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Click to add title Click to add subtitle Table of Contents • Introduction • Value of Wildlife • Endangered Species Act • Threatened Species • Endangered Species • Extant Species • Extinct Species • Identification of Threatened or Endangered Species • Recovery • Delisted Species Introduction • Biologists estimate that 99 percent of all plant and animal species that ever existed on the earth are now extinct. • Extinction is a natural part of evolution. • There is a misconception that extinction is a direct result of human activity. • Humans are in competition with wildlife for space. Photo by Bob Nichols courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. • This loss of habitat has lead to the extinction of many hundreds of wildlife species. • Even more are in jeopardy of becoming extinct. • An understanding of the process of extinction will positively affect human interaction with wildlife populations. Process of Extinction • Population risk, environmental risk, natural catastrophe, genetic risk, and human actions cause extinction. • Of the five categories of extinction, only one is related to human activity. • Activity in one category can trigger activity in another. • The main concept is that extinction is a part of the scheme of nature. • However, as a rule, people do not relate extinction to natural processes. Population Risk • Plant and animal populations are unstable. • When the death rate exceeds the birth rate, the population will decline. • One result of a low population is the risk that the female will not find a mate during peak fertility. • This continues to reduce the birth rate and puts the population at a higher risk. Environmental Risk • There are physical and biological changes that create the second category, environmental risk. • Physical factors include weather conditions such as heavy rainfall, drought, and extremely cold or unusually hot winters. Photo by Tim McCabe courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. • Predator-prey relationships affect the biological environment. • More pressure is put on the prey species population as the predator species population increases. Photo by Robin West courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Natural Catastrophe • Natural catastrophe is the result of sudden change in the environment such as earthquakes, meteorites, tidal waves, or major volcanic activity. Photo by R. G. Johnson courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. • The result of such activity is immediate death since they do not allow the species to adapt or move. Photo by R. Russell courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Genetic Risk • Genetic risk is a direct result of a change in genetic makeup of the species. • Extinction can result from mutation, genetic drift, and reduced genetic variation. • A decreasing population results in a decreasing gene pool and a concentration of potentially harmful traits. Human Actions There are four human actions that affect wildlife populations • hunting, • destruction of habitat, • pollution, and • introduction of exotic species. • Hunting, as a management tool, is beneficial. • Uncontrolled hunting and poaching targets a species without regard to its place in the ecosystem. Photo by John Schwartz courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. • Destruction of habitat also contributes to the decline of species populations. • Agriculture, transportation, and construction use natural resources and reduce habitat. Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. A habitat does not need to be totally destroyed to seriously affect a species. • Pollution can lead to extinction. • Dumping of toxic wastes on land and into waterways pollutes food and water supply of wildlife. Photo by R. Will Roach courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo by Brent Esmil????????????????? courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. • Introduction of exotic or non-native species into the environment can seriously affect native populations. • These new species can become competitors, predators, or parasites. Common Pine Shoot Beetle Photo by James Appleby (Univ. of Illinois) courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. • Introduction can either be intentional or accidental. • Regardless, the outcome will often affect wildlife in the ecosystem. Photo by John and Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Value of Wildlife • Some believe that only through preservation of all wildlife will it be possible to ensure survival of the human population. • Wildlife offers beauty, economic value, and scientific value. The aesthetic value alone is reason enough to afford protection. Photo by Steve Maslowski courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. • Still unknown are the scientific contributions wildlife can make. • These range from effects of pollution to their impact on medical products. Photo by Gary Stolz courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Endangered Species Act • When President Theodore Roosevelt established the first National Wildlife Refuge at Pelican Island, Florida, in 1903, he provided an area that gave protection to many species. Photo by Amce Roto Service courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Wood storks, brown pelicans, and other dwindling waterfowl species now had a safe haven. Photo by George Gentry courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. • It was not until much later, with the passage of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1966, that endangered and threatened wildlife received legislative protection. • ESA authorized the purchase of land to conserve selected fish and wildlife. • The Endangered Species Act of 1969 listed species that were threatened or endangered. • With the Endangered Species Act of 1973 came strengthened protection for all listed species. • It superseded all earlier acts. • The Endangered