Teacher Information! Necessary materials: PowerPoint Guide Presentation (ppt.) Teacher Information! Necessary materials: PowerPoint Guide “Unintended Consequences: The case of the red-cockaded woodpecker”—in-class reading Activity for establishing prior knowledge and getting interest. **all relevant terms are bolded.

Presentation (ppt.) Causes of Extinction Fish and Wildlife Resources

Students will be able to… Presentation (ppt.) Students will be able to… Discuss factors contributing to extinction/endangerment Discuss the Endangered Species Act

Why do some species become extinct or endangered and others do not? Presentation (ppt.) Why do some species become extinct or endangered and others do not? Extinction is natural 99% of all species that have ever existed are extinct. Species spend about 1 to 10 million years on earth.

Why do some species become extinct or endangered and others do not? Presentation (ppt.) Why do some species become extinct or endangered and others do not? Some species are more vulnerable and less adaptive Specialists Require very specific foods Endemic species Occur in only one place on earth Specialists have very restricted diets and thus restricted habitat: pygmy rabbit, koala, woolly flying squirrel, giant panda, red panda. Endemic species occur in only one place on earth—cloud frog (extinct), Hawaiian hawk. Often found in isolated places like islands.

Presentation (ppt.) The extinction rate has greatly increased in the last 10,000 years. WHY? Golden Toad—1989 Photos from: http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/04/02/11-extinct-animals-that-have-been-photographed-alive/ very interesting website Pyrenean Ibex—2000 Tasmanian Tiger—1936 Passenger Pigeon—1914

PEOPLE are the root cause of the increased rate of extinction Presentation (ppt.) PEOPLE are the root cause of the increased rate of extinction HIPPO Habitat alteration: desertification, deforestation urbanization, wetland destruction agriculture, global climate change Invasive species Utilize resources Outcompete native species Desertification  The degradation and loss of productivity of arid lands often because of human activities. Arid ecosystems are very fragile, and activities such as overgrazing and unmanaged irrigation can cause desertification. Deforestation  The clearing of natural forests, often by logging or burning.

PEOPLE are the root cause of the increased rate of extinction Presentation (ppt.) PEOPLE are the root cause of the increased rate of extinction HIPPO Pollution—probably less of a threat than other factors Population growth (human) Exacerbates other factors Overexploitation Hunting Resource consumption

Endangered Species Act (1966) Presentation (ppt.) Endangered Species Act (1966) Led to the creation of the “Endangered Species List” Positive effects Recovery & removal (delisted) from the Endangered Species List American alligator, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, brown pelican, gray wolf, gray whale http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html

Endangered Species Act (1966) Presentation (ppt.) Endangered Species Act (1966) What are the negative effects of the ESA? Read : “Unintended Consequences: The Case of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker” Why would land users not want endangered species in an area? “Shoot, shovel, and shut up” principle Read as a class. Consequences article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/magazine/20wwln-freak-t.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=unintended%20consequences&st=cse&oref=slogin Shoot, shovel, and shut up—can students guess what that means? It refers to the practice of landowners destroying habitat, or even endangered species, before their land becomes regulated by the government.—The ESA highly regulates endangered species habitat which can hinder the recreational, developmental, or agricultural goals of land users.

Review Discuss factors contributing to extinction/endangerment Presentation (ppt.) Review Discuss factors contributing to extinction/endangerment Summarize the Endangered Species Act