of plants are candidate species.
How many species in the United States are listed as threatened and endangered or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered?
388 U.S. species of animals are listed. 599 U.S. species of plants are listed. 21 U.S. species of animals are currently proposed for listing. 0 U.S. species of plants are currently proposed for listing.
Politics rather than Science often times determines the listing of animals:
Louder voices with more $$ to lobby are
targeted: big animals and mammals rather than plants and insects
the population.
Solutions to the Endangered Species Dilemma? Class Discussion What is the objective of the Endangered Species Program administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service?