Species Act Amendment of 1978 established a Cabinet level Endangered Species Committee. • The last change came with the Endangered Species Act Amendment of 1982, which allowed by permit the taking of listed species. • It also prohibited taking plants on Federal lands. • The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) monitor the classification of a listed species population status. • Jointly, they list species as threatened or endangered. • Pest insects are not subject to listing by either FWS or NMFS. • The Secretary of Interior is responsible for placing a species on the threatened or endangered list. • The responsibility is delegated to the USFWS, where the director approves petition findings, listing proposals, and final listing determinations. • A species can be listed through petition or through the candidate assessment process. • Any person can petition that a species be added to the Federal Register. • Petitions are formal requests and time constraints ensure prompt action. Candidate assessment allows biologists from the FWS to identify species for listing. Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are 279 species currently recognized as candidates for ESA protection as of September 2006, including 7 new species. Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. • The ESA describes critical habitat in the Federal Register. • The FWS can designate and list critical habitat for listed species. • Critical habitats are essential to the conservation of the target species. Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In the United States, plants and animals are identified as • protected, • threatened, • endangered, • extant, or • extinct. • Within the past 200 years, 75 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, and 20 species of reptiles became extinct. • A species is not destined for extinction just because it has been listed on the threatened or endangered list. • Five criteria govern moving a species to the list. • A species only has to meet one of the criteria to make the list. • Most meet more than one criteria. The five criteria for Threatened or Endangered Species Listing are as follows • present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; • over-utilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; • disease or predation; • inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and/or • other natural or artificial factors affecting its continued existence. • Other nations are concerned with protecting threatened and endangered species. • Canada enacted the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act in 1999. • It replaced the Game and Fish Act that was last amended in 1980. • The current law provides more protection and management for wildlife. • The law also provided an easy-to-read and understand classification of wildlife. • The following codes are used by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and the national Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) • Regulated under provincial Endangered Species Act (END-R) • Endangered (END) • Threatened (THR) • Vulnerable (VUL) • Special Concern (SC) • Extirpated (EXP) • Extinct (ET) • Not in Any Category (NIAC) • Not at Risk (NAR) • Indeterminate (IND) • Data Deficient (DD) Threatened Species • A threatened species is one that faces the likelihood of becoming endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. • Another term to describe a threatened status is vulnerable. • Threatened or vulnerable should not be confused with rare species. • Rare species have a naturally small population. • The following list includes some examples of threatened species. • The following list includes some examples of threatened species. • Alligator snapping turtle • Loggerhead sea turtle • Texas horned lizard • Canebreak rattlesnake • Tiger • Blackbuck antelope Alligator Snapping Turtle Photo by Gary Stolz courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Loggerhead Sea Turtle Photo by Ryan Hagerty courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Texas Horned Lizard Photo by Gary Stolz courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Canebreak Rattlesnake Photo by Edward McCrea courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Tiger Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Blackbuck Antelope Photo by Dick Mitchell courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Endangered Species • Endangered indicates the danger of extinction of a species throughout all or a significant portion of its range. • The following list shows a few examples of animals that are endangered species. • Jaguarundi • Brown pelican • Ocelot • Whooping crane • Black bear • Wood stork • Spotted owl • American alligator • Bald eagle • American crocodile • Peregrine falcon • Houston toad • Red Cockaded Woodpecker • Texas blind salamander • Golden-cheeked warbler • Black-capped vireo • Attwater’s prairie chicken • Kemp’s ridley sea turtle • Atlantic green sea turtle • Paddlefish Jaguarundi Photo by Gary Halvorsen courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ocelot Photo by tom Smylie courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Black Bear Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Northern Spotted Owl Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bald Eagle Photo by Steve Maslowski courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Peregrine Falcon Photos courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Red Cockaded Woodpecker Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Golden-Cheeked Warbler Photo by Steve Maslowski courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Black-capped Vireo Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Attwater’s Prairie Chicken Photo by Gary Halvorsen courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Brown Pelican Photo by Lee Karney courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Whooping Crane Photo by Luther Goldman courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wood