Download Indicator species

Species At Risk
Keystone Umbrella Indicator
Florida
panther
Wolf
Grizzly
Bear
Salmon
Prairie
Dogs
Bison
Sage
Grouse
Frogs
Many of the species the National Wildlife
Federation (NWF) works to protect are
“keystone,” “umbrella,” or “indicator”
species.
•
Keystone species: Keystone species
are species that enrich ecosystem
function in a unique and significant
manner through their activities, and
the effect is disproportionate to their
numerical abundance. Their
removal initiates changes in
ecosystem structure and often loss of
diversity. These keystones may be
habitat modifiers (ie. cottonwoods,
rushes and ironwood), keystone
predators (ie. puma and coyote) or
keystone herbivores (ie. prairie dog
and beaver).
•
Umbrella species: An umbrella species are typically large and require a lot of habitat.
By protecting this larger area, other species are protected as well. Umbrella species
generally have the following characteristics: their biology is well known, they are easily
observed or sampled, they have large home ranges, they are migratory, and have a long
lifespan.
•
Indicator species: A species that is particularly sensitive to environmental conditions
and therefore can give early warning signals about ecosystem health. Because they are so
sensitive, a decline in indicator species’ health can signal air and water pollution, soil
contamination, climate change or habitat fragmentation. Indicator species are often
threatened or endemic (native) species.
Continue reading to learn more about some of the species that NWF is working to protect.
Many of the species fall into more than one category. Scientists still debate exactly how to
classify some species because we are always discovering new information about the biology of
these creatures.
Top Predators
Panthers
The Florida panther is a subspecies of cougar, a creature with many common names: catamount,
puma, mountain lion and red lion, among others. Scientists know the Florida panther as Felis
concolor coryi. There are now less then 100 Florida panthers left, all in the southern tip of
Florida. They’re the last remnants of a population of native cougars that once ranged across
most of the southeastern U.S. The Florida panther is both a keystone and an umbrella species.
Wolves
Prior to being granted federal protection, wolves were killed by farmers and ranchers who were
encouraged by a federally sponsored wolf-extermination program. Today, the greatest threat to
the wolf is still the misconception that they endanger people and livestock. Wolves are
considered both a keystone and umbrella species.
Grizzly Bears
The non-Alaskan grizzly bear was added to the federal Endangered Species List as a threatened
species in 1975. Ranching and farming have driven the grizzly from the open plains. Today, the
species lives mostly in mountains and forests. In the nineteenth century, the bear nearly went
extinct in the lower 48 states. Grizzly bears fall into all three categories of keystone, umbrella,
and indicator species.
Fish
Salmon
Dams, deforestation, sprawl, river channelization and pollution are putting pressure on our
remaining salmon. Fish farms are adding to the threat by increasing the likelihood of accidental
interbreeding and disease transmission. Salmon are keystone species as well as indicator
species.
Other Mammals
Prairie Dogs
There are five species of prairie dog, and each is a keystone in its respective ecosystem. Prairie
dogs fertilize the soil and increase the protein content and digestibility of rangeland grasses. But
because they eat grass shared by livestock, ranchers often see them as pests. Eradication
programs, disease, recreational shooting, poisoning, and habitat destruction have reduced prairie
dog populations to only about 2 percent of their historical range. Prairie dogs are keystone and
indicator species.
Black-tailed Prairie Dogs
The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) occupies narrow bands of dry plains
stretching from central Texas to Canada. The black-tailed prairie dog’s population has
plummeted to roughly one percent of its historic level, prompting the National Wildlife
Federation in July 1998 to petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the species as
threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
White-tailed Prairie Dog
The white-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus) inhabits Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, and
has vanished from 92 percent of its historical range. This particular species is highly vulnerable
to an exotic disease called sylvatic plague, which has devastated its numbers.
Gunnison’s Prairie Dog
Gunnison’s prairie dogs, (C. gunnisoni), live in the Four Corners area, in elevations ranging from
5000 to 11,000 feet.
Mexican Prairie Dog
The Mexican prairie dog, (C. mexicanus), is an endangered species that lives only within certain
parts of Mexico.
Utah Prairie Dog
The Utah prairie dog (C. parvidens), listed as endangered in 1973, is the smallest of all prairie
dogs. The species was downlisted - perhaps inappropriately - to threatened status in 1984.
Conservationists have been unsuccessful in helping prairie dogs thrive on public land, which is
the main goal of the current recovery plan. Much of this land is slated for development into
farms or residential housing.
Bison
More than 50 million bison once thundered across the Great Plains. Victims of domestication,
habitat loss and needless slaughter, today bison survive only in remote pockets of our country's
prairie grasslands. Bison are an umbrella species.
Birds
Sage Grouse
As its name suggests, the sage grouse is entirely dependent on healthy sage grasslands habitat,
which was once abundant throughout the West. To date, the birds have disappeared from as
much as 50 percent of their former habitat. Sage grouse are considered an umbrella species.
Amphibians
Frogs
Amphibians are declining at an alarming rate worldwide. Frogs are very sensitive to changes in
their environment and therefore serve as indicator species for ecosystem health.
Frogwatch USA is a long-term frog and toad monitoring program managed by the National
Wildlife Federation in partnership with the United States Geological Survey. Frogwatch’s
mission is to:
• Collect vital information about frog and toad species in the U.S.
• Promote an appreciation for the diversity of frog and toad species
• Foster an understanding of the importance of protecting wetland habitats
• Provide an opportunity to learn about and establish a closer relationship with the
natural environment
Citizen-scientists throughout the United States volunteer to monitor their local wetlands and to
protect imperiled amphibians. Visit http://www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA/ to find out how you can
become a Frogwatch USA volunteer.
For more information contact:
Corry Westbrook
National Wildlife Federation
1400 Sixteenth Street, NW Suite 501
Washington, DC 20036
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nwf.org