Science 10 Sustainability of Ecosystems
Endangered Species
Many plants and animals that presently exist are becoming less and less plentiful.
These organisms are on the endangered list because they are in danger of becoming
extinct.
Natural resources are those resources that are used by humans that exist in our
environment. Some natural resources are renewable. That means they can be
replaced in a reasonable length of time. Plants and animals reproduce to replace their
numbers. Air and water are recycled. However, there are substances that cannot
replenish lost numbers in a short period of time. These are things like coal, and oil.
These materials are called non-renewable resources.
Many animals have been endangered because of human activities. Overhunting and
poaching has placed some animals on the endangered list. Expanding cities, building
roads and railroads has caused the destruction of habitats of many organisms. The
clearing of grasslands and forests has caused increased erosion of top soil. The top
layer of top soil houses many minute organisms such as bacteria, fungi and insects.
With the erosion of this layer, many of these organisms and other organic material is
washed into rivers and streams causing pollution of the waterways and depleting the
natural fertilizers from the land. Forests are renewable but only if they are managed
correctly by reforesting and reharvesting.
All species within a community interact with each other to maintain the food webs and
food chains in the ecosystem. The destruction of any one species could have
detrimental effects on many other species in the community.
In 2006, there were a reported 521 endangered species of wildlife in Canada. Some
of these organisms are:
Some Endangered Species in Canada
Whopping crane
American badger
Peregrine falcon
Wolverine
Swift fox
Eastern cougar
Piping plover
Kirkland's warbler
Acadian flycatcher
Western screech owl
Atlantic salmon
Henslows sparrow
Woodland caribou
Atlantic cod
American ginseng
Burrowing owl
Tiger salamander
Blue whale
Northern cricket frog
Yellow rail
Sharp-tailed snake
Buffalo grass
Leatherback turtle
Hairy prairie clover
American marten
Blacktailed prairie dog
Prairie lupine
Slender mouse ear cress
Science 10
Sustainability of Ecosystems - Biodiversity
Activity #4: Endangered & Extinct Species Research Assignments
Prepare a multimedia presentation, booklet or brochure on an endangered or extinct
organism or a region that is in environmental trouble. Prepare a list of focus questions
to guide your research.
a. What do we want to know about the animals' daily life?
b. Why is this organism/area endangered?
c. What will probably happen to the anima/region if measures are not taken to
preserve it?
d. What significance does this species/ region have to the environment,
community, and ecosystem?
e. How long has this species/region been in trouble?
f. Include a map of the affected area or area where the endangered organism
exists. Did its habitat decline and why? What was the land used for previously
and what is it used for now?
g. What is the current conservation plan? Is it working?