Invasive, Endangered and Reintroduced Species of PA

1. Invasive, Endangered and Reintroduced Species of PA By Nate Morgus

2. Endangered Species • An endangered species is a species that is close to becoming extinct because it’s numbers are decreasing. The most common threats to endangered species that lead them to be endangered are: • Habitat destruction • Over hunting • Pollution • Introduced (invasive) species • Disease

3. Prevention • You can do some simple everyday things to help prevent endangered species. Some of the best ways to help out are: • Recycle • Use less energy • Use products that are environmentally friendly • Help out to protect environments and ecosystems

4. Indiana Bat • Indiana bats are endangered for several reasons. The main ones being: • Hibernation disturbances • Starvation during winter

5. American Bittern • The American Bittern is endangered due to: • Loss of habitat • Destruction of breeding areas

6. Peregrine Falcon • Peregrine falcons are threatened because: • The pesticide DDT

7. Bog Blue Grass • Bog blue grass is threatened by • Their habitats being drained for agricultural or recreational purposes • Animal grazing • Overgrowth

8. Canada Spikesedge Canada Spikesedge is threatened mostly in Pennsylvania due to habitat destruction.

9. Invasive species… • Invasive species are species brought in to an area from somewhere else that take over an ecosystem or habitat. • Native species are species that are native to a specific are and are not introduced. • Introduced species are species that are taken out of their natural living area to a different area

10. How are invasive species are moved around ? • Invasive species are brought in to area most commonly by humans • Habitat restoration • Pest control • Fish stocking • Recreational activities

11. Invasive species negatively impact our environment • Invasive species threaten native species • Decrease biodiversity • Alter the genes of species to make them more susceptible to disease by interbreeding

12. Wild Boar • Sus scrofa Linnaeus • Wild boars are native to Eurasia • In their natural habitat wild boars are predators but don’t usually eat meat. • In their introduced habitat they are considered dangerous pests. • The biggest problems with these boars are they can be viscous predators and have been known to attack animals such as dogs.

13. European Starling • Sturnus vulgaris • European starlings are native to Europe • In their natural habitat starlings are pest birds that roost where ever they can • In their introduced habitat there is little to no difference • Their droppings can have toxins that can kill fully matured trees

14. Emerald Ash Bore • Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire • It is native to Asia • In Asia and in America, they have killed tens of millions of trees. • They are considered a pest wherever they are found. • They will bore in to fully matured trees and lay their eggs in them and the young will eat the trees. • These logs are often cut down and moved to other areas spreading this pest.

15. Reintroduced Species • Any species that was at once gone from an area but was later brought back by humans or some other way are called reintroduced species.

16. Gray Wolf • The gray wolf (Canis Lupus) was once extinct from Yellowstone National Park • For 70 years there were no wolves in the entire park • But in 1996 the first wolves were released in to the park thanks to biologists • Now the gray wolf population is healthy in the park.

17. Bibliography • http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=621014&mode=2 • http://www.batmanagement.com/Batcentral/batspecs.html#indiana • http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=3544 • http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ELGE