Stork Photo by Ryan Hagerty courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. American Alligator Photo by John Mosesso courtesy of the National Biological Information Infrastructure. American Crocodile Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Houston Toad Photo by Robert Thomas courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Texas Blind Salamander Photo by Glenn Longly courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Photo by David Bowman courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Green Sea Turtle Photo by Ryan Hagerty courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Paddlefish Illustration by Timothy Knepp courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The entire list of endangered or threatened species can be viewed on the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website • http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html#Species Extant Species • Extant species are extinct in their natural habitat. • Individuals are still alive, but are kept in zoos, game preserves, or research facilities. • Another term to describe extant species is extirpated. Below are some examples of species that are extant or extirpated in Texas. • Elk • Bighorn sheep • Red wolf • Grizzly bear • Black-footed ferret • Jaguar • Bison (buffalo) • Manatee Elk Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Desert Bighorn Sheep Photo by Peter Carboni courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Red Wolf Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Grizzly Bear Photo by Terry Tollefsbol courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Black-footed Ferret Photo by Tami Black courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Jaguar Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bison (Buffalo) Photo by Jesse Achtenberg courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Manatee Photo by Jim Reid courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Extinct Species • Officially, extinct species no longer exist in their natural habitat. • In reality, a species is extinct when no members of the species are alive. • The passenger pigeon and the Florida panther are two examples of extinct species. Passenger Pigeon Photo by Luther Goldman courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Florida Panther Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Identification of Threatened and Endangered Species • There is a listing of both state and federal plant and animal species on the threatened and endangered list. • A species may be on a State Register and not on the Federal Register. Recovery • Once a species has been listed by the FWS or the NWFS as endangered, a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) or recovery plan is developed. • Prior to plan development, knowledge concerning habitat, nesting, and food sources of the species must be obtained. • If successful, a species can be downgraded from endangered to threatened. • If unsuccessful, a species becomes delisted by becoming extinct. Several factors and management practices affect recovery, including • biological diversity, • legislation, • National Wildlife Refuge System, and • local involvement. Biological Diversity • Biological diversity is the variety of life and the genetic difference among them in the communities and ecosystems. • Managing both plant and animal species is necessary to achieve superior biological diversity. Legislation • The first legislation to protect plant and animal species came about in 1973, when Congress established the Endangered Species Act, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. • The U. S. is also a member of the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). • This 130-nation agreement prohibits the trade of listed species except under CITES permit. • Enforcement of the ESA extends to plants, animals, and critical habitat, as well as, creation of recovery plans for listed species. • Violators face imprisonment and fines. • Individuals face up to $100,000 in fines and one year imprisonment. • Organizations can be fined up to $200,000. • Special agents investigate nearly 5,000 violations each year. • Crimes range from destruction of habitat to large-scale exploitation of wildlife. National Wildlife Refuge System • As of 2004, the National Wildlife Refuge System had 96,013,646 acres of land under management. • The management units included 545 refuges, 37 wetland management districts, and 50 coordination areas. The National Wildlife Refuges conduct management activities to implement recovery plans using the following activities • Habitat enhancement, • Captive propagation, • Transplantation, • Predator control, • Applied research, • Population monitoring, and • Law enforcement. Wildlife Refuge System - 2003 Illustration by Doug Vandegraft courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Illustration by Doug Vandegraft courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Illustration by Doug Vandegraft courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Local Involvement • Local involvement is an essential part of the recovery process. • Private landowners control the largest portion of land in the United States. • Even though wildlife is the property of the state, landowner’s property rights must be protected. • Public support received by the FWS makes much of the recovery of endangered species possible. Delisted Species • A delisted species is any plant or animal on either the threatened or endangered list that has been removed from the list. • A species is delisted when it has recovered or becomes extinct. • Interested parties may request delisting of a species. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduction or redistribution of all, or part, of this presentation without written permission is prohibited. Instructional Materials Service Texas A&M University 2588 TAMUS College Station, Texas 77843-2588 http://www-ims.tamu.edu 2006