ENDANGERED ENDANGERED SPECIESSPECIES

AGST 3000AGST 3000

Agriculture, Society and the Agriculture, Society and the Natural WorldNatural World

WebsitesWebsites

http://endangered.fws.gov/http://endangered.fws.gov/http://endangered.fws.gov/features/rl_frog/rlfhttp://endangered.fws.gov/features/rl_frog/rlfrog.htmlrog.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/contaminants/issues/invahttp://www.fws.gov/contaminants/issues/invasivespecies.cfmsivespecies.cfmhttp://endangered.fws.gov/glossary.pdfhttp://endangered.fws.gov/glossary.pdfhttp://http://

news.fws.gov/newsreleases/showNews.cfnews.fws.gov/newsreleases/showNews.cfm?newsIdm?newsId=8F4A82F1-EE32-D71A-21F0F54EC6839=8F4A82F1-EE32-D71A-21F0F54EC683910C10C

Preparation for ClassPreparation for Class

Define the following:Define the following: threatened threatened endangeredendangered critical habitatcritical habitat candidate speciescandidate species habitat conservation plans (HCPs)habitat conservation plans (HCPs) recovery plansrecovery plans

What are the three classifications of species listed as What are the three classifications of species listed as endangered or threatened?endangered or threatened?

Look up the website on the red-legged frog and look at the Look up the website on the red-legged frog and look at the history, current status, reasons for decline, and ideas for history, current status, reasons for decline, and ideas for recovery…be prepared to discuss as an indicator species for recovery…be prepared to discuss as an indicator species for other endangered species recovery…other endangered species recovery…

For class discussionFor class discussionLook up the Endangered Species Act and identify the Look up the Endangered Species Act and identify the processprocess that it takes to get a species off the Endangered that it takes to get a species off the Endangered or Threatened list.or Threatened list.

What is the objective of the Endangered Species What is the objective of the Endangered Species Program administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service?Program administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service?

In Class Journal…Do you think that the government should have the right to regulate farming practices on private property or to restrict its use by private landowners?

Read about Whooping Cranes…how many individuals did the population get down to, in what year, and how many are there now?

Definition of “Endangered”Definition of “Endangered”

Species judged to be endangered Species judged to be endangered with extinction*with extinction*

* Listed on the “Endangered Species List” by * Listed on the “Endangered Species List” by state, federal, international and some state, federal, international and some private organizations.private organizations.

Definition of “Threatened”Definition of “Threatened”

An animal or plant species likely to An animal or plant species likely to become endangered within the become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.significant portion of its range.

Number by state of Endangered or Threatened SpeciesNumber by state of Endangered or Threatened Species

Causes of Extinction:Causes of Extinction:

Natural CausesNatural CausesHuntingHuntingIntroduced PredatorsIntroduced PredatorsNon-predatory ExoticsNon-predatory ExoticsHabitat ModificationHabitat Modification

Natural CausesNatural Causes

– – Extinction is a natural biological Extinction is a natural biological process, based on fossil record process, based on fossil record birds typically have a species birds typically have a species lifespan of 2 million years and lifespan of 2 million years and mammals about 600,000 years.mammals about 600,000 years.

HuntingHunting

– – Unwise and unregulated hunting Unwise and unregulated hunting has contributed to the extinction has contributed to the extinction of some species; Passenger of some species; Passenger Pigeon, Whales, Spotted cats, Pigeon, Whales, Spotted cats, rhinos.rhinos.

Introduced PredatorsIntroduced Predators ––Exotic species often out-compete native Exotic species often out-compete native

species (Mongoose was introduced to species (Mongoose was introduced to control rats)control rats)

What invasive species threatens the survival What invasive species threatens the survival of native species in the San Joaquin Delta of native species in the San Joaquin Delta and what is the Fish and Wildlife Service and what is the Fish and Wildlife Service doing about it?doing about it?

How was this species introduced?How was this species introduced? Are there any other potential harmful effects, Are there any other potential harmful effects,

other than competition with native species?other than competition with native species?

Non-predatory ExoticsNon-predatory Exotics

– – Agents of competition and disease…Agents of competition and disease…

Goats in Hawaii, Goats in Hawaii,

Starlings out compete many song birds, Starlings out compete many song birds,

Sitka deer in central Texas out-compete Sitka deer in central Texas out-compete White-tails.White-tails.

HABITAT MODIFICATIONHABITAT MODIFICATION

-Loss of habitat or habitat fragmentation -Loss of habitat or habitat fragmentation due to human development i.e.due to human development i.e.

agriculture, agriculture,

urban sprawl, urban sprawl,

industrial development. industrial development.

