Endangered Species Objectives: Explain how fish and wildlife become extinct, rare, endangered, or...
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Transcript of Endangered Species Objectives: Explain how fish and wildlife become extinct, rare, endangered, or...
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