Endangered Species

Objectives: Explain how fish and wildlife become extinct, rare, endangered, or threatened. Discuss recovery strategies used to manage a specific endangered species. Explain the importance of saving an endangered species.

“ The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: What good is it? If the land mechanism as a whole is good, then every part is good, whether we understand it or not… Who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts? To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent thinking” –Aldo Leopold

Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973 by congress and signed by president Richard Nixon

The ESA was developed in an effort to reduce the increasing rate of extinction of plants and animals in the United States

Endangered Species Act

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is charged with the task of identifying species of plants and animals and classifying them.

Classifications

Extinct Species are no longer living on the earth.

Endangered Species are those that are in danger of becoming extinct unless they are protected

Threatened Species are those that are likely to become endangered in the future unless conservation measures are taken

Classifications

Species of Concern are those that need to be monitored because there are factors that may cause them to become threatened or endangered

Candidate Species are those not currently listed as threatened or endangered but may be as information is gathered

Rare Species are those that only exist in small numbers.

Terms

Critical Habitat is an area required for a species’ normal needs and survival

Take is defined as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, trap, kill, capture, or collect a listed species

Alabama Threatened or Endangered Species Alabama ranks 4th in the nation in the number

of threatened or endangered species. As of 2005 there are 5 mammals, 4 birds, 6

reptiles, 1 amphibian, 12 fish, 40 invertebrates, and 18 plants.

The high number of species is probably due to the natural diversity of the state.

Gray Bat MammalEndangered

Indiana BatMammal

Endangered

Red-Cockaded WoodpeckerBird

Endangered

Wood StorkBird

Endangered

Bald Eagle Bird

Threatened

Alabama Red Bellied TurtleReptile

Endangered

Flattened Musk TurtleReptile

Threatened

Gopher TortoiseReptile

Threatened

Eastern Indigo SnakeReptile

Threatened

Red Hills SalamanderAmphibian

Threatened

Gulf SturgeonFish

Threatened

Alabama Beach Mouse

Perdido Key Beach Mouse

Green Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

What causes Endangerment?

Species become Endangered due to:

-Threats to Habitat

- Limited Range

- Physical or Biological Factors (like disease or food supply)

Why save them?

Each species plays a role in the environment, a species’ extinction could adversely effect other species.

Also, we must ensure that this planet is enjoyable for future generations.

Recovery Strategies

The Bald Eagle was on the endangered species list not long ago, but efforts have been made to bring it back.

Several factors contributed to it’s decline. DDT Nesting ground disturbances Reduced habitat

Recovery Strategies

Any strategy must first account for the animals’ food sources, cover, and range.

With the Bald Eagle, DDT was outlawed There habitat and nesting grounds are now

protected