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Endangered, Invasive, and Reintroduced Species of Pennsylvania By: Harrison Fesel Endangered Species • an endangered species is a species whose numbers are so small they are at risk for extinction • a species can be endangered because of – – – – – habitat destruction over exploitation disease pollution limited distribution • to prevent endangerment, people preserve habitats and try to reproduce animals in captivity, and relocate them Endangered Animals in PA • Indiana Bats are endangered because of the destruction of there summer habitats • Dwarf Wedge Mussels are endangered because flooding destroy their habitats • Pink Muckets are endangered because of destruction of habitat from flooding, gravel Pink mining, and deforestation Muckets Indiana Bats Dwarf Wedge Mussels Endangered Plants in PA • the Northeastern Bulrush is an endangered plant, because of its degrading habitat due to development and other construction • the Small Whorled Pogonia is threatened, because of the destruction of its habitat; it is also decimated by wild pigs, and predation by deer, slugs, and vandalism Northeastern Bulrush Small Whorled Pogonia Invasive Species • a native species is a species that is present to a given area by natural process with no human intervention • an introduced species arrives in an area due human activity either deliberate or accidental • an invasive species is a species that is transported to an area not native to it; it reproduces, and may cause harm to the environment Invasive Species • Invasive species are brought into the country by: – ships- organisms are carried over by ballast water – wood products- insects can get into wood being transported – ornamental plants- some of these plants can start reproducing in the wild – pet trade- a pet can become an invasive species when accidentally released into the wild – deliberately- humans can intentionally introduce a species into a new environment • Most common ways invasive species negatively affect our environments: – preying- it can feed on native species – out-competing- can out-compete other organisms for food sources – disease- it can carry or cause diseases in an environment – preventing native species from reproducing- kill off a young species Invasive Animals in PA • Zebra Mussel (Dreissena Polymorpha) – originated from the Caspian Sea region of Asia; they live and feed in many different aquatic habitats; they cause problems by competing with native species, and clogging pipes • Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) – originated from Europe; the rats feed on anything they can catch or find like fish, eggs, or vegetables; furthermore they are eaten by dogs, snakes, and owls; they cause problems by carrying diseases Zebra Mussel Norway Rat More Invasive Animals in PA • Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) – it originated from Japan and China; it feeds on the phloem sap of tender hemlock shoots; causes damages by causing up to 90% mortality of the hemlock trees in the East Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Invasive Plants in PA • Thistle (Carduus, Cirsium, or Onopordum) – this plant is native to Eurasia; it is used as food by species like caterpillars; highly competitive, competes with crops and forage plants • Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) – originated in Europe; it is self fertilized, and crosspollinated by many insects; it is also cultivated by humans for foods, and medicine; since it grows earlier in the spring than other plants it dominates over native plant species Thistle Garlic Mustard Reintroduced/Extirpated Species • reintroducing a species is when humans bring a plant or an animal species into a habitat that has modifications or has different conditions to prevent extinction • an extirpated species is a species that is extinct in a given area Reintroduced Species in PA • Elk – elk were once extinct throughout most of eastern North America – between 1913 and 1926, 177 Rocky Mountain Elk were introduced to Pennsylvania’s forests – these new elk share a very similar niche to the original Eastern Elk that were native to the area – in the year 2000 the elk population in PA was estimated to be 566 individuals – the elk sometimes cause crop damage to agricultural areas Photos of Elk Sources • “National Agricultural Library” http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/index.shtml • “Invasive Species in Pennsylvania” http://www.defenders.org/resources/publications/inva sives/pennsylvania.pdf • “Pennsylvania’s Elk Herd Growing” http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/es_map/articles/art icle_66.mhtml • “National Wildlife Federation” http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/WildlifeConservation/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species.aspx