2. Background –continuous, low level of species extinction Mass – extinction of many in short period of geo. time Local – species no longer found in native habitat but found elsewhere Biological – no longer found anywhere = irreversible loss of natural capital Ecological – so few organisms of a species remain that no longer fills its niche in the community where it lives

6. 0.01% to 0.1% per year 14,000 species/year

7. Endangered Species  numbers declined to pt. that could be extinct soon within its natural range Threatened Species  pop. still large but in decline  may become endangered in near future

8. Annual publication of all organisms that are threatened in their natural habitats on Earth. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)

9. Low reproductive rate (K strategist) Niche is highly specialized Narrow distribution Feeds at high trophic level Fixed migratory patterns Rare Commercially valuable Large territories

10. Fishes at 34% (51% of freshwater)

11. How necessary a species in providing ecological and economic services that make up the earth’s natural capital. “use” = Economic goods and services, ecological services, recreation, scientific info. and continued use for future generations. (ex. Logging)

12. existence value (satisfaction that organisms are preserved) aesthetic value (appreciate nature for beauty) bequest value (pay to protect for future gen.) ecological value (important to ecosystem’s function of energy flow, nutrient cycling and pop. control

13. A species has a right to exist regardless of its value to our species. We have a responsibility to protect them from extinction due to our activities on Earth.

14. Loss of habitat

15. Habitat Loss  destruction of species natural range Habitat Island  habitat surrounded by a different habitat  (ex. National Parks) Habitat Fragmentation  when large habitat broken up into smaller, scattered and more isolated habitats  (roads, logging, agriculture, residential) Habitat Degradation =  loss of quality habitat  (ex. Pollution/org. live in zone of stress)

17. Acronym that stand for the various causes of premature extinction H = Habitat destruction, degradation & fragmentation I = Invasive species P = Population and resource use growth P = Pollution C = Climate change O = Overexploitation

18. Proximate cause: What event killed off the last known members? Ultimate Causes: What event was the initial threat to the population? What event got the ball rolling in the negative direction?

19. Direct: The purposeful killing of members of the species by humans for various reasons Indirect: Human activities that are not designed to specifically kill the species wind up killing them anyway

20. Environmental: Events that occur outside the species/population that the species was not adapted to handle Demographic: Conditions that arise in a population that make it more difficult to reproduce Genetic: Conditions that arise in a gene pool that do not allow the most advantageous genes to be passed on

21. Patterns of threats and unpredictability that put a population or species into a downward spiral. The results of one bad event actually increase the likelihood of future losses in the species/population Each is specific to the species and events but some similar patterns have arisen throughout history – check handout

22. Ultimate: overhunting by settlers Proximate: Trapshooting of last wild bird in Pike County Ohio around 1900 Last captive bird dies in 1914 in Cincinnati Zoo

24. Ultimate: Habitat loss, population reduced to a small fragment Last small population lost to wildfire, disease, predation and sterility

26. Ultimate: Habitat loss as jack pine forests are mis-managed Proximate: Mis-management of forests allows cowbirds to parasitize the nests of warblers, reducing an already low population

27. Ultimate: Southern river-0bottom forests become valuable to the timber industry Proximate: Humans cut down the last good stands of habitat, species goes extinct

28. Ultimate: Viewed as a threat to settlers and livestock Proximate: Poisoning and hunting by humans reduces numbers. Very few left in historic range in lower 48 of US