e·col·o·gy  Spelled[ih-kol-uh-jee]–noun 1. the branch of

biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and

their environment, including other organisms.

hab·i·tat Spelled[hab-i-tat] –noun 1. the natural environment of an organism; place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism: a tropical habitat.

1. Clear-cutting2. Industry3. Urban Development4. Plant species depletion/extinction5. Lack of natural processes (wildfires,

grazing etc)6. Collection7. Isolated Populations/Fragmentation

Habitat Loss/Fragmentation

Endangered Species are animals and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct.

Threatened species are animals and plants that are likely to become endangered in the near future.

Identifying, protecting, and restoring, endangered and threatened species are the primary objectives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species program.

Info. From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered Species

Habitat Destruction

Overexploitation

Introduction of Exotic Species

Disease

Pollution

Endangered Species Causes

The Karner Blue Butterfly is found in parts of the northern United States such as Wisconsin, New Hampshire, New York, Indiana and Michigan.

Due to urban development, much of the Karner Blue Butterflies habitat has been depleted or segmented. Also, the lack of natural disturbances such as wildfires and animal grazing have caused a decline in plant and flower growth, especially the lupine plant which is the Karner Butterfly caterpillar's only source of food.

This decline in the wild lupine plant population has led to a sharp decline in the numbers of Karner Blue Butterflies found in the wild

Because of urban development as well as human prevention of wildfires, much of the land native to the Karner Blue Butterfly has been segmented, creating isolated groups of Karner Blue Butterflies.

This change from large populations to small, isolated groups has had a significant effect on the butterfly's reproduction rates and caused an overall decline in the Karner Butterfly Population

ec·o·sys·temSpelled[ek-oh-sis-tuhm, ee-koh-] Show IPA

–noun Ecology . a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment

en·vi·ron·mentSpelled[en-vahy-ruhn-muhnt]

1. Ecology . the air, water, minerals, organisms, and all other external factors surrounding and affecting a given organism at any time.

How could the loss of a habitat or a species affect

an entire ecosystem?

John James Audobon (1785-1851)French- American Ornithologist. Born in Haiti, and raised in France and America.

Natutralist, hunter, and painter

Painted, Catalogued, and described the birds of North America, as well as some mammals

Became an icon of the “new america”

How can art be used to raise awareness?