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Endangered Species
Common Name
Species Report
Florida Panther
Scientific Name
Puma concolor coryi
Picture
Characteristics and
Traits
An adult will have a tan coat with a white underbelly and
black tips on the tail and ears. They also have yellow
eyes. Adult males weigh 100-159 lbs whereas females
can weigh from 64-100 lbs. Total length can be from 5.9
to 7.2 feet. These are large carnivores whose diets
consist of small animals like mice, hares, waterfowl and
also larger prey like wild boar, white tailed deer, and
even the American Alligator.
Habitat
The Florida Panther lives in the forests and swamps of
southern Florida in the United States.
Ecological Niche
Since it is a carnivore it helps to maintain the population
of herbivores in an ecosystem which in turn helps to
maintain a suitable level of producers. Specifically, they
maintain the population of wild deer in the area which
would grow exponentially and overgraze if left
unchecked.
Map of Distribution
Current vs. Past
Population
Today there are around 100 Florida Panthers alive.
Causes of
Endangerment
There are many causes to the critically endangered
Florida Panther such as hunting/poaching, loss of
habitat, disease and auto collision.
Threatened Species
Common Name
Bald Eagle
Scientific Name
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Picture
Characteristics and
Traits
The plumage of an adult is dark brown on the body and
wings with white covering the head and tail. The bald
eagle is the second largest true raptor in North America
being 28-40 in long on the body with a weight of 6.613.9 lbs with a wingspan of 5.9 to 7.5 feet. These eagles
make a high pitched squeaking sound.
Habitat
The bald eagle is a sea eagle and prefers to stay close
to water. It breeds in almost any kind of American
wetland habitat such as seacoasts, lakes, rivers, or
marshes. They also require old growth trees in order to
perch, roost and nest.
Ecological Niche
The bald eagle is a carnivore that primarily feeds on fish
which aids in keeping fish population in check which
keeps the rest of the ecosystem it lives in in order. It will
also occasionally feed on small mammals and steal food
from other predators which keeps the ecosystem stable.
Map of Distribution
Current vs. Past
Population
Numbers in the US were estimated to be between
300,000 and 500,000 in the 1700s. This number dipped
down to as low as 500 but it is now as high as 5,000
nesting pairs.
Causes of
Threatened Status
Bald eagles were heavily affected by biomagnifications,
in specific the chemical DDT in the 20th century. This
caused their eggs to have thin, soft shells that could
easily be broken. Habitat loss is also to blame for the
decline in population as well as illegal and legal
shooting.
Extinct Species
Common Name
Caribbean Monk Seal
Scientific Name
Neomonachus tropicalis
Picture
Characteristics and
Traits
Long, large, robust body, could grow to almost 8 feet in
length and weigh between 375 to 600 lbs. They had a
rounded head with large wide spaced eyes and an
extended broad muzzle. Their coloration was grayish or
brownish with a lighter shaded underside. Algae also
sometimes grew on them giving them a slightly green
appearance.
Habitat
Caribbean monk seals were found in warm temperate,
subtropical and tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea,
Gulf of Mexico, and the West Atlantic ocean. The
species preferred to rest in sandy beaches above high
tide and may have fed in shallow lagoons and reefs.
Ecological Niche
Ate mostly fish and crustaceans which kept their
respective populations at a suitable level for the
ecosystem.
Map of Distribution
Date of Extinction
1952
Causes of
Extinction/Was
Anything Done
The causes of extinction for this species was over
hunting for their oil, over fishing of their food sources.
These along with the seal’s lack of fear for humans and
not aggressive and curious nature ultimately led to the
seal’s demise.
Affect on
Ecosystem
There may be more fishing opportunity for fishermen in
this area due to the lack of competition from the seals.
Since the population of fish most likely rose after their
extinction, these fish may have over eaten and disrupted
the homeostasis that previously existed within the
ecosystem.
Indicator Species
Common Name
California Gnatcatcher
Scientific Name
Polioptila californica
Picture
Characteristics and
Traits
Small four inch long bird that eats insects. Males are
grey with a black crown, beak and tail. Females are the
same except with a blue grey crown
Habitat
Southern peninsula of California in coastal sage scrub
and low scrubby areas.
Ecological Niche
The niche of the California Gnatcatcher is that it strictly
eats insects which keeps their population in check. If
they did not eat the insects then their population would
explode and they could potentially damage the
environment by eating too much or disrupting the
ecosystem in some way.
Map of Distribution
Why is it an
Indicator Species?
This bird is an indicator because its population is
dropping to dangerous levels strictly due to habitat loss
caused by humans. The low population of these birds is
due to much of the chaparral scrubland being
encroached upon and destroyed.
Positive or
Negative?
This species indicates a negative environmental
condition because both it and the plants making up its
habitat are dying out.
Keystone Species
Common Name
Tiger Shark
Scientific Name
Galeocerdo cuvier
Picture
Characteristics and
Traits
Large ocean predator 10-14 feet long, 900-1400lbs. Two
dorsal fins, one anal fin and five gill slits. It is grey on the
dorsal side with darker striping patterns on its sides and
back and light grey on the ventral side. This is the fourth
largest shark.
Habitat
Often found close to the coast, mainly in subtropical and
tropical waters. It is mostly nomadic but is guided by
warmer currents and they will stay closer to the equator
in the cold months.
Ecological Niche
The tiger shark is an apex predator so its feeding habits
are vital to control the entire food chain’s population.
When it feeds it controls the population of lower animals
on the chain which in turn control the population of each
successive level.
Map of Distribution
2 Adaptations
This shark has adapted a very keen sense of smell and
excellent vision which aids in in finding prey which
makes it a keystone species because of its huge impact
on the food chain and environment.
How 2 Additional
Species Rely on it
Humans and many species of fish rely on tiger sharks
both directly and indirectly. The fish rely on them to eat
the weak and sick members of the population so natural
selection can happen as efficiently as possible. Humans
rely on them because they eat members of the skate
family which eat bivalves which are commercially
valuable. If the sharks didn’t eat some skates then their
population would grow and they would eat all the
valuable bivalves.
Invasive Species
Common Name
Kudzu
Scientific Name
Pueraria Montana var. lobata
Pictures
Native Range and
Niches
New Habitat and
Niches
The new habitat of this plant is all over the Southeast
United States. It out competes with many other plant
species for resources (water/sunlight) and grows
extremely fast. There is also some kudzu growth in
Canada and Vanuatu and Fiji.
Map of Non Native
Range
Adaptations that
Allow it to Survive
The kudzu plant can grow one foot of growth a day and
100 feet in a season. It has giant taproots that can be 12
inches in diameter. Both of these adaptations allow it to
access resources over a large area that many other
plants may not be able to reach.
How it Affects
Ecosystems
Course of Action
for Removal
d
It affects ecosystems in both positive and negative ways.
It grows extremely fast and out competes most native
plant species for resources and as a result the native
plants die out. This could disrupt a food chain. The
kudzu also serves to anchor soil in place and preserve it
well. It can also be eaten by animals and is used as
animal feed.