By: Carley Perroz

Endangered Species An endangered species is a species present in such small numbers that it is at risk of extinction.

Five Most Common Reasons for Endangerment 1. Habitat loss- Every species depends on their habitat for food, water, shelter, and living space. Plants and animals in a habitat depend on and interact with each other in many ways. 2. Environmental contamination- Pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals cause harm to the species’ environment, resulting in the endangerment of the animals in that area. 3. Competition- Species compete with each other for food, water, shelter, and living space. The ones that don’t receive everything they need begin to die out and become endangered. 4. Overspecialization- Different species may only rely on one kind of food source, and when there isn’t enough of that source to supply for all of the species, they begin to die. 5. Commercial use and abuse- Animals are collected and used by humans for personal use.

Endangerment Prevention  Protect the animals’ habitats permanently by making national parks, nature reserves, or wilderness areas.  Make space for wildlife (put up a bird feeder, plant a tree, make a garden, stop using harmful chemicals, etc.).  Reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Plant native plants that are local to the area.  Control the population of introduced plants and animals.

Endangered Animals in Pennsylvania  American peregrine falcon The American peregrine falcon is endangered due to human efforts to control pests (DDT).  Indiana bat The Indiana bat is endangered because of human disturbances during the hibernation of the bats. Other threats such as the commercialization of caves, loss of summer habitat, pesticides/ contaminants, and white- nose syndrome.  Northern riffleshell The northern riffleshell is endangered due to degraded water quaility and the building of channelization, dams, roads, and bridges.

Endangered Plants in Pennsylvania  NORTHEASTERN BULRUSH The northeastern bulrush is endangered because of destruction of its wetland habitat for agricultural, recreational, and residential needs. It is also threatened by pollution, excavation, and off-road vehicle use.  VIRGINIA SPIRAEA The virginia spiraea is endangered because of impoundments, road destruction, unmanaged recreational use of river corridors, industrial development, lack of watershed management, and exotic invasive plants.

INVASIVE SPECIES  Native Species- a specie that normally lives and thrives in a specific ecosystem; this may include any specie that developed with the surrounding habitat and can be helped, harmed, or affected in another way by a new specie  Introduced Specie- a specie that humans have put into an ecosystem accidentally or intentionally; it does not naturally live there  Invasive Specie- an introduced specie whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic, environmental, or human health harm

Most Common Ways Invasive Species Get Into Our Country 1. Ships… they can carry aquatic organisms in ballast water 2. Wood products… insects get into wood, shipping paletts, and crates and get shipped world wide 3. Ornamental plants… they can escape into the wild and become invasive 4. Pet trade… invasive species are intentionally/ accidentally released pets 5. Biocontrol… invasive species are brought into the country to control the population of other species

Most Common Ways Invasive Species Negatively Affect Our Enviroment 1. Invasive species destroy the habitat or animals. 2. They cause species to be come endangered because of invasive species alone, or how they combine with other forces to create an impact on other plants and animals. 3. They are a greater threat to native biodiversity than pollution, harvest, and disease combined. 4. They cost the economy approximately $137 billion dollars per year because of damages.

Invasive Animals In Pennsylvania - SPINY WATERFLEA  Bythothrephes cederstroemi  The spiny waterflea originated from Caspian, Azov, Aral Seas, and the brackish areas of the Black Sea.  In their natural habitat, a spiny waterflea’s niche is to keep fish from being landed.  In their introduced environment, the spiny waterflea helps balance the plankton population.  The spiny waterflea decreases the survival rate of fish that feed on plankton, and they caused the disappearance of two native waterfleas. - ASIAN CLAM  Corbicula fluminea  The Asian clam originated from the temperate to tropical southeastern Asia west to the eastern Mediterranean, parts of Africa, and southern Asian lands south into central and eastern Australia.  In their natural habitat, the Asian clam’s niche is to balance the biodiversity of the environment.  In their introduced environment, Asian clams balance out the populations of fish and other animals.  The Asian clam clogs boat intake pipes, damages equipment, alters the food chain, and threatens native species. -SEA LAMPREY  Petromyzon marinus  The sea lamprey originated from the Atlantic Coasts of Europe and North America.  In their natural habitat, the sea lamprey’s niche is to prevent animals’ blood from clotting.  In their introduced environment, sea lampreys do the same as their natural habitat, they prevent animals’ blood from clotting.  Sea lampreys decrease the population of animals because they cause excessive blood loss and infection.

Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania Norway Maple Tree  Acer platanoides  The Norway maple tree originated from Europe.  The Norway maple tree’s niche in its natural habitat is to provide oxygen for the plants and animals in the area.  In its introduced environment, the Norway maple tree to provide shade in forests.  The Norway maple tree causes forests to lose diversity of native wildflowers. Japanese Barberry  Berberis glutinosa  The Japanese barberry originates from Japan and Europe.  The Japanese barberry’s niche in its natural habitat is to provide food for small animals such as birds and rabbits.  In its introduced environment, the Japanese barberry changes the soil chemistry in the environment it inhibits.  The Japanese barberry displaces native species and reduces the wildlife habitat range. It raises soil pH and reduces the depth of the litter layer in forests.

Reintroduced/ Extirpated Species  Reintroduced specie- the release of species into the wild, from captivity or relocated from other areas where the specie can survive (usually involves animals that are endangered or extinct in the wild)  Extitrpated specie- a plant or animal specie that has become extinct in a given area

Reintroduced Specie in Pennsylvania ELK Hunting and clearing of the elk’s habitat caused the population to decline. In 1867, the last reported elk in Pennsylvania was shot in the Allegheny Mountains. Between 1913 and 1926, the Pennsylvania Game Commission released 117 elk from South Dakota and Wyoming into Pennsylvania forests.

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