Endangered Species: Endangered Species: Politics and BiologyPolitics and Biology

EEOB 661

19 November 2003

Perspectives on the Issue of Perspectives on the Issue of Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

• Extinction in geological and human history

• Why save endangered species?• Political-Legal: Public willingness to

support the cost• Systematics, natural history, and ecology

of endangered species: All present problems for the ESA

t Graham Red Squirrel

Tamias hudsonicus grahamensis

Mt Graham Red SquirrelMt Graham Red Squirrel• Endangered SubspeciesEndangered Subspecies• Critical habitat: spruce-fir forestCritical habitat: spruce-fir forest• Estimates of abundance over timeEstimates of abundance over time• A lesson for conservationists? A lesson for conservationists? • Lessons for biologists?Lessons for biologists?

t Graham Red Squirrel

Tamias hudsonicus grahamensis

Mt Graham Red SquirrelMt Graham Red Squirrel• Endangered SubspeciesEndangered Subspecies• Critical habitat: spruce-fir forestCritical habitat: spruce-fir forest• Estimates of abundance over timeEstimates of abundance over time• A lesson for conservationists? A lesson for conservationists?

Characteristics of Endangered Species : :

• Low natality and low natural mortality

• Specialized, narrow habitat or environmental requirements

• Historically restricted in distribution, on periphery of range or low in density

• Adapted to stable, undisturbed communities

Case Studies of Endangered Species

• Kirtland’s Warbler: a “r-selected” species nesting in a “disturbed” habitat

• Specialized nesting habitat: Below jack pine, 6-13 yr. old- 5-18 ft high in north-central Mich.

• Adapted to a seral (disturbed) community

• The cowbird problem: a result of forest fragmentation?

Kirtland’s WarblerSix slides of warblers & habitat1. _________2. _________3. ___________4. ____________5. ________________6. _____________________

CowbirdCowbird TrappingTrapping

12,000 ha. Of12,000 ha. Of

54, 000 ha54, 000 ha

Pine PlnatationsPine Plnatations

California Condor

• k-selected patterns of natality and mortality i e.___________?

• Restriction of historical distribution in southwest US

• The roles of egg collecting and pesticides

http://endangered.fws.gov/i/B0G.html

Characteristics of Endangered Species : :

• Low natality and low natural mortality

• Specialized, narrow habitat or environmental requirements

• Historically restricted in distribution, on periphery of range or low in density

• Adapted to stable, undisturbed communities

Causes for Endangered status:

• Loss or degradation of habitat and/or overexploitation ?

• Life history characteristics

• Do “extinction vortices/ PVA” come into play with small, isolated populations?

• Black-footed ferret –

(see Meffe & Carroll)

History of Endangered Species History of Endangered Species LegislationLegislation

• 1966-1969: 1st laws,

• basic policies developed,

• Also CITES

1973-Endangered Species Act1973-Endangered Species Act

• Defined the categories of Endangered and Threatened• Required federal agencies to protect “critical habitat”• Cooperative agreements and recovery plans• Provided for U.S. Implementation of CITES

1978-Endangered Species Amendment Act• Exemptions allow to Section 7 (Review Board)

• Tellico Dam- Congress’ lesson for environmentalists

Administrative Procedures for Administrative Procedures for Listing Endangered SpeciesListing Endangered Species

• Petition to list – any U.S. citizen

• Criteria for Listing: 1) habitat, 2) distrib & abundance, 3) exploitation, 4) protection

• 90-day Finding – Publish in Fed Register?

• 1 year finding: Warrented or Not

• Listing and the strategy for delisting:

1)Recovery Plan, 2)Cooperative Agreements

The Process of Listing• Petition to the Fish & Wildlife Service to have a

species added or removed from the Endangered Species List.

• Who has status to petition the USF & WS?• Example: The spotted owl

• Criteria for Listing of a species or subspecies:– 1) Loss of habitat– 2) Continuous decline in abundance or

distribution– 3) Overexploitation– 4) Inadequate regulations for protection

Recovery Plansvery Plans:

• If the species or subspecies is listed, the

• The goal is to remove species from the List.• Examples: _______________________

– Recovery Plans and identification of Critical Habitat

– Cooperative Agreements– Recovery Teams of local academic biologists and

conservation agency biologists

Condor Recovery PlanCondor Recovery Plan: : Captive breeding & ReintroductionCaptive breeding & Reintroduction

1965: 60 wild birds1965: 60 wild birds

1982: 24 wild birds 1982: 24 wild birds

1987: 27 birds 1987: 27 birds captivecaptive

1990: 40 in captivity1990: 40 in captivity

1992: 11992: 1stst reintroduction reintroduction

2002: 68 (2002: 68 (of 197)of 197) in wildin wild

Endangered Ecosystems ActEndangered Ecosystems Act??

• Is there a feasible alternative, more supportive of biodiversity?

http://endangered.fws.gov/i/B0F.html