Endangered Species of the United States
Tom McGovern
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service defines an endangered specie as: one that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A “threatened” species is one that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. This may make them eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This is one of the most far reaching wildlife conservation laws ever enacted by any nation. Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to counteract the alarming rate of extinctions facing many fish, wildlife and plant species. The purpose of the ESA is to protect endangered and threatened species and the ecosystems on which they depend, and to take steps to recover these species as key components of American Heritage. As well as the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA is also charged with the implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
How does a specie get added to the endangered list?
A species is added to the list when it is determined to be endangered or threatened because of a number of factors. One factor is the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the species' habitat or range. This is how many of the animals make it to the list, by the destruction of their natural living environment. Also, over utilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes is a big reason for a species getting listed. Disease or predation, the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms, as well as other natural or man made factors affecting the species survival are criterion for deciding whether to add a species to the list.
In assessing the status of a species, the USFWS publish notices of review that identify U.S. species believed to meet the definition of threatened or endangered. These species are called "candidates." Candidates are then sorted into priority levels due to the large number of candidates and the large amount of time generally required to list a species. The priority system is designed to direct attention and efforts toward the plants and animals in the greatest need. Degree of the threat is the highest criterion, followed by the immediacy of the threat and the taxonomic distinctiveness of the species (monotypic genus, then species, then subspecies, variety or vertebrate population (endangered.fws.gov). The ESA gives no preference to popular species or so called "higher life-forms". In some cases, during the process of assessing whether or not the animal is to be listed, Candidate Conservation Agreements are enacted. Candidate Conservation Agreements are partnerships to reduce or remove the threats to species. This preventative approach is taken for species that can benefit from early recovery efforts, with the goal of avoiding the need to formally list the species at a later date.
Although it is usually up to the Fish and Wildlife Service and the NOAA to initiate listing proposals, the listing process can be started with a petition from anyone. These petitions must be supported by adequate biological data in order to be taken into consideration in making a listing decision.
What does listing mean for a species?
Once an animal or plant is added to the list, all protective measures authorized by the ESA apply to the species and its habitat including:
-Protection from adverse effects of Federal activities
-Restrictions on taking, transporting, or selling a species
-Authority for the FWS to develop and carry out recovery plans
-Authority to purchase important habitat
-Federal aid to State and Commonwealth wildlife agencies that have agreements with the FWS
These efforts contribute to species survival and assist in a achieving the ESA's ulitimate goal to maintain the natural diversity of plants and animals and the ecosystems upon which they depend and to restore listed species to a level where protection is no longer required.
Examples of Animals listed from Pennsylvania
Gray Wolf
The Gray Wolf (Canis Lupis) is among the 17 species listed as threatened or endangered in the state of Pennsylvania. The wolf is often reported to be a direct threat to man, although in North America there have been no documented attacks of wolves which resulted in the death of a human. A far more substantive basis for the age old warfare between humans and the gray wolf is predation of the wolves on domestic livestock, most notably, cattle and sheep. The wolf has been persecuted, especially in the 20th century, because of its alleged threat to populations of wild ungulates that are desired for sport and subsistence hunting. The wolf has long been taken by various types of traps and snares and most recently hunting from aircraft has become popular, especially on the open tundra.
Wolves are an integral part of their ecosystems. As large predators, they affect other predators, prey, scavengers, and even vegetation. Their return to an ecosystem can increase the stability and biodiversity of that system. The remains of wolf prey are eaten by bears, foxes, weasel, raptors, and other scavengers. Wolves also help to control the population sizes of their prey. In the case of herbivorous prey like deer and elk, wolves indirectly protect sensitive plants by keeping the prey population in check. All of this contributes to a healthy and thriving ecosystem. The Gray Wolf was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1974, and since then, wolf populations have grown in some states. Despite opposition from conservationists who argue that wolf populations have not recovered sufficiently, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has proposed reclassifying the gray wolf (lessening the level of protection it receives), with total de-listing an imminent possibility. When de-listing occurs, the USFWS will turn management of the gray wolf over to the states. States must have an approved plan for the continued management and protection of the gray wolf. (Serconline.org)
Pink Mucket (Lampsilis Abrupta)
On June 14, 1976 the Pink Mucket was designated as endangered. The pink mucket is a medium-sized (reaching up to approximately 100 mm in length) freshwater mussel with a smooth, yellow or yellowish green shell and faint green rays. The pink mucket has undergone serious changes in population and habitat ranges. It was historically distributed in 25 rivers and tributaries in the Ohio, Pennsylvania, Cumberland, Mississippi, and Tennessee River systems. Records from 1990 indicate that the species remained in only 16 rivers and tributaries at that time (NatureServe 2004). Threats to the species include habitat modification through impoundments, channelization, and dredging operations as well as water quality degradation and commercial over-harvesting. A controlled release of mine water discharge dominated by iron in a tributary to the Ohio River supporting habitat for the pink mucket was evaluated to determine potential toxic effects to surrogate mussel and clam species. It is believed that Ohio River mussels likely experienced a brief period of impaired physiological function (e.g., enzymatic function, growth, and siphoning activity) that was not apparent at the time of post-release monitoring.
