1. Core Case Study: The Passenger Pigeon: Gone Forever
Once the most numerous bird on earth.
In 1858, Passenger Pigeon hunting became a big business.
By 1900 they became extinct from over-harvest and habitat loss.

2. What Role Do Humans Play in the Premature Extinction of Species?
We are degrading and destroying biodiversity in many parts of the world, and these threats are increasing.
Species are becoming extinct 100 to 1,000 times faster than they were before modern humans arrived on the earth (the background rate), and by the end of this century, the extinction rate is expected to be 10,000 times the background rate.

3. Extinctions Are Natural But Sometimes They Increase Sharply
Local Extinction (Extirpation):
A species is no longer found in an area it once inhabited but is still found elsewhere in the world.
Typically the result of habitat destruction or overhunting and affects more than one species.
Examples: wolf and mountain lion in Maine
Extinction (Global extinction) is Forever.

4. Some Human Activities Cause Premature Extinctions; the Pace Is Speeding Up
Estimates of current annual extinction rate: %
100 to 1,000 times greater than the background extinction rate of %
Experts predict extinction rates will increase over the next years.

5. Animal Species Prematurely Extinct Due to Human Activities
Many animals have become prematurely extinct because of human activities.
Development, habitat destructions, hunting, etc.

6. Animal Species Prematurely Extinct Due to Human Activities
“The first animal species to go are the big, the slow, the tasty, and those with valuable parts…”
– Edward O. Wilson
(biodiversity expert)

7. Endangered Natural Capital: Species Threatened with Premature Extinction
Threatened (vulnerable) species:
Still abundant in its natural range but is likely to become endangered in the near future.
Endangered species:
So few individual survivors that it could soon become extinct.

8. Endangered Natural Capital: Species Threatened with Premature Extinction
Extinct Ex.: Dodo, Passenger Pigeon
Extinct in the wild Ex.: Alagoas Curassow
Captive individuals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population
Critically endangered Ex.: Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Javan Rhino
Faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future
Endangered Ex.: Cheetah, Blue Whale, Snow Leopard
Vulnerable Ex.: Lion, Wolverine
Conservation Dependent Ex.: Leopard Shark, Bristlecone Fir
Would be threatened without active conservation programs.
Near Threatened Ex.: California Red-legged Frog, Silvery Woolly Monkey
Likely to qualify as threatened soon.
Least Concern Ex.:Brown Rat, Rock Pigeon, Common Juniper
No immediate threat to the survival of the species.

9. Endangered Natural Capital: Species Threatened with Premature Extinction

10. Endangered Natural Capital: Species Threatened with Premature Extinction10

11. Characteristics of Species That Are Prone to Ecological and Biological Extinction
Some species have characteristics that make them more vulnerable to ecological and biological extinction.
These characteristics make survival harder when environmental conditions change or when humans interfere.

12. Passenger Pigeon: Hunted to extinction
Former population about 6 billion animals

13. Carolina Parakeet: extinct
Habitat loss (forest clearing), over hunted (for feathers and by farmers who considered them a pest)

14. Ivory-Billed Woodpecker: Critically endangered, possibly extinct
Once found in southern hardwood swamps and pine forests
Comparison of ivory-billed (top) and pileated woodpecker below)

15. Percentage of Various Species Threatened with Premature Extinction

16. Science Focus: Estimating Extinction Rates Is Not Easy
Three problems with estimating extinction rate:
Hard to document due to length of time
Only 1.8 million species identified
Little known about nature and ecological roles of species identified

17. Why Should We Care about Preventing Premature Species Extinction?
We should prevent the premature extinction of wild species because of the economic and ecological services they provide and because they have a right to exist regardless of their usefulness to us.

18. Species Are a Vital Part of the Earth’s Natural Capital
Instrumental value – Usefulness in terms of economic and ecological services
Use value – economic goods or services
Ecotourism: wildlife tourism
Genetic information
Potential value for medicines, foods
and other products
Nonuse value
Existence value – happy knowing they are around
Aesthetic value – pleasing to the eye
Bequest value – available for future generations
Ecological value – vital component of the ecosystem

19. How do Humans Accelerate Species Extinction?
The greatest threats to any species are:
- loss or degradation of its habitat
- invasive species
-human population growth
- pollution
- climate change
-overexploitation.

20. Loss of Habitat Is the Single Greatest Threat to Species: Remember H.I.P.P.C.O.
H.I.P.P.C.O. – the most important causes of premature extinction:
Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation
Invasive (nonnative) species
Population and resource use growth
Pollution
Climate change
Overexploitation

21. Causes of Depletion and Premature Extinction of World Species

22. H.I.P.P.C.O. – HABITAT LOSS, DEGRADATION, AND FRAGMENTATION
Habitat loss is the GREATEST threat to biodiversity on this planet.
Deforestation
Degradation of coral reefs
Draining wetlands
Plowing grasslands
Habitat fragmentation – when a large continuous habitat is divided into smaller, scattered patches.
By roads, agriculture, urban developed, etc.

23. H.I.P.P.C.O. – HABITAT LOSS, DEGRADATION, AND FRAGMENTATION
Reduction in ranges of four wildlife species, mostly due to habitat loss and overharvest.

24. H.I.P.P.C.O. – HABITAT LOSS, DEGRADATION, AND FRAGMENTATION
Endemic Species
Only live in one specific place (geographic location or habitat type – usually islands)
Very vulnerable to extinction as a result of habitat loss or degradation.

