1. Starter Write down four factors that you think will make a species more prone to extinction. Think about endangered species that you know and species that you know have gone extinct.

2. Learning outcomes You should all be be able to: – Describe the factors that make species more or less prone to extinction Most of you should be able to: – Outline the factors used to determine a species’ Red List conservation status Some of you might be able to: – Explain why the factors you described make species more or less prone to extinction. – Look at the command terms… what do they mean? – So what would you need to be able to do to achieve this outcome?

3. Different characteristics make species more / less vulnerable to extinction… Golden lion tamarin http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/golden-lion- tamarin-saved-from-extinction Narrow geographical range Small population size / declining numbers “Lonesome George” – Pinta Island giant tortoise http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ A large body Tiger http://wwf.panda.org/ Low reproductive potential Humpback whale http://animals.nationalgeographic.com Specialised feeders, niche requirements Panda http://worldwildlife.org/species/giant-panda Hunting The now extinct Thylacine http://blogs.scientificamerican.com

4. Read the article The article gives lots of different characteristics that can cause extinction. Read what it has to say and complete the table as you go.

5. IUCN Red List International Union for the Conservation of Nature The Red List is an inventory of all threatened species. The main purpose of the list is to highlight plants and animals facing a higher risk of global extinction than others. Various factors are used to determine the conservation status of species: Population size Reduction in population size Members of mature individuals Geographic range and degree of fragmentation Quality of habitat Area of occupancy Probability of extinction

6. Evaluation criteria For the species that have been evaluated and where there is enough data, the following criteria are used: – Extinct – Extinct in the Wild – Critically endangered – Endangered – Vulnerable – Near Threatened – Least Concern Threatened

7. Some of the species on the list… The Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) Critically Endangered.Diceros bicornis Its population has declined by an estimated 97.6% since 1960, with numbers bottoming out at 2,410 in 1995, mainly as a result of poaching. Since then, numbers have doubled to 4,880 by the end of 2010. Photo © Steve Garvie, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/Steve Garvie Described in 2010, the Caquetá Tití Monkey(Callicebus caquetensis)Callicebus caquetensis Assessed for the first time in 2012 as Critically Endangered. It is endemic to eastern Colombia, and occurs in an area subject to intense human colonization that has caused widespread habitat destruction and fragmentation. Photo © Javier GarciaJavier Garcia The Hula Painted Frog (Discoglossus nigriventer) of IsraelDiscoglossus nigriventer Previously thought to be extinct then rediscovered in 2011. The Huleh marshes were drained in the 1950s in an attempt to both eradicate malaria and to make the land suitable for agricultural use. The remaining wetland (5% of the original area) was set aside as the Hula Nature Reserve in 1964. This frog is now listed as Critically Endangered. Photo ©Oz Rittner, TAU - Zoological Museum, Steinhardt National Collections of Natural History, IsraelOz Rittner, TAU - Zoological Museum, Steinhardt National Collections of Natural History, Israel

8. Checking outcomes List 5 characteristics that make a species more vulnerable to extinction. Explain why these characteristics increase vulnerability to extinction. List the characteristics that are used to determine the conservation status of a species.

9. Activity – in pairs Choose 3 species of your choice: – One that has become extinct – One that is critically endangered – One whose conservation status has been improved by intervention Research the case histories of your species: – You should find out: The socio-political, ecological and economic pressures that caused / are causing the chosen species’ extinction. The ecological roles of each species and the consequences of their disappearance. Be ready to present the information in the next class.

10. http://www.philropost.com/2012/04/extinct- are-humans-next.html http://www.philropost.com/2012/04/extinct- are-humans-next.html

11. A natural area of biological significance that is threatened… http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/about.php Stretches 2300 kilometres and is home to 1500 species of fish, 359 types of hard coral, a third of the workld’s soft coral, 6 of the world’s 7 species of threatened turtle and more than 30 species of marine mammal. Human threats Tourism – people take bits of coral as souvenirs Over-fishing – disrupts the balance of species Seafloor trawling – destruction of seafloor. Soil run-off – inorganic nitrogen pollution has increased by 3000% Sedimentation – mud pollution Global warming – increase insea temperatures Natural threats Crown-of-thorns starfish – feeds on polyps Storms and cyclones El Niño

13. Homework Research and write about an area of biological significance that is under threat from human activity: Identify why it is an area of biological significance Identify the human threats and natural threats affecting the area. Identify what is happening and use the Great Barrier Reef example to help you.