Northeastern Bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus)
The Northeastern Bulrush is an endangered species that can be
found right here in Clinton County. There are about 55-60 extant occurrences
known in the Appalachians from southern Vermont and New Hampshire to western
Virginia, with most occurrences in Pennsylvania. The plants are restricted to
fairly specific wetland habitats that are infrequent, especially in the southern
part of the range. The human threats to this species include agricultural
runoff, logging roads, fire roads, development, All-terrain vehicle use,
collection and dredging. Botanists working in Pennsylvania have
hypothesized that some of the historical stations for the plant have been so
degraded by human activity that the habitat is no longer suitable. Potential
habitat elsewhere has been severely degraded; it will never be known whether
some of these sites supported Scirpus ancistrochaetus.
In addition to human activity, there may be natural threats to the species as well, although more information about the biology and ecology of the species is needed before these influences can be clearly implicated in the decline of the species. Among possible natural threats are deer, beaver (one Vermont population has suffered alarming fluctuations, apparently as a result of beaver activity), natural water level fluctuations, fire (this may have damaged a population in Pennsylvania), and succession.
Enforcement of the ESA
An article appearing in the June 6, 2001 Toronto Star in Canada, who also signed in the U.S. Endangered Species Act, Kate Barlow shows the results of disregarding protected areas. Logging in the area of The Turkey Point Conservation Area lead to the body of a dead bald eaglet in an abandoned nest. The clearing out of surrounding trees to the eagles nest, which were protected as a Conservation area has led to the DeCarolis Farms, four of its officers and one other individual to be charged with two counts each of willfully killing, injuring, or interfering with an endangered species and one count of unlawfully destroying endangered species habitat. The maximum penalty per charge for a conviction under the act is a $50,000 fine and two years imprisonment. This is an example of the Endangered Species Act punishing people who threaten our endangered species and their environment.
Endangered Species Act in Danger
According to an article first appearing in The Washington Post on July 4, 2004 written by Juliet Eilperin, Environmentalists and some independent analysts have reported the Bush Administration has succeeded in reshaping the Endangered Species Act in ways that have sharply limited the 30-year-old law aimed at protecting the nations most vulnerable plants and animals. Federal officials have added 9.5 species per year to the endangered list under George W. Bush, compared to 65 a year under President Clinton and 59 a year under President George H.W Bush. Also, they have designated only half the acreage recommended by federal biologists as critical habitat areas. Under this administrations approach, the focus has been more on providing incentives to private landowners to protect the habitats of endangered species then on prohibiting human activity on those lands. This essentially says thanks for protecting them, but if you don't, no big deal. Oliver Houch, head of Tulane University's environmental law program said Bush's appointees are "hostile to the Endangered Species Act" and prefer to rely on "PR (public relations) and Carrots" rather then enforce the law.
Bibliography
United States Fish and Wildlife Service Retreived on October 19, 2004 www.fws.gov
United States Fish and Wildlife Services/ Endangered Species Retrieved on October 19, 2004 endangered.fws.gov
Gray Wolf (Canis Lupis) Retrieved on October 19, 2004 home.globalcrossing.net/~brendel/wolf.html
NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life Retrieved October 19, 2004 NatureServe Explorer
Rare-species charge laid after eaglet found dead. Kate Barlow Toronto Star 06/20/2001 Section: News Page NE23
Endangered Species Act's Protections are Trimmed. Juliet Eilperin The Washington Post 07/04/2004 Section: Nation Page A01
NOAA/ National Marine Fisheries Service -Office of Protected Resources Endangered Species Act of 1973
State Environmental Resource Center Retrieved October 20, 2004 SERCOnline