This document discusses various topics related to sustaining wild species and preventing extinction. It describes three types of species extinction and characteristics of species prone to extinction. It also discusses factors contributing to habitat loss and degradation, the impacts of human activities and climate change on extinction rates, and approaches for protecting endangered species through international treaties, national laws, protected areas, and conservation programs.

1. SUSTAINING WILD SPECIES
The Walker School
Environmental Science

2. WHAT ARE THREE TYPES
OF SPECIES EXTINCTION?

3. Extinction Types
 Local Extinction
 Ecological Extinction
 Biological Extinction

4. WHAT ARE ENDANGERED AND
THREATENED SPECIES?

5. Some Stats About Species
 1.4-1.8 million catalogued
 5-100 million thought to exist
 99.9% of all that existed are now extinct

6. Prematurely Extinct Species

7. Characteristics of Species Prone to
Extinction
 Low reproductive rate
 Specialized niche
 Narrow distribution
 Feeds at high tropic levels
 Fixed migratory patterns
 Rare
 Commercially valuable
 Large territories

8. Some Endangered Species

9. Virus May Be the Cause of Bee Disappearance
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14241569

10. HOW DO BIOLOGISTS ESTIMATE
EXTINCTION RATES?

11. Problems Measuring Extinctions
 Extinction typically takes a long time.
 Not all species have been identified.
 Not much is know about identified species.

12. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN)
http://www.iucn.org/

13. IUCN Red List Database
http://www.iucnredlist.org/

14. Red List Categories
http://www.iucnredlist.org/info/categories_criteria2001.html

15. Discovery Questions
 What is the difference between a threatened and
endangered species?
 How many species are currently threatened?
 What criteria does the IUCN use to establish an
organism’s status?
 Which species meet each of these criteria in your
area?
 What factors contribute to a particular species
status?

16. World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
http://www.worldwildlife.org/

17. WildFinder Database
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildfinder/

18. Problems Estimating Extinction Rates
 Assumptions about the earth’s total number of
species
 The proportion of species found in each ecosystem
 The rate at which ecosystems are being damaged
 The reliability of the method used to make these
estimates

19. WHAT IS AN EXTINCTION
EVENT?

20. Extinction-Level Events (ELE)
 Caused by global environmental disruptions that
result in large percentages of marine and terrestrial
species dying out.

21. Major Extinction Periods and Causes
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-extinction-events.htm

22. Determining Species Extinction
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5015201

23. WHAT EFFECTS ARE HUMAN
ACTIVITIES HAVING ON
EXTINCTION RATES?

24. Humans and Extinction Rates
 .0001% before humans
 0.1 – 1% now, probably conservative
 At this rate 1 million species would be lost in 200
years
 20% of species might be gone by 2030
 Most ecologists consider humans to be an extinction
crisis

25. Current Mass Extinction
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1596740.htm

26. Species Endangered from Human Activities

27. WHY PRESERVE WILD SPECIES
AND ECOSYSTEMS?

28. We Should Care
 Humans probably won’t eradicate all species.
 Providing for opportunistic species, such as weeds,
rats and cockroaches

29. Research Value
 Drugs to combat cancer and other diseases.
 Help us to learn how nature works.

30. Instrumental Value
 Food crops
 Fuelwood
 Lumber
 Paper
 Medicine
 Genetic Information

31. Recreational Value
 Watching Wildlife
 Nature Photography
 Bird Watching
 Eco-Toursim

32. WHY SHOULD WE CARE
ABOUT BATS?

33. Ecological Roles of Bats
 70% feed on crop-
damaging nocturnal
insects
 The pollinate flowers on
many tropical islands
 Fruit eating bats
distribute seeds
 They are a keystone
species and help to
maintain plant
biodiversity

34. Vulnerable to Extinction
 They reproduce slowly
 They live in huge colonies in caves and abandoned
mines, which people sometimes block
 About ¼ of bat species are listed as endangered

35. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF HABITAT
LOSS AND DEGRADATION?

36. Primary Causes of Habitat Depletion (HIPPO)
 Habitat Destruction
 Invasive Species
 Population Growth
 Pesticides/Pollution
 Overharvesting

37. Basic and Secondary Causes

38. Three Greatest Contributors to Terrestrial Species Loss
 Deforestation in
Tropical Forests
 Destruction of
Wetlands
 Plowing of Grasslands

39. Greatest Cause of Marine Biodiversity Loss
 Commercial
Fishing
 Sports Fishing
 Solid Waste
Disposal

40. Contributors to Habitat Loss in U.S.
 Invasive Species
 Commercial
Development
 Fire Suppression
 Agriculture
 Livestock Grazing
 Pesticides/Pollution
 Water Development
 Outdoor Recreation

41. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF HABITAT
FRAGMENTATION?

