Download Animals in Peril Project

“Endangered Species Act”
2,227 organisms are currently listed as
endangered of becoming extinct on our
planet with 1,154 of them in the United
States. Organisms are identified as
endangered if it is likely that they will become
extinct throughout their range as determined
by the Endangered Species Act. The
Endangered Species Act (ESA for short) was
enacted by Congress in 1973.
“Endangered Species Act”
Under the ESA, the federal government has the
responsibility to protect:
• Endangered Species - species that are likely to
become extinct throughout all or a large portion of
their range.
• Threatened Species - species that are likely to
become endangered in the near future.
• Critical habitat - vital to the survival of endangered
or threatened species.
How does a species get on the Endangered Species List?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National
Marine Fisheries service investigates the health
of a species by looking at scientific data collected
by local, state and national scientists. The
scientists research the answer for the following
questions to determine a species status.
1. Has a large percentage of the species vital
habitat been degraded or destroyed?
How does a species get on the Endangered Species List?
2. Has the species been over-consumed by
commercial, recreational, scientific or
educational uses?
If scientific research reveals that
the answer to one or more of the
3. Is the species threatened by disease or
five questions is yes, then the
predation?
species can be listed under the
4. Do current regulations or legislations
Endangered Species Act.
inadequately protect the species?
5. Are there other manmade factors that
threaten the long-term survival of the
species?
What does Endangered Species Act protection mean?
Once a species becomes listed as "endangered"
or "threatened“ it receives special protections
by the federal government, and are protected
from “take” being traded or sold. The term
"take" is used in the ESA to include, "harass,
harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap,
capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in
any such conduct." The law also protects against
interfering in vital breeding and behavioral
activities or degrading critical habitat.
The Goal of the Endangered Species Act
The primary goal of the Endangered
Species Act is to make species'
populations healthy and vital so they can
be delisted from the Endangered Species
Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the National Marine Fisheries
Service actively invest time and
resources to bringing endangered or
threatened species back from the brink
of extinction.
Animals in Peril Project
Your Role: You are an officer of the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service working to enforce
the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES). Your job is to inform the
local people of the plight of the
endangered species you have chosen by
explaining the importance of the species
to the health of the local ecosystem.
Animals in Peril Project
Directions: Go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/
click on >>Threatened/endangered wildlife in the U.S,
and foreign species and choose your species. Your
presentation should be multi-media, such as Power
Point, Prezi, etc. If you have another idea please come
see me. You may work with a partner, but working
alone is always more beneficial to your learning. The
presentation should be 5 minutes and include an
action plan of what you can do to save the species.
Animals in Peril Project
You will be graded based on the following criteria in your presentation being included. Your peers
will also be grading you, so do a great job.
• 20 Pts. Common & Scientific Name:
• 20 Pts. Adaptations for Survival:
• 20 Pts. Conservation Status:
• 20 Pts. Number left; captive and wild populations:
• 20 Pts. Closest living ancestor; family or genus:
• 50 Pts. Factors causing conservation status:
• 50 Pts. Efforts being made to delist the species:
• 50 Pts. How can you help? Action Plan:
• 50 Pts. Biome: Include ecosystem name, range, & abiotic factors:
• 50 Pts. Describe the organisms Niche:
• 50 Pts. Overall quality of presentation using peer review rubric
• 200 Pts. Save Your Species Poster; a colorful poster that includes a picture of your organisms
50pts, common and scientific name 50pts, Number left in the world, captive and/or wild
populations 50pts, steps humans can take to save the species from extinction 50pts.
• 600 Total Points
Animals in Peril Project
Peer Presentation and Project Content Rubric
Name(S) of presenter(s): ___________________________________________
Title of Project: __________________________________________________
Total Presentation Points (20)
Eye Contact
0
1
2
3
4
Voice Level
0
1
2
3
4
Knowledge of the topic
0
1
2
3
4
Preparation of Presentation
0
1
2
3
4
Total Presentation Points (30)
Completion of Project Requirements
0
1
2
3
4
Creativity of Project
0
1
2
3
4
Content of Project
0
1
2
3
4
Total Points: _______________/50
5
5
5
5
5
6
7
8
9
10
5
6
7
8
9
10
5
6
7
8
8
10