25. The dusky seaside sparrow is extinct
The dusky seaside sparrow is extinct. The last of these birds died in These sparrows lost their homes as marshes were destroyed.
Since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, more than 500 species have become extinct in the U.S. alone.

26. H.I.P.P.C.O. – INVASIVE SPECIES
Many nonnative species are beneficial:
Food, Medicine, Aesthetic enjoyment
However, a few can wipe out native species, disrupt ecosystems, and cause large economic losses.
Nonnative species can become a problem since they may have no natural:
Predators
Competitors
Pathogens/Diseases
Kudzu vine was introduced to the southeastern U.S. in the 1930’s to control erosion. Since then, it has taken over native species habitats.

27. H.I.P.P.C.O. – INVASIVE SPECIES
Many invasive species have been introduced intentionally…

28. H.I.P.P.C.O. – INVASIVE SPECIES
…other invasive species have been introduced unintentionally.

29. H.I.P.P.C.O. – INVASIVE SPECIES
The Argentina fire ant was introduced to Mobile, Alabama in 1932 from South America.
Most likely from ships
No natural predators
Pesticide spraying in 1950s and 1960s worsened conditions
Removed competition
Lead to pesticide resistance

30. Characteristics of Invader Species and Ecosystems Vulnerable to Invading Species
Prevention is the best way to reduce threats from invasive species, because once they arrive it is almost impossible to slow their spread.

31. H.I.P.P.C.O. – POPULATION GROWTH
Humans have increased the species extinction rate by approximately 1,000 times.
Experts predict that these rates will continue, or accelerate, in the future.

32. H.I.P.P.C.O. – POLLUTION
Human activities can pollute the water, soil, or air on both on a local and global scale:
Water – sewage, fertilizers, toxic chemicals and oil
Soil – pesticides, waste, herbicides and toxic chemicals (which may be washed from the land into water)
Air – smoke and gases such as CO2, CH4 or other gases that can lead to climate change and other problems

33. H.I.P.P.C.O. – POLLUTION
In the 1950’s and 1960’s populations of fish eating birds plummeted to dangerously low levels
Cause? The pesticide known as DDT
Banned in the U.S. in 1972
Bioaccumulation
DDT is fat soluble and can accumulate in tissues
Biomagnification
the concentration of DDT in tissues increases as you go up the trophic levels

34. H.I.P.P.C.O. – CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change caused by global warming could lead to the extinction of up to 25% of all land plants and animals by the year 2100.
Many (but not all) extinctions will take place in the upper latitudes:
Polar bears
17 Penguin species

35. H.I.P.P.C.O. – OVEREXPLOITATION
Some protected species are killed for their valuable parts or are sold live to collectors.
Killing predators and pests that bother us or cause economic losses threatens some species with premature extinction.
Legal and illegal trade in wildlife species used as pets or for decorative purposes threatens some species with extinction.
Bush meat – indigenous people sustainably hunting for food…more people = more hunting

36. H.I.P.P.C.O. – OVEREXPLOITATION
Poaching
Rhinoceros are killed for their horns and sold illegally on the black market.
Elephants are killed for their ivory tusks
Tigers and other “cats” killed for their pelts

37. How Can We Protect Wild Species from Premature Extinction?
use existing environmental laws and treaties and work to enact new laws designed to prevent species extinction and protect overall biodiversity.
help to prevent species extinction by creating and maintaining wildlife refuges, gene banks, botanical gardens, zoos, and aquariums.
According to the precautionary principle, we should take measures to prevent or reduce harm to the environment and to human health, even if some of the cause-and-effect relationships have not been fully established, scientifically.

38. International Treaties Can Help Protect Species
International treaties have helped reduce the trade of endangered and threatened species.
One of the most powerful is:
The 1975 Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)
Lists 900 species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products
Signed by 172 countries
Enforcement is difficult
Probably only 10% of illegal trade in the U.S. is caught

39. Case Study: The U.S. Endangered Species Act
One of the world’s most far-reaching and controversial environmental laws:
The 1973 U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Overall goal is to identify and protect endangered species in the U.S. and abroad.
ESA makes it illegal for Americans to engage in commerce associated with, or hunt / kill / collect, endangered or threatened species.
ESA forbids federal agencies (besides defense department) to carry out / fund projects that would jeopardize an endangered species.

40. Case Study: The U.S. Endangered Species Act
Accomplishments:
More than half of the species listed are stable or improving
99% of all listed species are still living
Challenges:
Very small budget
Species are listed when faced with serious threat of extinction
It can take decades to bring a species’ populations up
Suggested changes to ESA:
Increase the budget
Develop recovery plans more quickly
Establish a core of the endangered organism’s survival habitat

41. We Can Establish Wildlife Refuges and Other Protected Areas
The U.S. has set aside 544 federal refuges for wildlife.

42. Gene Banks, Botanical Gardens, and Wildlife Farms Can Help Protect Species
Gene banks and botanical gardens to raise threatened species can help prevent extinction.
Zoos and aquariums can help protect endangered animal species by preserving some individuals with the long-term goal of reintroduction.

43. Gene Banks, Botanical Gardens, and Wildlife Farms Can Help Protect Species
Techniques for preserving endangered terrestrial animal species:
Egg pulling
Captive breeding
Artificial insemination
Embryo transfer
Use of incubators
Cross-fostering

44. The Precautionary Principle
When preliminary evidence indicates that an activity can harm the environment or human health, we should take precautionary measures to prevent or reduce such harm, even if we don’t fully understand the cause/effect relationship.
“Better Safe Than Sorry”
Scientists use the precautionary principle to argue for the:
Preservation of species
Preservation of ecosystems