42. Habitat Fragmentation
 Divides populations into isolated groups
 More vulnerable to predators, invasive species, and
catastrophic events
 Creates barriers that can hinder species from
dispersing and colonizing new areas

43. Global Habitat Fragmentation

44. Vulnerable Species
 Those that are rare
 Those that need to roam over large areas
 Those that have a low reproductive capacity
 Those with specialized niches

45. 4 Species Threatened by Habitat
Fragmentation

46. HOW DO HUMAN ACTIVITIES
AFFECT BIRD SPECIES?

47. Bird Statistics
 9,800 know bird species
 70% are declining in number
 1/6th are threatened with extinction

48. 10 Most Threatened Bird Species
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2006/2006-03-27-01.asp

49. National Audubon Society
http://www.audubon.org/

50. Major Threats to Birds
 Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
 Nonnative Species
 Some are Loved to Death
 Drowned by Fishing Nets
 Caught in Power Lines, Skyscrapers and
Communication Towers

51. Movie: Winged Migration

52. Ecological Role of Birds
 Indicator Species
 Control Rodent Populations
 Control Insect Populations
 Pollinate Flowering Plants
 Scavenging Dead Animals

53. Birds as Indicator Species
 Live in every climate
 Respond quickly to environmental change in their
habitat
 Are easy to tack and count

54. Environmental Issue: Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
National Public Radio Broadcasts
 Audio Evidence of Ivory-Billed
Woodpecker
(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?s
toryId=4814860)
 Audubon Bird Count, Lost
Woodpecker Rediscovered
(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?s
toryId=5067655)

55. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
DELIBERATELY INTRODUCED
SPECIES?

56. Role of Introduced Species
 Provide food crops
 Provide livestock
 Provide lumber and ornamentals
 Control pests

57. Some
Deliberately
Introduced
Species
Estimated 50,000
in U.S.

58. Problems of Introduced Species
 Biggest cause of animal and plant extinctions
 They threaten 1,260 endangered and threatened
species in the U.S.
 And 95% in Hawaii

59. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
ACCIDENTALLY INTRODUCED
SPECIES?

60. Modes of Transmission
 Stowaways on aircraft
 In the ballast water of tankers
 Hitchhikers on imported products

61. Argentina Fire Ant
 Wiped out 90% of native ant
population
 Painful stings can kill deer
fawns, birds, and pets
 Damage crops, such as corn
soybeans, potatoes
 Disrupted phone service and
electrical power

62. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE
THE THREAT FROM NONNATIVE
SPECIES?

63. Reducing the Threat
 Identify major characteristics that allow species to
become successful invaders
 Identify the types of ecosystems that are vulnerable
to invaders
 Inspect imported goods that may be infected

64. Characteristics of Successful Invader Species
 High reproductive rate
 Short maturation time
 Pioneer species
 Long lived
 High dispersal rate
 Release of growth-inhibiting chemical
 Generalists
 High genetic variability

65. EXPLODING DEER POPULATIONS:
SHOULD WE PUT BAMBI ON
BIRTH CONTROL?

66. Deadly Dear
 Deer kill more than 200
people each year, more
each year in the U.S.
than any other wild
species
 Collisions occur more
than 1.5 million times
each year

67. HOW SERIOUS IS THE ILLEGAL
TAKING OR KILLING OF WILD
SPECIES?

68. S.E. Asia’s Illegal Wildlife Trade
http://www.npr.org/programs/re/archivesdate/2003/nov/wildlife/index.html

69. Profit of Poaching
 Mountain Gorilla - $150,000
 Panda Pelt – $100,000
 Chimpanzee - $50,000
 Amazon Macaw - $30,000
 Rhinoceros Horn - $28,000 (per
kg)

70. Endangered Species from Pet Trade
http://www.gotpetsonline.com/cgi-bin/Eware/view_ads.cgi

71. The Rising Demand for Bushmeat
 Increase in African
population
 Increase in logging road
and access to remote areas
 Increase demand by high-
end restaurants
 Source of income for poor
people

72. WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF
CLIMATE CHANGE AND
POLLUTION?

73. Water use and pollution
and soil nutrient loss Freshwater
Food supply
supply and
and demand
Water availability demand
Changes in Deforestation
Changes in
water supply and precipitation Erosion,
temperature and temperature pollution, and
CO2, CH4, changes in
N2O emissions water flow
Habitat change
and fragmentation Forest product
Climate change of habitat supply and
demand
CO2 emission
Changes in Loss and
transpiration fragmentation Loss and
and albedo Loss of habitat fragmentation
of crop
of habitat
genetic
Habitat diversity Reduced
change resistance
to change
Biodiversity loss

74. Wildlife Fund and Climate Change
http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/

75. HOW CAN INTERNATIONAL
TREATIES HELP PROTECT
ENDANGERED SPECIES?

76. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
http://www.cites.org/
Roughly 5,000
species of animals
and 28,000 species
of plants are
protected by CITES
against over-
exploitation
through
international trade.

