Endangered Species

The rare scare…

What is an Endangered Species?
• An endangered species is a population of
organisms which is at risk of becoming
extinct because it is either few in
numbers, threatened by changing
environmental or predation parameters,
deforestation, or lack of food or water.
Northern Hairy-nosed African Elephant
Wombat

Endangered Species
Giant Armadillo Black Rhinoceros

Chinese
Paddlefish

Snow Leopard
Wild Bactrian Camel

All of these species, along with hundreds of others are currently endangered
Red Wolf
Cochabamba Mountain Right Whale
Finch
Golden Lion Tamarin Hawaiian Crow

Asiatic Cheetah Short Tailed Chinchilla

 What is an Extinct Species?
• Extinction is the disappearance of an entire species
• If a species does not have the genetic traits to survive in
its environment, then the species will eventually become
extinct forever

Galapagos Tortoise Dinosaurs Steller’s Sea Cow Laughing Owl

Bali Tiger Thylacine Quagga Dodo Bird

 Causes of Endangerment
• Rarity- when there are very few animals of a
species left there are less available mates
– (Galapagos tortoise became rare because of
their lack of ability to compete with other
species)
• Inbreeding- when animals mate too much within
their own group the offspring become less able
to survive and adapt in a healthy way
 Causes of Endangerment
• Hybridization- When two animals from different
sub-species mate, they might pass on genes
that are less healthy (Quagga-half horse half
zebra which is now extinct)
• Gradual loss of habitat- When an animal's
habitat is slowly destroyed and they have
nowhere to live. (Bali Tiger, also now extinct)
 Causes of Endangerment
• Long-term environmental trends- Scientists
think that dinosaurs became extinct because of
a slow cooling of the earth
• Catastrophe- Volcanic eruption, dramatic
change in climate, tsunami, etc.
 Causes of Endangerment
• Extinction or reduction of mutualistic
population- If two species are dependent on
each other, then the endangering of one also
endangers the other
• Competition- When a new species is introduced
to a habitat, then the stronger of the two species
will be more likely to survive.
 Causes of Endangerment
• Predators- When the population of a species of
predator in a habitat suddenly increases, the
population of their prey decreases
• Disease- If a particular sickness spreads quickly
throughout a particular species, then many may
die before they can reproduce
• Hunting and collecting- Hunters have been
largely responsible for the endangerment of many
animal species.
Why Save Endangered Species?
“Plants and animals hold medicinal,
medicinal
agricultural,
agricultural ecological,
ecological commercial and
aesthetic/recreational value. Endangered
species must be protected and saved so that
future generations can experience their
presence and value.”
Environmental
Problems
 Environmental Problems
1. Deforestation

Causes:
• Kaingin farming
• Illegal logging
• Conversion of agricultural lands to housing
projects
• Forest fires
• Typhoons
 Environmental Problems
1. Deforestation

Effects:
• Soil erosion
• Floods
• Decrease in wildlife resources that will
eventually lead to extinction
• Wildlife Depletion
 Environmental Problems
2. Pollution
• Water pollution
• Air pollution
• Land pollution
 Environmental Problems
3. Destruction of Coastal Resources

Dynamite Fishing

Destruction of
Coral Reefs

Damaged
Mangrove Areas
 Environmental Problems
4. Acid Precipitation
 Environmental Problems
5. Geenhouse Effect - the trapping of heat by
gases in the earth’s atmosphere
6. Global Warming - is an increase in the earth’s
temperature from the rapid buildup of carbon
dioxide and other gases.