Species Project

1. Species Project Maddie Wright

2. Invasive Plant: Kudzu • Kudzu (PueriarialabotaWild) is a leguminous vine native to China. The plant was first introduced to the U. S. in the late 1800’s as an ornamental and later grown as a forage crop and soil stabilizer. Kudzu now grows throughout the southeastern United States, including Kentucky, and occurs in a variety of sites, such as forest edges, stream banks etc. Capable of growing two inches a day under optimal conditions, kudzu is considered an invasive species due to its growth habit and ability to dominate a site if left unchecked. • Kudzu is an aggressive, climbing or trailing herbaceous to semi-woody, deciduous, perennial vine. Leaves are alternate pinnately compound with three to four inches long. Intensive grazing, by goats and cattle, for example, may help deplete root reserves and weaken the plant to allow for easier control. Mechanical control (mowing or prescribed burning) of kudzu is ineffective because its inadequacy to control sprouting roots.

3. Extinct Species Thylacine: the Tasmanian Tiger • Extinct since 1936, the Thylacine, (Thylacinuscynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. Native to Australia and New Guinea, it is thought to have become extinct in the 20th century. • The thylacine looked like a large, long dog, with stripes, a heavy stiff tail and a big head. Its scientific name, Thylacinus cynocephalus, means pouched dog with a wolfs head. Fully grown it measured about 180 cm (6 ft) from nose to tail tip, stood about 58 cm (2 ft) high at the shoulder and weighed up to 30 kg. • It is commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger (due to its striped back). The Thylacine became extinct on the Australian mainland thousands of years before European settlement of the continent, but survived on the island of Tasmania along with a number of other endemic species such as the Tasmanian Devil. • Intensive hunting encouraged by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributory factors may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its habitat. 1986 Thylacine declared extinct by international standards.

4. Keystone Species: The Sea Otter (Enhydralutris) • 1. European and Russian trappers hunt sea otters to near extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries. • 2. The decline of the sea otters, which are essential to keeping sea urchins in check, allows sea urchin populations to explode. • 3. The burgeoning sea urchins feast on and decimate the kelp beds, which are critical habitat for spawning fish. • 4. Fish begin to decline for lack of spawning habitat; this affects fishermen's catches. • 5. Finally, an international treaty (The Endangered Species Act) is enacted to protect sea otters. • 6. In areas where the otters recovered, urchin populations are once again kept down, the kelp beds recover, fish nurseries recover, and fish catches rise again. To left, a Sea Otter munching an Abalone, a Sea Otters favorite food.

5. Northern spotted owls are a medium sized brown owl characterized by a dark brown face with small white spots, and a round face that lacks ear tuffs.  They have concentrated circles of dark brown around each dark brown eye.  They have a yellowish green bill and their legs and feet are fully feathered.  Northern spotted owls’ distribution range stretches along the Pacific Coast region from southwest British Columbia to central California. It’s non-migratory species that occupies the same home range year-round.   They roost high in large diameter trees with multiple canopy layers in areas with high canopy closure and complex structure.  Broken treetops, cavities, platforms abandoned by raptors and squirrels, and mistletoe brooms create preferred nesting sites.  The female scrapes out a shallow depression in the existing debris to form the nest. Northern spotted owls are listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act and are an “indicator” species - the health of the northern spotted owl indicates the health of old-growth forest ecosystems.  The primary threats to the northern spotted owl are loss of habitat and habitat fragmentation due to clear cuts or regeneration harvests and even-age forest management.  Urban and suburban expansion, water development, agricultural development, mining, and reservoir development also significantly impact northern spotted owl populations. Indicator Species: Northern Spotted Owls(Strix occidentalis caurina) • http://kswild.org/what-we-do-2/biodiversity/species-profiles/nso • http://www.eraptors.org/rr_spottedOwl.htm

6. Threatened Species: Dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris) • This miniature iris grows nowhere else in the world but in the Great Lakes Region.It formerly grew near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In Michigan, Dwarf Lake Iris is especially concentrated along certain stretches of the northern Great Lakes shoreline, where it may occur for miles, interrupted only by habitat destruction, degradation, or unsuitable habitat such as rocky points or marshy bays. • It’s “threatened” status has been caused by habitat loss • There currently is no recovery plan. It’s a draft only. It is threatened by loss of habitat due to increased human activity along the shoreline. Human disturbance such as shoreline development and intensive recreation are major threats. • Dwarf Lake Iris usually occurs close to the Great Lakes shores on sand or in thin soil over limestone rich gravel or bedrock. It tolerates full sun to near complete shade, but flowers mostly in semi open habitats. Dwarf Lake Iris can be distinguished by its very small size, and its thin, shallow, yellow rhizomes or underground stems • http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/gla/tesweb/plants/plants_main.htm • http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12146_12213-61409--,00.html

7. Endangered Species: Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) • The humpback whale is a giant yet graceful marine mammal that can reach a length of more than 40 feet. • It occurs throughout the world's oceans, spending its summers at the poles and winters at lower latitudes. • Both males and females sing, but the song of the male is long and complex, containing variations in rhythm and melody and sometimes lasting 30 minutes or more. It is used to attract females, to warn other males, and possibly to locate individual whales. • The primary threat to the humpback whale comes from commercial whaling. –Banning of this and stricter enforcement could be a solution. Humpback Whale Range • Size relative to a bus: • http://animal.discovery.com/guides/endangered/mammals/humpback-whale.htm • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/humpback-whale/ (click hear, then click on the audio option to hear their singing!)

8. Bibliography • Blair Mitch, Forest Health: “Invasive Plant Hit List: Kudzu”, Kentucky Woodlands Magazine, Volume 2 Issue3 • http://www.herbcompanion.com/in-the-herb-garden/from-our-bookshelf-embracing-invasive-plants.aspx • http://www.oddee.com/item_88742.aspx • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Plants Profile • http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/seaotter.html • http://kswild.org/what-we-do-2/biodiversity/species-profiles/nso • http://www.eraptors.org/rr_spottedOwl.htm • http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/gla/tesweb/plants/plants_main.htm • http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12146_12213-61409--,00.html • http://animal.discovery.com/guides/endangered/mammals/humpback-whale.htm • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/humpback-whale/