Name _____________________________
Period _____
Date _____________
Endangered, Threatened, and Extinct Species in Pennsylvania
Background:
Biodiversity is the number of species in an area. It is important to protect and preserve biodiversity for many reasons. These
reasons include:
1. Wild organisms and ecosystems are a source of beauty and recreation.
2. Many organisms are economically valuable by providing humans with food, clothing, medicine, and creating jobs and
revenue through tourism.
3. Species in an ecosystem depend on one another for food and shelter and therefore have ecological value. Specifically, if
a keystone species shows a decline in population, an entire ecosystem could be disrupted.
Due to an alarming number of extinctions and in order to protect species diversity, currently the Endangered Species Act of
1973 provides protection for organisms classified as threatened or endangered.
Definitions:
Keystone species: Species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem.
Extinction: Disappearance of all member of a species
Endangered: Species in danger of becoming extinct in the near future
Threatened: Species that could become endangered in the near future
Least Concern →
Species Level of Concern:
Threatened
→
Endangered
→
Extinct
Directions:
1.
Go to the PA Games Commission website.
(http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=621014&mode=2)
2.
Click on your assigned species.
3.
Read the article and take notes in the space below on your assigned species. Be prepared to share your
finding with the class.
My Assigned Species:
________________________________________ (Common Name)
________________________________________ (Scientific Name)
Current Status:
Threatened / Endangered / Extinct? (circle one)
Population Trend:
Describe HOW the population has decreased and WHY.
When was the species classified as threatened/endangered/extinct? ________________
Identifying Characteristics:
Provide at least 4 physical characteristics:
-
-
Biology-Natural History:
Provide at least 2 facts about your species behavior and habits.
-
Preferred Habitat:
What habitat requirements does your species have?
On the diagram, label where the species is found.
Reason for Classification:
Explain the main cause for the decline in the species population.
Management Programs:
What is being done to help the population recover? (List as many as you can)
Other Interesting Facts:
Provide any useful facts about your species. What is your opinion?