Transcript Slide 1
Our planet is continually changing, causing habitats to be altered and modified. Natural changes tend to occur at a gradual pace, usually causing only a slight impact on individual species. However, when changes occur at a fast pace, there is little or no time for individual species to react and adjust to new circumstances. This can create disastrous results, and for this reason, rapid habitat loss is the primary cause of species endangerment. Native species are those plants and animals that are part of a specific geographic area, and have ordinarily been a part of that particular biological landscape for a lengthy period of time. However, exotic species may also seriously disrupt delicate ecological balances and may produce a plethora of unintended yet harmful consequences. Plants and animals are responsible for a variety of useful medications. Humans depend upon only 20 species of these plants, such as wheat and corn, to provide 90% of the world's food. Humans depend on ecosystems such as coastal estuaries, prairie grasslands, and ancient forests to purify their air, clean their water, and supply them with food. African Elephant Blue Whale Hybrid Spider Monkey Golden Lion Tamarin Anatolian Leopard Red Wolf Asiatic Cheetah Snow Leopard Giant Panda This Act provides authority to the Secretary of the Interior to designate injurious wildlife and ensure the humane treatment of wildlife shipped to the United States. This Act prohibits the importation, exportation, taking, and commercialization in interstate or foreign commerce of fish and wildlife, and plants that are listed as threatened or endangered species. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Conservation Society The World Conservation Monitoring Centre National Audubon Society’s Endangered Species Campaign In the United States, 735 species of plants and 496 species of animals are listed as threatened or endangered. There are more than 1,000 animal species endangered worldwide. There are more than 3,500 protected areas in existence worldwide. These areas include parks, wildlife refuges and other reserves.