INVASIVE,
ENDANGERED, AND
REINTRODUCED SPECIES
OF PENNSYLVANIA
By: Carley Perroz
Endangered Species
An endangered species is a species present in
such small numbers that it is at risk of
extinction.
Five Most Common Reasons for
Endangerment
1.
Habitat loss- Every species depends on their habitat for food, water, shelter,
and living space. Plants and animals in a habitat depend on and interact with each
other in many ways.
2.
Environmental contamination- Pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals
cause harm to the species’ environment, resulting in the endangerment of the
animals in that area.
3.
Competition- Species compete with each other for food, water, shelter, and
living space. The ones that don’t receive everything they need begin to die out and
become endangered.
4.
Overspecialization- Different species may only rely on one kind of food
source, and when there isn’t enough of that source to supply for all of the species,
they begin to die.
5.
Commercial use and abuse- Animals are collected and used by humans for
personal use.
Endangerment Prevention
 Protect the animals’ habitats permanently by
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making national parks, nature reserves, or
wilderness areas.
Make space for wildlife (put up a bird feeder,
plant a tree, make a garden, stop using
harmful chemicals, etc.).
Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Plant native plants that are local to the area.
Control the population of introduced plants
and animals.
Endangered Animals in Pennsylvania
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American peregrine falcon
The American peregrine falcon is endangered due to human
efforts to control pests (DDT).
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Indiana bat
The Indiana bat is endangered because of human
disturbances during the hibernation of the bats.
Other threats such as the commercialization of caves,
loss of summer habitat, pesticides/ contaminants, and whitenose syndrome.
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Northern riffleshell
The northern riffleshell is endangered due to degraded water
quaility and the building of channelization, dams, roads, and bridges.
Endangered Plants in Pennsylvania
 NORTHEASTERN BULRUSH
The northeastern bulrush is endangered
because of destruction of its wetland habitat
for agricultural, recreational, and residential
needs. It is also threatened by pollution,
excavation, and off-road vehicle use.
 VIRGINIA SPIRAEA
The virginia spiraea is endangered because of
impoundments, road destruction, unmanaged
recreational use of river corridors, industrial
development, lack of watershed management,
and exotic invasive plants.
INVASIVE SPECIES
 Native Species- a specie that normally lives
and thrives in a specific ecosystem; this may include
any specie that developed with the surrounding habitat
and can be helped, harmed, or affected in another way
by a new specie
 Introduced Specie- a specie that humans
have put into an ecosystem accidentally or
intentionally; it does not naturally live there
 Invasive Specie- an introduced specie whose
introduction does or is likely to cause economic,
environmental, or human health harm
Most Common Ways Invasive
Species Get Into Our Country
1. Ships… they can carry aquatic organisms in
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ballast water
Wood products… insects get into wood,
shipping paletts, and crates and get shipped
world wide
Ornamental plants… they can escape into the
wild and become invasive
Pet trade… invasive species are intentionally/
accidentally released pets
Biocontrol… invasive species are brought into
the country to control the population of other
species
Most Common Ways Invasive
Species Negatively Affect Our
Enviroment
1. Invasive species destroy the habitat or animals.
2. They cause species to be come endangered
because of invasive species alone, or how they
combine with other forces to create an impact
on other plants and animals.
3. They are a greater threat to native biodiversity
than pollution, harvest, and disease combined.
4. They cost the economy approximately $137
billion dollars per year because of damages.
Invasive Animals In Pennsylvania
-SPINY WATERFLEA
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Bythothrephes cederstroemi
The spiny waterflea originated from Caspian, Azov, Aral Seas, and the brackish areas of the Black
Sea.
In their natural habitat, a spiny waterflea’s niche is to keep fish from being landed.
In their introduced environment, the spiny waterflea helps balance the plankton population.
The spiny waterflea decreases the survival rate of fish that feed on plankton, and they caused the
disappearance of two native waterfleas.
-ASIAN CLAM
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Corbicula fluminea
The Asian clam originated from the temperate to tropical southeastern Asia west to the eastern
Mediterranean, parts of Africa, and southern Asian lands south into central and eastern
Australia.
In their natural habitat, the Asian clam’s niche is to balance the biodiversity of the environment.
In their introduced environment, Asian clams balance out the populations of fish and other
animals.
The Asian clam clogs boat intake pipes, damages equipment, alters the food chain, and
threatens native species.
-SEA LAMPREY
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Petromyzon marinus
The sea lamprey originated from the Atlantic Coasts of Europe and North America.
In their natural habitat, the sea lamprey’s niche is to prevent animals’ blood from clotting.
In their introduced environment, sea lampreys do the same as their natural habitat, they prevent
animals’ blood from clotting.
Sea lampreys decrease the population of animals because they cause excessive blood loss and
infection.
Invasive Plants in
Pennsylvania
Norway Maple Tree
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Acer platanoides
The Norway maple tree originated from Europe.
The Norway maple tree’s niche in its natural habitat is to provide oxygen for the
plants and animals in the area.
In its introduced environment, the Norway maple tree to provide shade in forests.
The Norway maple tree causes forests to lose diversity of native wildflowers.
Japanese Barberry
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Berberis glutinosa
The Japanese barberry originates from Japan and Europe.
The Japanese barberry’s niche in its natural habitat is to provide food for small
animals such as birds and rabbits.
In its introduced environment, the Japanese barberry changes the soil chemistry
in the environment it inhibits.
The Japanese barberry displaces native species and reduces the wildlife habitat
range. It raises soil pH and reduces the depth of the litter layer in forests.
Reintroduced/ Extirpated
Species
 Reintroduced specie- the release of species
into the wild, from captivity or relocated from
other areas where the specie can survive
(usually involves animals that are endangered
or extinct in the wild)
 Extitrpated specie- a plant or animal specie
that has become extinct in a given area
Reintroduced Specie in
Pennsylvania
ELK
•Hunting and clearing of the elk’s
habitat caused the population to
decline.
•In 1867, the last reported elk in
Pennsylvania was shot in the
Allegheny Mountains.
•Between 1913 and 1926, the
Pennsylvania Game Commission
released 117 elk from South Dakota
and Wyoming into Pennsylvania
forests.
SOURCES
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www.thefreedictionary.com
www.wildlife.state.nh.us
www.endangeredspecie.com
www.hypermedia.educ.psu.edu
www.swilliams1.com
www.fws.gov
www.allwords.com
www.about.com
www.invasivespecies.org
www.fish.state.pa.us
www.nwf.org
www.actionbioscience.org
www.mhhe.com