announcements. what does endangered species mean? when a species is likely to become endangered, it...

ANNOUNCEMENTS

What does endangered species mean?

• When a species is likely to become endangered, it is called a threatened species.

• When a species is in danger of extinction, it is called an endangered species.

• When a species is no longer existing or living, it is called being extinct.

• The first step (in Kansas) is called SINC,

• Species in need of conservation

• Extinct (EX) – No individuals remaining.• Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or

as a naturalized population outside its historic range.• Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in

the wild.• Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.• Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.• Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the

near future.• Least Concern (LC) – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at

risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

• Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.

• Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.[6]

Why are species endangered?

• Endangered animals are animals that are in danger of becoming extinct.

• Causes include:– Habitat destruction / population pressure– Collection and hunting / poaching– New plants and animals being introduced that

don’t belong there– Pollution

• See HIPPO

H.I.P.P.O.

• Habitat Loss – the biggest, most common reason

• Introduced Species – invaders like the python in the everglades

• Pollution – especially toxic chemicals and pesticides

• Population Growth – more and more people

• Over-consumption – those people want more and more stuff.

What kinds of animals are endangered?

• Animals in all groups can become endangered.

• Plants can also become endangered.Cheetahs are one animal that is currently endangered.

Agueweed is one plant that is currently endangered.

Why some species are more likely to become extinct.

• Specialization– Blackfooted ferret– Warbler and turtles, nesting sites

• Low biotic potential– Elephants, whales, sharks

• Non-adaptive behavior– Opossum and armadillo– Carolina parakeet

Saving Endangered Species

• Species approach– Manage for that species specific problem– Wood duck (nesting sites), birds of prey (DDT)

• Zoo approach– Short term only– Oryx, cheetah

• Ecosystem approach– Only long term fix– Wildlife biology management

CITES

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna

• Treaties that band trade.

• Problems with enforcement (ivory, rhino horn, etc.)

Endangered Animal Numbers

• Currently, there are over – 342 mammals– 271 birds– 115 reptiles – 30 amphibians – 125 fish– 48 insects– 21 crustaceans

that are endangered in the world today.

Endangered Plant Numbers

• Currently, there are over

– 714 flowering plants

– 5 kinds of conifers and cyads

– 26 kinds of ferns

– 2 kinds of lichensThe Black Lace Cactus is one plant that is currently on the endangered list.

Why should we save these species?

• They serve medicinal purposes.– All kinds of plants and animals

contribute to some kind of prescription medication.

– About 40% of all prescriptions written today are made from the natural compounds of different species.

– Digitalis, a heart medication which saves more than 3 million heart disease sufferers, is made from the purple foxglove, an endangered plant. The purple foxglove is a

medicinal plant that is currently

endangered.

Why should we save these species? (cont’d)

• They serve agricultural purposes.– Wild relatives of common crops such as wheat and corn

contain disease-resistant material essential to humans.– These plants also provide people with ways to develop

new crops for lands that don’t normally grow crops well.

Why should we save these species? (cont’d)

• These animals are very important to the ecology of out earth.– Since people depend on many different

ecosystems for food and water, when a species is in trouble, it is a sign that the ecosystem isn’t doing well.

– The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that losing one plant species can trigger the loss of up to 30 other insect, plant, and other higher animal species.

Why should we save these species? (cont’d)

• Many species are raised for commercial purposes. – Salmon fishing in the Pacific Northwest U.S. has

created over 60,000 jobs and $1 billion annually in personal income.

• These jobs and income are in trouble, though, because of a decline in the salmon population due to habitat destruction.

This salmon is one endangered animal currently raised for commercial purposes.

Why should we save these species? (cont’d)

• These animals also serve recreational purposes.– Zoos and other animal exhibits often help bring in

tourism, while helping to educate about these animals.

Why should we save these species? (cont’d)

• And one last reason. A Moral obligation to…

• The people that depend on those species and

• Future generations

• If we don’t help to save these animals, they will soon die out, and then they’d be gone forever, leaving future generations without the chance to get to see and learn about all these creatures.

Endangered Animals

African Elephant

Giant Panda

Koala Bear

Endangered Animals (cont’d)

Bald Eagle

Spix’s Macaw

Spanish Imperial Eagle

California Condor

Endangered Animals (cont’d)

Indigo Snake

American AlligatorGila Monster

Endangered Animals (cont’d)

Topeka Shiner

Devil’s Hole pupfish

White River springfish

Woundfin

Endangered Animals (cont’d)

Corsican Snail

Kentucky Cave Shrimp

Queen Conch

Tooth Cave Spider

Spotted Tree Frog

Endangered Plants

Abutilon menziesii, the flowering maple from

Hawaii

The Lupine, in Palo Alto, CA

The purpurea, found all over North America

Mead’s Milkweed

Endangered Plants (cont’d)

Dwarf Mountain Pine Camellias

Blagay Daphne

Small Whilte Lady’s Slipper

Endangered Plants (cont’d)

Indigenous fern

Ferns in the Mangrove Forest

Now, Nature: The Loneliest Animals!

Galapagos TortoiseRafetus TurtleSpix’s MacawIberian LynxSumatran RhinoBlack footed FerretLemur