Name: __________________________
Endangered Species Notes (Section 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 ________________ level. In order to achieve the
goal, each species must have a ______________ ____________ that determines what it needs
to be delisted.
HOW DOES THE ESA WORK?
 The best way to protect a species is usually through protecting habitat vital to its existence
known as ___________ ____________ (Determined by the Dept. of Interior)
 Once a species is listed, no branch of government can proceed with a project that might _______ the organism.
 Status of a species is review by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
 Examples of species under ESA:
o California condor, Florida panther, gray wolf, manatee
 Some animals are in captive breeding programs (animals breed in a human protected
environments to increase the population)
o California condor, black footed ferret.
CHANGES TO ESA
 Under ESA, a project may not take place that can harm a protected organism or its __________
__________; however, many federal projects are __________ to continue.
o EX. Snail Darter and Tellico Dam (pgs. 73 and 74)
o EX. Desert Tortoise (pg. 80)
 ESA is a powerful land law which has been __________ to stop unwanted development.
 ESA _____ require a balancing of species protection with economic development.
 ESA amended in 1982, which allows for incidental takes (define) through an HCP (define)
o Incidental Takeso Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)-
ESA: THE NUMBERS
 Over _________ species protected by the ESA.
 9 species listed have gone extinct.
 15 on the list have completely recovered.
o Examples:
 256 candidate species waiting to be listed due to lack of time and money (there may be many
more out there)
 34 went __________ during the 80’s waiting to be listed
CRITICISM OF ESA
1.
2.
3.
 Cal. Condor - $25 mil
 Spotted Owl - $16.8 mil.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ENDANGERMENT?
1) Loss of Habitat (main cause) - as the human population grows, there is less habitat for all other
species.
Example: American crocodile
2) Human exploitation - hunting, trapping, etc.
Example: wolf, ocelot.
Poaching - illegal hunting, is a problem in other countries (lions, tigers, elephants)
3) Introduced species
A) Out compete for space and resources
B) Overgrazing by livestock
C) Disease carried by other organisms
* Extinction is a natural process but greatly accelerated by humans.