Transcript Endangered, Invasive, and Reintroduced Species

Endangered, Invasive, and
Reintroduced Species of
Pennsylvania
By: Harrison Fesel
Endangered Species
• an endangered species is a species whose numbers
are so small they are at risk for extinction
• a species can be endangered because of
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habitat destruction
over exploitation
disease
pollution
limited distribution
• to prevent endangerment, people preserve habitats
and try to reproduce animals in captivity, and relocate
them
Endangered Animals in PA
• Indiana Bats are endangered because of the
destruction of there summer habitats
• Dwarf Wedge Mussels are endangered
because flooding destroy their habitats
• Pink Muckets are endangered because of
destruction of habitat from flooding, gravel
Pink
mining, and deforestation
Muckets
Indiana
Bats
Dwarf
Wedge
Mussels
Endangered Plants in PA
• the Northeastern Bulrush is an endangered
plant, because of its degrading habitat due to
development and other construction
• the Small Whorled Pogonia is threatened,
because of the destruction of its habitat; it is
also decimated by wild pigs, and predation
by deer, slugs, and vandalism
Northeastern
Bulrush
Small
Whorled
Pogonia
Invasive Species
• a native species is a species that is present to
a given area by natural process with no
human intervention
• an introduced species arrives in an area due
human activity either deliberate or accidental
• an invasive species is a species that is
transported to an area not native to it; it
reproduces, and may cause harm to the
environment
Invasive Species
• Invasive species are brought into the country by:
– ships- organisms are carried over by ballast water
– wood products- insects can get into wood being transported
– ornamental plants- some of these plants can start reproducing
in the wild
– pet trade- a pet can become an invasive species when accidentally
released into the wild
– deliberately- humans can intentionally introduce a species into a
new environment
• Most common ways invasive species negatively affect our environments:
– preying- it can feed on native species
– out-competing- can out-compete other organisms for food sources
– disease- it can carry or cause diseases in an environment
– preventing native species from reproducing- kill off a young species
Invasive Animals in PA
• Zebra Mussel (Dreissena Polymorpha)
– originated from the Caspian Sea region of Asia; they live
and feed in many different aquatic habitats; they cause
problems by competing with native species, and clogging
pipes
• Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
– originated from Europe; the rats feed on anything they can
catch or find like fish, eggs, or vegetables; furthermore they
are eaten by dogs, snakes, and owls; they cause problems by
carrying diseases
Zebra
Mussel
Norway Rat
More Invasive Animals in PA
• Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae)
– it originated from Japan and China; it feeds on
the phloem sap of tender hemlock shoots; causes
damages by causing up to 90% mortality of the
hemlock trees in the East
Hemlock
Woolly
Adelgid
Invasive Plants in PA
• Thistle (Carduus, Cirsium, or Onopordum)
– this plant is native to Eurasia; it is used as food by species
like caterpillars; highly competitive, competes with crops
and forage plants
• Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
– originated in Europe; it is self fertilized, and crosspollinated by many insects; it is also cultivated by
humans for foods, and medicine; since it grows earlier in
the spring than other plants it dominates over native
plant species
Thistle
Garlic
Mustard
Reintroduced/Extirpated Species
• reintroducing a species is when humans bring
a plant or an animal species into a habitat
that has modifications or has different
conditions to prevent extinction
• an extirpated species is a species that is
extinct in a given area
Reintroduced Species in PA
• Elk
– elk were once extinct throughout most of eastern
North America
– between 1913 and 1926, 177 Rocky Mountain Elk
were introduced to Pennsylvania’s forests
– these new elk share a very similar niche to the
original Eastern Elk that were native to the area
– in the year 2000 the elk population in PA was
estimated to be 566 individuals
– the elk sometimes cause crop damage to agricultural
areas
Photos of Elk
Sources
• “National Agricultural Library”
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/index.shtml
• “Invasive Species in Pennsylvania”
http://www.defenders.org/resources/publications/inva
sives/pennsylvania.pdf
• “Pennsylvania’s Elk Herd Growing”
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/es_map/articles/art
icle_66.mhtml
• “National Wildlife Federation”
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/WildlifeConservation/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species.aspx