S PECIES OF P ENNSYLVANIA By Mackenzie Rodgers

E NDANGERED S PECIES Definition: a plant or animal species existing in such small numbers that it is in danger of becoming extinct, especially such a species placed in jeopardy as a result of human activity. 5 Most Common Reasons For Endangerment: 1)Overexploitation 2)Introduction of Exotic Species 3)Habitat Destruction 4)Competition 5)Disease

P REVENTION OF E NDANGERMENT Protect habitat Recycle and buy sustainable products Minimize use of herbicides and pesticides

E NDANGERED A NIMALS IN P ENNSYLVANIA Eastern Puma: (Puma concolor couguar) Indiana Bat: (Myotis sodalis) Short-Eared Owl: (Asio flammeus)

E NDANGERED P LANTS IN P ENNSYLVANIA Northeastern Bulrush: (Scirpus ancistrochaetus) The Bulrush is endangered because their habitat is threatened by water level, pollution, and excavation. Virginia Spiraea: (Spiraea virginiana) Endangered because it is at risk to alterations of stream-flow patterns, road construction, and industrial expansion

N ATIVE, I NTRODUCED, AND I NVASIVE S PECIES Native Species: that normally lives and thrives in a particular ecosystem. This can include any species that developed with the surrounding habitat, and can be assisted by or affected by a new species. Introduced Species: a species that does not occur naturally in a given area, though has been introduced to it Invasive Species: a species that does not naturally occur in a specific area and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

C OMMON W AYS I NVASIVE S PECIES E NTER O UR C OUNTRY Soil brought in with plants Abandoned pets Water discharged from ships Peoples’ clothing Imported goods

Ways They Effect Our Environment Reduce native wildlife habitat Reduce forest health Change ecosystem processes Relocate native species

I NVASIVE A NIMALS I N P ENNSYLVANIA Brown Marmorated Stink Bug:(Halyomorpha halys) is native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. It was accidentally introduced into the United States, with the first specimen being collected in September The brown marmorated stink bug is considered to be an agricultural pest and by has become a season-long pest in U.S. orchards. Asian Tiger Mosquito:(Aedes Albopictus) It is native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia; however, in the past couple of decades this species has invaded many countries throughout the world through the transport of goods and increasing international travel. This mosquito has become a significant pest in many communities because it closely associates with humans (rather than living in wetlands), and typically flies and feeds in the daytime in addition to at dusk and dawn. Emerald Ash Borer:(Agrilus planipennis) is a green beetle native to Asia. In North America the borer is an invasive species, highly destructive to ash trees in its introduced range

I NVASIVE P LANTS I N P ENNSYLVANIA Kudzu:(Pueraria lobata) It is a climbing, coiling, and trailing vine native to southern Japan and southeast China. It is a weed that climbs over trees or shrubs and grows so rapidly that it kills them by heavy shading Princess Tree:(Paulownia tomentosa) it is native to central and western China, but invasive in the US. It grows to 10–25 m tall, with large heart-shaped to five-lobed leaves 15–40 cm across, arranged in opposite pairs on the stem. On young growth, the leaves may be in whorls of three and be much bigger than the leaves on more mature growth

R EINTRODUCED S PECIES The act of introducing something again, especially the release of animals from captivity into the wild

E XTIRPATED S PECIES A species that has been destroyed or removed completely from a particular area, region, or habitat. The species, however, may exist elsewhere, e.g., in a zoo or aquarium

R EINTRODUCED T O P ENNSYLVANIA Elk:(Cervus Canadensis) Why: The elk were over hunted, last one shot in 1867 When: How: the Pennsylvania Game Commission released 177 elk from South Dakota and Wyoming into state forest lands in Pennsylvania. The introduced Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) is not the same subspecies as the original Eastern Elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis), which is thought to be extinct. However, both are of the same species and share ecological niches

W ORKS C ITED