Endangered Species - PowerPoint

							Endangered Species
   The rare scare…
What is an Endangered Species?
 • An endangered species is a population of organisms
   which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is
   either few in numbers, threatened by changing
   environmental or predation parameters,
   deforestation, or lack of food or water.
 • International and national agencies work to maintain
   lists of endangered species, to protect and preserve
   natural habitats, and to promote programs for
   recovery and reestablishment of these species
       What is an Extinct Species?
  • Extinction is the disappearance of an entire species
  • If a species does not have the genetic traits to survive in its
    environment, then the species will eventually become extinct forever
  • Some examples of extinct animals are:




Galapagos Tortoise   Dinosaurs          Steller’s Sea Cow       Laughing Owl




   Bali Tiger               Thylacine             Quagga          Dodo Bird
Northern Hairy-nosed                                                                           African Elephant
Wombat


                        Endangered Species
                                   Giant Armadillo        Black Rhinoceros

                  Chinese
                  Paddlefish



                                   Snow Leopard
                                                                                          Wild Bactrian Camel


    All of these species, along with hundreds of others are currently endangered

Cochabamba Mountain Finch                      Red Wolf                                       Right Whale

                               Golden Lion Tamarin                                         Hawaiian Crow




Asiatic Cheetah                                                 Short Tailed Chinchilla
     Causes of Endangerment
• There are many different reasons that a species may
  become endangered or extinct. Some of them that we will
  explore today are:
    Rarity
    Inbreeding
    Hybridization
    Gradual loss of habitat
    Long-term environmental trends
    Catastrophe
    Extinction or reduction of mutualistic population
    Competition
    Predators
    Disease
    Hunting and collecting
     Causes of Endangerment
• Rarity- when there are very few animals of a species left there are
  less available mates
   – Animals can be rare if they have very specific food or nesting
      requirements, are sensitive to change, compete with other
      species, migrate, or interfere with human activities in some way.
      (Galapagos tortoise became rare because of their lack of ability
      to compete with other species)
• Inbreeding- when animals mate too much within their own group
  the offspring become less able to survive and adapt in a healthy way
    – Below is a picture of an inbred white tiger with visible birth defects due
      to inbreeding.
   Causes of Endangerment
• Hybridization- When two animals from different
  sub-species mate, they might pass on genes
  that are less healthy (Quagga-half horse half
  zebra which is now extinct)
• Gradual loss of habitat- When an animal's
  habitat is slowly destroyed and they have
  nowhere to live. (Bali Tiger, also now extinct)
   Causes of Endangerment
• Long-term environmental trends- Scientists
  think that dinosaurs became extinct because of
  a slow cooling of the earth
• Catastrophe- Volcanic eruption, dramatic
  change in climate, tsunami, etc.
    Causes of Endangerment
• Extinction or reduction of mutualistic population- If
  two species are dependent on each other, then the
  endangering of one also endangers the other
   – the Ocellaris clownfish that dwell among the tentacles of Ritteri sea
     anemones would become endangered if the anemones were to become
     endangered
• Competition- When a new species is introduced to a
  habitat, then the stronger of the two species will be more
  likely to survive.
   – A Japanese vine introduced in a Georgia forest competes with the other
     plants for light…and clearly wins.
      Causes of Endangerment
•   Predators- When the population of a species of predator in a habitat
    suddenly increases, the population of their prey decreases
     – The wolves in Yellow Stone National Park prevent herbivores from over-
       grazing the area by preying on them, thus increasing their risk of
       endangerment
•   Disease- If a particular sickness spreads quickly throughout a particular
    species, then many may die before they can reproduce
     – The Tasmanian Devil Tumor Disease has made the species become
       endangered
•   Hunting and collecting- Hunters have been largely responsible for the
    endangerment of many animal species.
     – Elephant poachers have been the cause of many endangered and
       extinct species of elephants. Elephants have long been hunted and
       killed for their valuable ivory tusks
Why Save Endangered Species?
  “Plants and animals hold medicinal,
  agricultural, ecological, commercial and
  aesthetic/recreational value. Endangered
  species must be protected and saved so that
  future generations can experience their
  presence and value.”
                 Medicinal
• About 40% of all prescriptions written today are
   composed from the natural compounds of
   different species
• The Pacific Yew 
  is a tree that used to
   be considered a “trash tree.”
   It was discovered to be a
   promising treatment for
   some cancers.
                Agricultural
• Scientists estimate there
  are about 80,000 edible
  plants in the world
• Only 20 species of these
  plants (wheat, corn, etc)
  provide most of the world’s
  food.
• Animals, too, are part of
  the agriculture. For
  example, having birds eat
  certain insects so that they
  do not devour all of the
  farmer’s crops
                           Ecological
• Plant and animal systems are the foundation of
  healthy ecosystems. When a species becomes
  endangered it is an indicator that the health of
  these vital ecosystems is beginning to unravel.

• The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that
  losing one plant species can trigger the loss of up
  to 30 other insect, plant, and higher animal
  species

• Pollution off the coast of Florida is killing the coral
  reefs along the Florida Keys, which serve as a
  habitat for hundreds of fish. Commercial fish
  species have begun to decline causing a threat
  to the tourism industry which depends on the
  quality of the environment
Commercial

  • Various wild species are
    commercially raised, directly
    contributing to local and regional
    economies.
  • For example, commercial salmon
    fishing in the Pacific Northwest
    provides 60,000 jobs and $1 billion
    dollars a year in income. This
    industry is in trouble as salmon
    decline due to habitat degradation
    from dams, clear cutting, and
    overgrazing.
Recreational
  • Plant and animal species and their
    ecosystems form the basis of
    America’s multi billion dollar job
    intensive tourism industry. They
    also supply recreation, spiritual,
    and quality of life values as well.

  • Each year over 100 million people
    in the US participate in wildlife
    related recreation including
    observing, feeding and
    photographing wildlife.
  Laws That Protect Endangered Species
    •   Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
         – Makes it illegal to import, export, or take bald or golden eagles to sell, purchase, or
             barter their parts, or products made from them including their nests or eggs.
    •   Marine Mammal Protection Act
         – This Act establishes a moratorium on the taking and importation of marine mammals,
             including parts and products, and defines Federal responsibility for conservation of
             marine mammals, with management authority vested in the Department of the Interior
             for the sea otter, walrus, polar bear, dugong, and manatee
    •   Endangered Species Act
         – This Act prohibits the importation, exportation, taking, and commercialization in
             interstate or foreign commerce of fish and wildlife, and plants that are listed as
             threatened or endangered species. The Act also implements the provision of the
             Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
    •   Antarctic Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 2401).
         – The purpose of the Act is to provide for the conservation and protection of the fauna
             and flora of Antarctica and of the ecosystem upon which such fauna and flora depend.
             The primary prohibitions of the Act make it unlawful for any United States citizen to
             take any native bird or mammal in Antarctica or to collect any native plant from any
             specially protected area within Antarctica. In addition, the Act makes it unlawful for any
             United States citizen or any foreign person in the United States to possess, sell, offer for
             sale, deliver, receive, carry, transport, import, export, or attempt to import or export
             from the United States any native mammal or bird taken in Antarctica or any plant
             collected in any specially protected area.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER LAWS SET IN PLACE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES
             Works Cited
• http://www.teachervision.fen.com/endange
  red-species/lesson-plan/6239.html