77. HOW CAN NATIONAL LAWS
HELP PROTECT ENDANGERED
SPECIES?

78. http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa.html
 Most wide reaching act passed by the U.S.
 National Marine Fisheries Services monitors ocean species.
 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services monitors all other wildlife species.
 Act forbids federal agencies to carry out, fund or authorize projects
that would endanger species or their habitat.
 Forbids American to purchase endangered species
 There are 1,260 species currently on the list.

79. ESA List
http://www.fws.gov/Endangered/

80. WHAT ARE CRITICAL HABITAT
DESIGNATIONS AND RECOVERY
PLANS?

81. Biodiversity Hotspots
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/Pages/default.aspx

82. Top 6 Hotspots in United State
 Hawaii
 San Francisco Bay area
 Southern Appalachians
 Death Valley
 Southern California
 Florida Panhandle

83. SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT
COMPENSATE LANDOWNERS WHEN
ENDANGERED SPECIES DECREASE THE
ECONOMIC VALUE OF THEIR LAND?

84. Eminent Domain
 Part of the 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
 Gives the government the right to force citizen to
sell their property needed for public good.

85. Richard Pombo and the Endangered Species Act
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4971014

86. Problems w/ Endangered Species Act
 Act not doing too well, only 10 have been removed
 Problems determining what is “critical habitat”; not
enough empirical data
 Tends to lower the value of the land
 If governments gave everyone the market value of
their land it would cripple the government

87. HOW CAN PRIVATE LANDOWNERS
BE ENCOURAGED TO PROTECT
ENDANGERED SPECIES?

88. Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs)
 Protecting critical nesting sites
 Maintaining travel corridors for endangered species
 Paying to relocate species to another suitable habitat
 Removing competitors and predators
 Paying money to have the government buy suitable habitat
elsewhere

89. SHOULD THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT BE WEAKENED?

90. House Approves Revised Endangered Species Act
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4930486

91. Efforts to Weaker the ESA
 Make protection of endangered species on private
land voluntary.
 Have governments compensate landowners for their
land.
 Make it harder to list newly endangered species.
 Eliminate the need to designate critical habitats.

92. SHOULD THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT BE STRENGTHENED?

93. Efforts to Strengthen the ESA
 Find out what species and ecosystem the country has.
 Locate and protect the most endangered ecosystems and
species within such systems.
 Put more emphasis on preventing species from becoming
threatened and ecosystems from becoming degraded.
 Provide private landowners who agree to help protect
endangered ecosystems with significatn financial incentives.

94. HOW CAN WILDLIFE REFUGES AND
OTHER PROTECTED AREAS HELP
PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES?

95. America’s National Wildlife Refuge System
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/

96. Bird Migratory Routes
National Refuges help to protect wetlands along bird migration routes

97. Texas Coast Welcomes Whooping Cranes
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6881350

98. CAN GENE BANKS, BOTANICAL
GARDENS, AND FARMS HELP SAVE
MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES?

99. Gene Banks, Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical
Gardens
 100 gene banks currently store seed from the 14 plants and
provide 90% of the food we eat.
 1,600 botanical gardens world-wide, which help to educate
visitors about the need for plant conservation
 201 accredited U.S. zoos provide sanctuaries for threatened
or endangered species and help to educate people about
animal conservation.

100. Seed Banks Move to Save Threatened Species
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10338057

101. CAN ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS
HELP PROTECT MOST
ENDANGERED SPECIES?

102. Preserving Endangered Species
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1382676

103. Conservation Techniques in Zoos and Game
Parks
 Egg Pulling
 Captive Breeding
 Artificial Insemination
 Surgical Implantation of Eggs into Surrogate Mothers
 Use of Incubators
 Cross-Fostering of Endangered Species
 Use of Computer Databases to Match Compatible DNA
Strands for Breeding

104. Problems with Zoos
 Some activists interpret zoos as human
domination over equal creatures
 Some criticize their educational value as being
superficial and useless.
 Some groups however do not fundamentally
reject the existence of zoological gardens, but
they point to the often unnatural and
controversial conditions of keeping animals in
captivity, particularly in small cages without
any environmental enrichment.
 Some activists say behavioral patterns such as
pacing, rocking and swaying indicate suffering
of animals in unsuitable enclosures.

105. WHAT IS RECONCILIATION
ECOLOGY?

106. Reconciliation Ecology
 Science of inventing, establishing, and maintaining
new habitats to conserve species diversity in places
where people live, work and play.

107. Reconciliation Ecology In Action
 Neighbors banding together
to replace monoculture yards
with diverse habitats for
butterflies and birds.
 Garden rooftops on buildings
in cities.
 Large parks in cities that have
many different ecosystems.

108. HOW CAN WE DO TO
PRESERVE SPECIES?