Endangered Species Notes – 1.14 pgs. 72 - 81.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) - A National law
passed in 1973 that protects species that are in
danger of extinction.
Endangered Species - a species in immediate
jeopardy of survival and reproduction.
Threatened Species - A species likely to become
endangered.
Candidate Species – A species that may need
protection but is not on the list.
Goal of the ESA – To boast populations to a selfsustaining level. In order to achieve the goal each
species must have a recovery plan that determines
what it needs to be delisted
The best way to protect a species is usually through
protecting habitat vital to its existence known as
Critical Habitat (Determined by the Dept. of Interior)
Status of species is review by the
National Marine Fisheries Service and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
* Once a species is listed no branch of government
can proceed with a project that might harm the
organism.
* However, most federal projects are allowed to
continue.
EX. Snail Darter and Tellico Dam.
- Read pgs. 73 and 74.
 ESA is a powerful land law which has been
abused to stop unwanted development.
 ESA does require a balancing of species
protection with economic development.
The God Squad was created in 1978
 The 1978 amendment to the ESA "attempts to retain the basic
integrity of the ESA, while introducing some flexibility which will
permit exemptions from the Act's stringent requirements.“
 The most important change that was brought about by the 1978
amendment was the creation of the Endangered Species
Committee, known as the "God Squad" because of the
substantial impact of its decisions on the natural world.
 The God Squad is a committee composed of seven Cabinetlevel members: The administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, the administrator of National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the chairman of the Council of
Economic Advisers, a representative from the state in question,
the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Army, and the
Secretary of the Interior.
 This committee has the authority to allow the extinction by
exempting a federal agency from Section 7 requirements.
 To exempt a species, five of the seven members must vote in
favor of the exemption. The following conditions must be met
for a species to be considered for exemption:
There must be no reasonable alternative to the agencies action
The benefits of the action must outweigh the benefits of an
alternative action where the species is conserved
The action is of regional or national importance
Neither the federal agency or the exemption applicant made
irreversible commitment to the resources.
Also, mitigation efforts must be taken to reduce the negative
effects on the endangered species.
* ESA amended in 82’ that allows for
incidental takes – to accidental harm an endangered
species during approved development
through an HCP – habitat conservation plan –
ensures for habitat conservation of endangered
species in exchange for development
EX. Desert tortoise
* over 2100 species are protected by the ESA
(U.S. and foreign)
EX. of Commonly known Endangered species
California condor, Florida panther, gray wolf, manatee
spotted owl, tigers (not in U.S.)
Florida Panther
* 10 species listed have gone extinct. (number varies by
source)
* 28 on the list have completely recovered.
EX. Bald Eagle
American Alligator
Peregrine Falcon
Eggert’s sunflower
 Some animals are in captive breeding programs
(animals breed in a human protected
environments to increase the population) EX.
California Condor, Black footed ferret
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animal
s/mammals-animals/othermammals/ferret_black_footed/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H2mV-TPueA
Criticism of ESA
* Law has been abused for other agendas
* over 200 candidate species waiting to be listed due
to lack of time and money (there may be many more
out there)
*34 went extinct during the 80’s waiting to be listed
*Some species receive all the attention and money
Cal. Condor - $25 mil
Spotted Owl – 16.8 mil.
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/
 Some say that we should focus on ecosystems
instead of species.
* Do we really need all these species? The ESA
now protects many plants and invertebrates
Arkansas Fatmucket?
Causes of Endangerment
1) Loss of Habitat (main cause) - as the human pop.
grows, there is less habitat for all other species - EX.
American crocodile - wetlands
also pollution and pesticides
Kirkland’s Warbler
Florida Panther
2) Human exploitation - hunting, trapping, etc. - EX
wolf, ocelot.
* Poaching - illegal hunting - is a problem in other
countries. - EX. lions, tigers, elephants.
Bushmeat – wild animal meat - Africa
3) Introduced/ Invasive species
A) Out compete for space and resources Ex. Many
plants
B) Overgrazing by livestock EX. Hawaiian plants
(Haha)
C) Disease carried by other organisms EX.
Hawaiian birds
Extinction is a natural process but greatly
accelerated by humans.
Some scientists believe we are in the planet’s 6th
mass extinction.
Endangered Species Notes – 1.14 pgs. 72 - 81.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) - A National law
passed in 1973 that protects species that are in
danger of extinction.
Endangered Species –
Threatened Species –
Candidate Species –
Goal of the ESA – To boast populations to a selfsustaining level. In order to achieve the goal each
species must have a recovery plan that determines
what it needs to be delisted.
The best way to protect a species is usually through
protecting habitat vital to its existence known as
______________(Determined by the Dept. of Interior)
Status of species is review by the _______________
and the _________________.
* Once a species is listed no branch of government
can proceed with a project that might harm the
organism.
* However, most federal projects are allowed to
continue.
EX. Snail Darter and Tellico Dam.
- Read pgs. 73 and 74.
EX. Desert Tortoise pg. 80
* ESA is a powerful land law which has been abused
to stop unwanted development.
* ESA does require a balancing of species protection
with economic development.
* ESA amended in 82’that allows for incidental takes
(define) _________________________________
through an
HCP (define)______________________________
* over ________ species protected by the ESA
EX. of Commonly known Endangered species
* 9 species listed have gone extinct.
* 20 on the list have completely recovered. EX.
* Some animals are in captive breeding programs _______________________________________
EX.
Criticism of ESA
* Law has been abused for other agendas
* 256 candidate species waiting to be listed due to
lack of time and money (there may be many more out
there)
*34 went extinct during the 80’s waiting to be listed
Some species receive all the attention and money
_________- $25 mil ____________ – 16.8 mil.
* Some say that we should focus on ecosystems
instead of species.
*The ESA now protects many plants and invertebrates
(see handout)
Causes of Endangerment
1) Loss of Habitat (main cause) –
2) Human exploitation –
3) Introduced species
* Extinction is a natural process but greatly
accelerated by humans.