Species Holly Greenwood

Smith's Blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi) -Native to California -Wingspan of one inch -Males- bright blue, Females- brown -Lifespan of one week -Found in coastal areas west of the Rockies -Buckwheat :Used for nursery, protection from extreme weather, mating grounds, and it serves as a source of food (nectar) -Development of grasslands and dunes which contain buckwheat has destroyed nearly 50% of the butterfly’s once abundant habitat venues -Solutions: Protecting dunes where buckwheat is found along the coast, encourage planting buckwheat with tax breaks, etc. -Habitat protection was proposed in 1977, but was not implemented

fws.gov californiawineinfo.com

Tyrannosaurus Rex -Native to the US -Carnivore with a 4 foot-long jaw -40 feet long, feet tall -Could eat 500lb of meat in one bite -Went extinct nearly 65 million years ago -Extinction thought to be caused by asteroid hitting Mexico. The dust released into the atmosphere on impact would have blocked out the sunlight for weeks, preventing photosynthetic organisms from producing glucose, disrupting the food web. -One of the few ways to revive this species would be to clone it from T-Rex DNA, a feat not yet achieved by scientists -T-Rex was found in much of North America, most often in wooded areas, where prey resided.

Lichen -There are over 18,00 species of lichen worldwide. -Lichen are a close partnership between algae and fungi -Lichen live in nearly every type of habitat -3 main groups: 1.Crustose 2.Foliose 3.Fruticose -Lichen absorb water and minerals directly from rainwater, so their health reflects air quality in the area in which they grow -Very few lichens are found near industrial cities, due to high levels of air pollution -Lichen are abundant and are usually removed rather than protected. Glycerin and polyurethane are used to remove lichen from roofs, headstones, and patios.

North Coast semaphore grass (Pleuropogon hooverianus) -Semaphore grass is a perennial herb native to California and is found no where else in the world. - “Spikelets” are found in bunches and are slightly translucent. These clumps can reach a meter in maximum height. - It is found in mixed evergreen forests, north coastal coniferous forests, freshwater wetlands, and wetland- riparian zones. -Semaphore grass habitats have been destroyed for development purposes; new housing, business centers, and retail to name a few. - There have been no attempts made to protect semaphore grass because it is considered threatened by the state of California, not the US. -In order to prevent North Coast semaphore grass from being put on the endangered list, the 3 counties in which the grass is found should be protected from further development. Areas that plant semaphore grass should receive a tax break.

Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) -Gray wolves live in the open tundra, forests, and prairies -They typically weigh between lb, and rarely attack humans. -Wolves hunt in packs and only the dominant male and female in the pack will mate. When they do, they mate for life. -They will attack livestock and domesticated animals, and for that reason have been hunted, trapped, and poisoned by man. -The wolf will consume elk, moose, reindeer, bison, rabbit, and beaver. -The gray wolf was reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and has been protected there since 1991 when Congress funded the project through the US Fish and Wildlife Service. -This effort has been extremely successful and should be continued

Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) interactive.wxxi.org -The python is a rather docile snake, and often a preferred choice for reptile owners. They can hold their breath underwater for nearly 30 minutes and are excellent swimmers. Many owners are unaware how quickly these constrictors grow and release them into the wild. Handler attacks are not uncommon. -Native to Asia, it was brought to the US. Those who live in Florida who choose to release their Burmese pythons often release them into the Everglades -The number of medium sized mammals has decreased dramatically, disturbing the food web. -1,300 pythons have been removed since Removing reproductive females is a #1 priority. Everglades-mammals

interactive.wxxi.org