Conservation Biology

Legal protection of species: US Endangered Species Act 1973: law which makes it illegal to harm any species on its list; protect habitat.

History Endangered Species Act (ESA) passed by congress in 1973 – signed by Pres. Nixon. ____________________________________ Signed during a time when lots of environmental policies were taking shape! National Environmental Policy Act California Environmental Quality Act – 1970 Extension of the Clean Air Act Water Pollution Control Act – 1972 (this later became the Clean Water Act)

Listed Species Endangered – any species which is likely to become extinct within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Threatened – any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Candidate for Listing – any species that is currently under consideration of being listed as either threatened or endangered. Delisted – any species that has recovered to a point where it can be taken off of the endangered species list.

Listed Species If a species is listed under the endangered species act the following things have to happen: Critical Habitat is designated – this includes the areas that the federal government feels are necessary to keep the species from going extinct. Recovery Plan is written – this is a plan which details the things that need to be done to recover the species and remove it from the endangered species act (delist it). Example: bald eagle.

Federally Listed Species Currently there are 571 animals and 746 plants listed as federally threatened or endangered in the U.S. Invertebrates (insects, bivalves, etc.) – 198 Amphibians – 25 Reptiles – 40 Fishes – 198 Birds – 90 Mammals – 84 Non-flowering plants (conifers, lichen, etc.) – 31 Flowering plants – 715 Many animal species are divided into sub-species and each sub-species has individual protections.

California Listed Species Currently there are 309 federally listed plants and animals that occur in California. Animals – (20% of U.S. total) endangered animals live in California 43 (25% of U.S. total) threatened animals live in California Plants – endangered plants 45 threatened plants

SCC Listed Species San Joaquin kit fox California tiger salamander Bay checkerspot butterfly California red-legged frog Steelhead trout

SCC Listed Species © 2005 Janell Hillman © 2005 David A. Tharp © 2003 Dean Wm. Taylor © 1999 California Academy of Sciences © 2002 Doreen L. Smith © 2001 California Academy of Sciences Mt. Hamilton thistle Robust spineflower Fragrant fritillary Smooth lessingia Santa Clara Valley dudleya Hall’s bush mallow Coyote ceanothus Chaparral harebell Most beautiful jewelflower

Pros and Cons of the ESA Pros: Allows us to regulate how human activities are effecting one of the key indicators of the health of the planet, our species Only 9 listed species have gone extinct Federal funding set aside to pay for species recovery California Condor ~$1 million spent on each bird per year! Cons: Has become increasingly political and in the past 20 years - decisions based in court by a judge (instead of biologists) Rather than saving species, most of the time we are just slowing the loss of the species Only 13 species have been de- listed (and 21 downgraded)

Preserving Habitats: National Parks Preserves and Refuges and other protected areas

Habitat Corridors: Strips of land that allow migration of the organism from one wilderness area to another Example: Florida Panther

Working With People: Organic farming, sustainable forestry (replanting after harvesting) Example: Sustainable harvest of Brazil nuts from Rainforests

Reintroduction & Species Preservation Programs: Reintroduction of organisms into new habitats Ex: Wolves (Yellowstone  reintroduced from Canada in 1995) Captive Breeding Ex: CA Condors, Whooping Cranes

Restoration Ecology Relatively new area of ecology/conservation Goal is to use scientific knowledge to restore and rehabilitate nature Repair/undo some of the damage we’ve done Ex. Recreate Buffalo Commons like Lewis and Clark saw in the Great Plains in 1804

How can this happen? Remove physical stressors Ex. pollutants, restricted water flow, stop clear cutting, etc. Control invasive species Replant native species Captive breeding/reintroduction of animals Monitor!

Interview with Lisa P. Jackson Head of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) oId=227354&title=lisa-p.-jackson oId=227354&title=lisa-p.-jackson