History of Wildlife Conservation:History of Wildlife Conservation:

President Theodore Roosevelt – acted to create President Theodore Roosevelt – acted to create the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903

1916 Migratory Bird Treaty Act – led to regulation 1916 Migratory Bird Treaty Act – led to regulation of water fowl hunting.of water fowl hunting.

1930’s Soil Conservation Service, Civilian 1930’s Soil Conservation Service, Civilian Conservation Corps all helped to establish and Conservation Corps all helped to establish and preserve wildlife habitat.preserve wildlife habitat.

1908 National Bison Range established to protect 1908 National Bison Range established to protect and preserve the remaining buffalo.and preserve the remaining buffalo.

1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act.1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act.

Endangered Species Act of 1966Endangered Species Act of 1966

1962 Rachel Carson “Silent Spring” …she 1962 Rachel Carson “Silent Spring” …she studied the effects of DDT and created studied the effects of DDT and created widespread concern and public widespread concern and public awareness about the environment.awareness about the environment.

Authorized the Secretary of the Interior to Authorized the Secretary of the Interior to determine the wildlife facing extinction in the determine the wildlife facing extinction in the United States. “Emergency Powers”.United States. “Emergency Powers”.

U.S. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife does U.S. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife does background research on species proposed background research on species proposed for listing.for listing.

Endangered Species Act of 1966 continued…Endangered Species Act of 1966 continued…

Authorized the acquisition of terrestrial habitat Authorized the acquisition of terrestrial habitat using funds from the Land and Water using funds from the Land and Water Conservation Act as a means of protecting Conservation Act as a means of protecting endangered species.endangered species.

Importation of endangered species and their Importation of endangered species and their products was prohibited.products was prohibited.

1973 the Act was modified to include plants and 1973 the Act was modified to include plants and it also stressed that the integrity of ecosystems it also stressed that the integrity of ecosystems be maintained because of scientific, aesthetic, be maintained because of scientific, aesthetic, education, historical and ecological valueseducation, historical and ecological values..

How many How many listed specieslisted species have have designated designated critical habitatcritical habitat? ?

478 U.S. species have designated critical 478 U.S. species have designated critical habitat. habitat.

How many How many candidate speciescandidate species are are there?there?

144 species of animals are candidate 144 species of animals are candidate species.species.145 species of plants are candidate 145 species of plants are candidate species. species.

Conservation and Recovery PlansConservation and Recovery Plans

How many How many habitat conservation plans habitat conservation plans (HCPs)(HCPs) have been approved? have been approved?

482 habitat conservation plans have been 482 habitat conservation plans have been approved. approved.

How many listed species have approved How many listed species have approved recovery plansrecovery plans? ?

1030 species have approved recovery 1030 species have approved recovery plansplans

How many species in the United States are How many species in the United States are listed as listed as threatenedthreatened and and endangeredendangered or or proposed for listingproposed for listing as threatened or as threatened or endangered? endangered?

388 U.S. species of animals are listed.388 U.S. species of animals are listed.

599 U.S. species of plants are listed.599 U.S. species of plants are listed.

21 U.S. species of animals are currently proposed 21 U.S. species of animals are currently proposed for listing.for listing.

0 U.S. species of plants are currently proposed for 0 U.S. species of plants are currently proposed for listing. listing.

Concerns with the Endangered Concerns with the Endangered Species Act: Species Act:

Politics vs. SciencePolitics vs. Science

Property RightsProperty Rights

TimeframeTimeframe

PoliticsPolitics rather than rather than ScienceScience often times often times determines the listing of animals:determines the listing of animals:

Louder voices with more $$ to lobby are Louder voices with more $$ to lobby are often heard first.often heard first.

Animals popular with the public are often Animals popular with the public are often targeted: big animals and mammals rather targeted: big animals and mammals rather than plants and insects…than plants and insects…

Agriculture is an easy target, only 2% of Agriculture is an easy target, only 2% of the population.the population.

Violates personal property rights.Violates personal property rights.

Allowed land/habitat of the designated Allowed land/habitat of the designated “Endangered Species” to be taken out of “Endangered Species” to be taken out of production or managed by gov’t agencies.production or managed by gov’t agencies.

Takes too long!!Takes too long!!

Animals identified as endangered undergo a long research Animals identified as endangered undergo a long research process.process.

Look up the Endangered Species Act and identify the process that Look up the Endangered Species Act and identify the process that it takes to get a species off the Endangered or Threatened list.it takes to get a species off the Endangered or Threatened list.

Solutions to the Endangered Species Solutions to the Endangered Species Dilemma?Dilemma?

Class Discussion…Class Discussion…

What is the objective of the What is the objective of the Endangered Species Program Endangered Species Program administered by the Fish and Wildlife administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service?Service?