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Species Depletion

Species Depletion. Eleanor Milne Geography 12. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Most in-depth account of the global conservation status of plants and animals

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Species Depletion

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  1. Species Depletion Eleanor Milne Geography 12

  2. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species • The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) • Most in-depth account of the global conservation status of plants and animals • Main authority on the conservation status of species • Setup to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species • Objective: convey the importance of conservation and to reduce species depletion

  3. ICNU Categorise Extinct: last remaining member of the species is presumed beyond reasonable doubt to have died. • Examples: Dodo,Tyrannosaurus Extinct in the wild: captive individuals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population • Examples: Alagoas Curassow Critically endangered: faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future • Examples: Arakan Forest Turtle, Javan Rhino Endangered: faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future • Examples: Blue Whale, Giant Panda,Tiger

  4. ICNU Categorise Vulnerable: faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term • Examples: Cheetah, Lion, Wolverine, Polar Bear Conservation Dependent: not severely threatened, but the animal depends on conservation programs. • Examples: Spotted Hyena, Leopard Shark Near Threatened: may be considered threatened in the near future • Examples: Small-clawed Otter, Tiger Shark Least Concern: no immediate threat to the survival of the species • Examples: Wood Pigeon, Harp Seal

  5. British Columbia • Well over 3,800 species, has a richer biodiversity than any other Canadian province • Home to 76 % of Canada’s bird species, 70 % of its freshwater fish species, as well as thousands of other animals and plants • Many species live mostly or only in the province, others use it as an integral seasonal ground. • An analysis of 3,808 species in the province discerned that 1,640 of them, 43 %, are at risk • Has more endangered species than anywhere else in Canada

  6. British Columbia • One of only two provinces that have almost no legal protection for the species that are at risk. • A meager 5 % of endangered species are protected legally. • Many unique mammals, birds and plants are on the endangered species list, including; the mountain caribou (featured on the Canadian quarter), the Vancouver Island marmot, the Swainson’s hawk, Lyall’s mariposa lily, the chocolate-eyed spotted owl, and the marbled murrelet.

  7. British Columbia • Habitat loss:the greatest threat to BC’s species, affecting 86 % of those at risk. Habitats threatened by: urban sprawl, deforestation, introduction of non-native species, pollution (air/water), and unrestrained development. • Over-exploitation (over-hunting/fishing) also among the top factors in species depletion. • Species at risk concentrated in; southern Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland of south-western BC, the southern Rocky Mountain Trench, and the Okanagan Valley.

  8. British Columbia Global warming: an emerging threat, posing new challenges to conservation efforts • Anticipated that global warming will become the new leading cause of species depletion in future decades • Changes in habitat may occur too quickly, inhibiting adaptations, or may remove connections to remaining habitat that would allow species to adapt • The effects will be most austere in areas where species already face challenges

  9. What Can Be Done? • BC needs to reinforce conservation achievements that have been made thus far Implement a strong provincial Protection Act • This Act should: identify species and ecosystems at risk, immediately protect the full habitat of listed species, and restore species and ecosystems

  10. What Can Be Done? • Communities need to lobby for better legal protection for BC’s endangered species • Urge the provincial government to pass stand-alone legislation that will protect endangered species and their habitat *Current regulations affecting endangered species do not to enough to protect the those at risk

  11. What Can Be Done? The world needs to take a greater stand against species depletions • Financial support given to global conservation groups • A global contract to protect endangered species

  12. What Can I Do? Conserve Habitats • Visit a nearby national park or nature reserve • Obey the wildlife code: follow fire regulations, leave things where you find them, do not litter • Encourage family and friends to leave old trees on their property • Remove weeds and plant local native species in their place Make Space For Our Wildlife • Build a birdfeeder • Plant a tree • Build a birdhouse • Start a compost • Do not to use harmful chemicals

  13. What Can I Do? Recycle, Reduce, And Reuse • Encourage your family to take public transportation • Walk or ride bicycles rather than using the car • Turn off lights, radios and the TV when not in use • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth • Take your own bag to the store Plant Native Plants That Are Local To The Area • Plant native plants instead of non-native ones *More likely to attract native species

  14. What Can I Do? Join An Organization • Start/join a club and assist in conservation work • Protect a threatened plant or animal in your area • Make Your Voice Heard • Tell your family and friends about threatened species and how they can help • Write to your local newspaper • Call radio programs

  15. Think About It • BC and Alberta are at the tail end of endangered species legislation * Paramount when one considers that BC has the largest number of species at risk in all of Canada! • BC has tremendous biological wealth; a major contributing element to why we think of our province as being the “Best Place on Earth.” • If British Columbians truly care about their wildlife they need to act now. BC’s endangered species deserve our immediate and long-lasting protection

  16. Vancouver Island Marmots • Exists only on Vancouver Island. • Low numbers and localized distribution puts them at risk • Have been restricted to small regions of suitable subalpine meadow habitat • Colonies must be small in order to live on such small patches • Average colony contains fewer than five adults. • Some marmots are killed by predators (Cougars, Wolves, Eagles) • Many are unable to survive the winter, having been unable to build up sufficient body fat to sustain them

  17. Vancouver Island Marmots • Colonies often weakened by disease, malnutrition and parasites • In response to these harsh conditions some marmots leave their colonies to search for a new place to live *Important because it provides an opportunity for colonies that are in decline to re-colonize sites where marmots have disappeared • The current marmot population concentrated on fewer than a dozen mountains in a small area of about 150 square kilometers on southern Vancouver Island

  18. Vancouver Island Marmots Northern Vancouver Island:causes of marmot disappearances is mysterious • Disease, climate change and chance have been contributing factors Habitat destruction thought not to have been a factor. • Most of the colonies located within the fully protected Strathcona Provincial Park • Few colonies have been influenced by development • Direct disturbance by humans is not factor: the remote locations of the colonies are inaccessible to off-road vehicles

  19. Vancouver Island Marmots Southern Vancouver Island: humans are a major factor in the disappearance of the marmot • Human activities have altered the marmots habitat. • Hindered by forestry and road construction • Forestry has not disrupted their natural subalpine meadow habitat *Marmots can live and reproduce in clear-cuts, populations actually expanded after clear cutting • It concentrates members in a small area • Concentration makes them much more vulnerable to predators, disease and the effects of local weather

  20. Vancouver Island Marmots Status: • Analysis of known and potential colony sites from 1982-1986 asserted a population of up to 235 marmots. • Counts repeated in the same areas from 1994-1998 turned up only 71 to 103 marmots. • At least 12 colony extinctions have occurred since the 1980s and only two new colonies were identified during the 1990s.

  21. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpxmTZ02FXg

  22. Bibliography • http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002604 • http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/atrisk/ • http://www.davidsuzuki.org/default.asp • http://www.sierraclub.bc.ca/endangered-species • http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/theme.cfm?lang=e&category=12 • http://www.endangeredspecie.com/ • http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/red_list/ • http://www.marmots.org/index.php • http://www.arkive.org/vancouver-island-marmot • http://www.endangeredspecie.com

  23. THE END

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