Species Depletion

Species DepletionEleanor 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

• 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

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

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

ICNU Categorise

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

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.

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.

British ColumbiaGlobal 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

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

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

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

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 placeMake Space For Our Wildlife• Build a birdfeeder • Plant a tree • Build a birdhouse• Start a compost • Do not to use harmful chemicals

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 storePlant Native Plants That Are Local To The Area • Plant native plants instead of non-native ones *More likely to attract native species

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

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

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

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

Vancouver Island MarmotsNorthern 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

Vancouver Island MarmotsSouthern 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

Vancouver Island MarmotsStatus:• 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.

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

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

THE END