Invasive, Keystone, Indicator,
Extinct, and Threatened
Endangered Species Project
Jennifer Ottersbach
Russian Olive
Elaeagnus angustifolia
native to Eurasia; introduced into the U.S. in the 1800s for
ornamental purposes
can grow to be 15-30 feet tall and are identifiable by their silverycoated leaves that are usually 1-3 inches long; have yellow flowers
that appear in the summer
considered invasive because they crowd out native plants
Methods for eradicating these plants include cutting them down and
removing the cut material as well as the application of herbicides.
Golden-rumped Sengi
Rhynchocyon chrysopygus
is a type of elephant shrew; the size of a small cat; reddish-brown fur with a golden
patch on its rump; a long, flexible snout; an insectivore; shares ancestry with elephants,
sea cows, hyraxes, aardvark, tenrecs and golden-moles; lives in coastal dense scrub
forests and lowland semi-deciduous forests
Fossils of elephant shrews first appeared about 50 million years ago; in 1993-1996
population densities decreased by 30%; currently the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest in Kenya
is thought to support 10,000-20,000 individuals, with small populations in other
fragmented forest patches; listed as an endangered species in 2010
is globally endangered because of habitat loss; its forest habitat has become highly
fragmented—remaining areas are thought to be too small to support large populations;
known to shelter from predators in hollow trees—but many of the trees favored by the
species are being removed by woodcarvers for the tourism industry, which makes them
more vulnerable to predators
the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest,
where most of the species’
population is found, is
highly protected; IUCN has
produced a Conservation
Action Plan for this species
which recommends that the
conservation strategy should
be aimed primarily at protecting
the species’ habitat
Black-footed Ferret
Mustela nigripes
have black legs/feet and a distinctive black “mask” marking across their eyes;
carnivorous mammals; nocturnal
native to the U.S.; were one of the original animals placed on the endangered species
list in 1967 and were considered extinct multiple times until small populations of them
were found on privately-owned lands; they were nearly wiped out in the late 1900s due
to a nationwide effort to get rid of prairie dogs (considered pests); loss of habitat and
their susceptibility to plague and canine distemper have also contributed to their decline
considered an indicator species because they depend upon prairie dogs for both food
and shelter; when a prairie dog population declines, the black-footed ferret population
declines
the Arizona Game and Fish Department established the first reintroduction program for
black-footed ferrets in 1996, after they captured and bred the only 18 living black-footed
ferrets found in the wild; they released 35 black-footed ferrets, and are planning a
second reintroduction
Los Angeles sunflower
Helianthus nuttallii parishii
Native to California; was once found in San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside
and Los Angeles counties; was thought to be extinct since 1937, but one
was found in 2002, although the species has become extinct since then
produces large yellow blossoms and prefers marshy habitats and boggy
riverbanks
extinct because of urbanization and the channelization of many Southern
California waterways
was never really considered in wildlife conservations and restorations of
wetlands that had been urbanized
Gopher Tortoise
Gopherus polyphemus
Native to southeast United States; Florida has listed them as a threatened
species because they are declining in number throughout their range
front legs are shovel-like and equipped with sharp claws for digging; strong
back legs to push themselves in and out of burrows; are herbivores and get
most, if not all, their water from food; they have a low reproductive rate and
do not mature until about 10 years of age
are keystone species because they dig burrows that provide shelter for
many other types of animals
ensure preservation of their habitats, and do not disturb their burrows
Northern Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalis caurina
native to California; historically the owls’ distribution is difficult to determine because
early European settlers began cutting the old-growth forests before the owl's range was
determined
one of three subspecies of spotted owl; live in old-growth forests; dark-to-chestnut
brown color with white spots on its head, neck, back and under parts; carnivorous
nocturnal hunters
threatened because of loss of old growth forest habitat due to logging and
deforestation, climate change, and natural disasters; also affected by increasing barred
owl populations—they often displace resident spotted owls and sometimes breed with
them, creating hybrids
has been much controversy over
whether the owls should be listed
on the Endangered Species List,
and so until 1989 there were no
plans to conserve the species; in
1989 "A Conservation Strategy for
the Northern Spotted Owl" was
issued to conserve the habitats of
the owls on nearly eight million
acres of federal land throughout the
owl's range
bibliography
Russian Olive:
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/russolive.shtml
http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/russian-olive.pdf
Golden-rumped Sengi:
http://www.edgeofexistence.org/mammals/species_info.php?id=46
http://www.watamu.net/foasf.html
Black-footed Ferret:
http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/blackfooted_ferret.shtml
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/black-footed-ferret/
Los Angeles sunflower
http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/21/local/me-flower21
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SUNFLOWER+FIND+A+REAL+SURPRISE+PLANT
+WAS+LONG-THOUGHT+EXTINCT.-a092253987
Gopher Tortoise
http://www.highlandsswcd.org/everything/office%20info/2010%20articles/The%20
Gopher%20Tortoise.pdf
http://www.volusia.org/environmental/permitting/tespecies/gtfactsheet.htm
Northern Spotted Owl
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Northern_spotted_owl.aspx
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/spotted_owl,_northern.php