Chapter 14- Endangered Species Flashcards
SARA
species at risk act
- COSEWIC reccomends
- federal cabinet makes decisions
- habitat and species protected
- Peter Kent refuses to sign recovery acts due to oil and gas development
COSEWIC
committee on status of endangered wildlife in Canada
- biologists who gives reasons, classifications, and what needs to happen
- politicians have final say
Classifying Species- SARA
Extinct Extirpated * Endangered* Threatened* Special Concern Data deficient Not at Risk NO Status * *Species at Risk Act
Alberta Wildlife Act
- Extirpated/Extinct
- at risk
- may be at risk
- sensitive
- secure
- undetermined
- exotic/alien
- accidental/vagrant
Extinct
a wildlife species that no longer exists
Extirpated
species that no loner exists in the wild in Canada but exists elsewhere
ex) Grey Whale
Gravel chub
Black footed ferret
Endangered
species facing imminent extirpation or extinction
ex) swift fox
- whooping crane
- leather back sea turtle
Threatened
species that is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction
ex) wood bison
northern wolffish
short-tailed albatross
Special Concern
species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats ex) Eastern Wold Black-tailed prairie-dog Harlequin Duck (due to oil/gas and climate change)
Data Deficient
NOt enough information is available to determine the species status
Extinct Species
-Banff Longnose dace (due to goldfish in hot springs)
-Great Auk- flightless bird
-Blue eyed walleye
-Woodland caribou Dawson’s subspecies
Elegrass limpet
-Labrador Duck- killed for feathers in feather trade
-Passenger Pigeon- keystone species- killed for feathers
-Macoun’s shining moss
Areas with high population density
and agriculture
-have high number of species at risk
due to habitat loss, wetlands loss, human use
human impact= major factor
Turtles of Point Peele Island
Map Turtle= special concern Wood turtle= endangered Spiny soft-shelled turtle=threatened Midland Painted Turtle=not at risk Stinkpot turtle= threatened Blandings Turtle= threatened Common Snapping turtle= special concern Spotted turtle= endangered why? poaching, pollution, habitat loss, Carolinian ecosystem is endangered
Why is Midland Painted Turtle the only one not at Risk
larger niche
more tolerant
more generalized
How turtles die
Roads=direct mortality, hit by car
Predators and roads- racoons=generalist species
Contaminants- DDT poisoned turtles and changes strength of egg shells
Causes
habitat loss- deforestation
over-harvest- shooting, people eating too much
exotics
pollution
Extinction-Prone Species
specialized needs (feeding, breeding, nesting)
- fixed migrations (caribou in North disrupted by Alaskan Pipeline)
- limited distribution- exotic species can kill them all off due to small niche
- economically valuable- black bear organs being poached and sold on the black market
- low reproduction rate- bowhead whale does not reproduce until 15
- incompatible with people
- oil and gas development
- cost/benefit analysis of each species
- co-dependance (muscle and trout)
Threats?
- Habitat Loss
- Non-natives
- Over-exploitation
- Pollution
- Pest control
- Collecting
- Climate Change
* think of solution for each threat
Solutions?
- re-create habitat
- antibiotics in feed pile
- control non-native species
- clean up pollution
- create protected area
- cut off illegal trade
- education
Other calls to action
- INternational conventions and agencies
- research and monitoring
- habitat protection
- captive breeding
- legal actions
CITES
convention on the international trade in Endangered Species
In Situ Conservation
conservation of ecosystems and maintenance and recovery of populations in their natural environments
- protect species in natural environment
ex) whooping crane
Ex situ conservation
conservation of a species or genetic materials in an artificial environment, away from its natural habitat
ex) zoo- take animals out of natural habitat
In 2003
high number of special concern and endangered species
lower extinct and extirpated
