Endangered Species: Endangered Species: Politics and BiologyPolitics and Biology
EEOB 661
19 November 2003
Perspectives on the Issue of Perspectives on the Issue of Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species
• Extinction in geological and human history
• Why save endangered species?• Political-Legal: Public willingness to
support the cost• Systematics, natural history, and ecology
of endangered species: All present problems for the ESA
t Graham Red Squirrel
Tamias hudsonicus grahamensis
Mt Graham Red SquirrelMt Graham Red Squirrel• Endangered SubspeciesEndangered Subspecies• Critical habitat: spruce-fir forestCritical habitat: spruce-fir forest• Estimates of abundance over timeEstimates of abundance over time• A lesson for conservationists? A lesson for conservationists? • Lessons for biologists?Lessons for biologists?
t Graham Red Squirrel
Tamias hudsonicus grahamensis
Mt Graham Red SquirrelMt Graham Red Squirrel• Endangered SubspeciesEndangered Subspecies• Critical habitat: spruce-fir forestCritical habitat: spruce-fir forest• Estimates of abundance over timeEstimates of abundance over time• A lesson for conservationists? A lesson for conservationists?
Characteristics of Endangered Species : :
• Low natality and low natural mortality
• Specialized, narrow habitat or environmental requirements
• Historically restricted in distribution, on periphery of range or low in density
• Adapted to stable, undisturbed communities
Case Studies of Endangered Species
• Kirtland’s Warbler: a “r-selected” species nesting in a “disturbed” habitat
• Specialized nesting habitat: Below jack pine, 6-13 yr. old- 5-18 ft high in north-central Mich.
• Adapted to a seral (disturbed) community
• The cowbird problem: a result of forest fragmentation?
Kirtland’s WarblerSix slides of warblers & habitat1. _________2. _________3. ___________4. ____________5. ________________6. _____________________
CowbirdCowbird TrappingTrapping
12,000 ha. Of12,000 ha. Of
54, 000 ha54, 000 ha
Pine PlnatationsPine Plnatations
California Condor
• k-selected patterns of natality and mortality i e.___________?
• Restriction of historical distribution in southwest US
• The roles of egg collecting and pesticides
http://endangered.fws.gov/i/B0G.html
Characteristics of Endangered Species : :
• Low natality and low natural mortality
• Specialized, narrow habitat or environmental requirements
• Historically restricted in distribution, on periphery of range or low in density
• Adapted to stable, undisturbed communities
Causes for Endangered status:
• Loss or degradation of habitat and/or overexploitation ?
• Life history characteristics
• Do “extinction vortices/ PVA” come into play with small, isolated populations?
• Black-footed ferret –
(see Meffe & Carroll)
History of Endangered Species History of Endangered Species LegislationLegislation
• 1966-1969: 1st laws,
• basic policies developed,
• Also CITES
1973-Endangered Species Act1973-Endangered Species Act
• Defined the categories of Endangered and Threatened• Required federal agencies to protect “critical habitat”• Cooperative agreements and recovery plans• Provided for U.S. Implementation of CITES
1978-Endangered Species Amendment Act• Exemptions allow to Section 7 (Review Board)
• Tellico Dam- Congress’ lesson for environmentalists
Administrative Procedures for Administrative Procedures for Listing Endangered SpeciesListing Endangered Species
• Petition to list – any U.S. citizen
• Criteria for Listing: 1) habitat, 2) distrib & abundance, 3) exploitation, 4) protection
• 90-day Finding – Publish in Fed Register?
• 1 year finding: Warrented or Not
• Listing and the strategy for delisting:
1)Recovery Plan, 2)Cooperative Agreements
The Process of Listing• Petition to the Fish & Wildlife Service to have a
species added or removed from the Endangered Species List.
• Who has status to petition the USF & WS?• Example: The spotted owl
• Criteria for Listing of a species or subspecies:– 1) Loss of habitat– 2) Continuous decline in abundance or
distribution– 3) Overexploitation– 4) Inadequate regulations for protection
Recovery Plansvery Plans:
• If the species or subspecies is listed, the
• The goal is to remove species from the List.• Examples: _______________________
– Recovery Plans and identification of Critical Habitat
– Cooperative Agreements– Recovery Teams of local academic biologists and
conservation agency biologists
Condor Recovery PlanCondor Recovery Plan: : Captive breeding & ReintroductionCaptive breeding & Reintroduction
1965: 60 wild birds1965: 60 wild birds
1982: 24 wild birds 1982: 24 wild birds
1987: 27 birds 1987: 27 birds captivecaptive
1990: 40 in captivity1990: 40 in captivity
1992: 11992: 1stst reintroduction reintroduction
2002: 68 (2002: 68 (of 197)of 197) in wildin wild
Endangered Ecosystems ActEndangered Ecosystems Act??
• Is there a feasible alternative, more supportive of biodiversity?
http://endangered.fws.gov/i/B0F.html
Top Related