Species Report By: Ryan Hayden
Common Name: California Condor Scientific Name: Gymnogyps californianus Endangered Species
Endangered Species Characteristics and traits of species This bird is a decomposer that enjoys on consuming dead deer, cattle, and sheep. The average height of this species is 50 inches, but the average wingspan is about 9 feet. This species has a bald head for hygiene. This reason is because they feed on large dead animals that have rotten meat, and so they have to stick their heads into the carcasses to feed. The feathers on a California condor are black with some white patches underneath on the wings and bodies. Life span is about an average of 60 years. Have keen eye sights which plays a big role in hunting for food/bad sense of smell. They fly 150 miles a day in search of food. Habitat This bird species like to live in mountainous, rocky forested regions. In central & southern California, in Arizona and in Baja, Mexico they reside. Ecological Niche(s) California Condors need space for foraging for food, roosting, and nesting their eggs. They like to build their nests around in caves, and in crevices on the side of rocky cliffs. This is because there is little to no disturbance. They roost on large trees, and rocky cliffs.
Map of distribution Endangered species
Endangered species Current Population vs. Historic Population The population of the California Condor declined in the late 20 th century until there were almost extinct. There was 22 condors at that time and they were taken into captivity. They weren't released until early 1992, about 5 years later. Now there are around 435 California Condors in the world. Cause(s) of endangerment 1.Human Activity: The California Condors feed their babies small human objects that they pick up and find. These objects can be pennies and shards of glass which kill their babies. Also humans build power lines across the condors habitat. Their long wingspans get caught in the electrical power lines and get the birds electrocuted. 2. Habitat Loss: Human development takes up enough land that where California Condors roost, nest, and foraging. This is when we build housing and other projects, it takes up Condors habitat. 3. Lead Poisoning: When poachers and hunters use ammunition to hunt for their animals, their ammunition gets left behind as well. This is a danger for California Condors since they feed off of dead animals. They get exposure from lead and become sick. This is the number one leading death cause of Condors.
Endangered Species The city of California along with the rest of the United States seems to be going green to help the environment. But this still might have an impact on the Condors, and other birds habitats. The green technology that the state offers are wind turbines and solar energy development to protect the environment. The state is working around the habitats of the Condors offering protection to this species. They are also offering to make part of the land a lead free zone, which would inhibit the use of firearms. This is decreasing the lead exposure to California Condors.
Threatened Species Common Name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle Scientific Name: Caretta caretta
Threatened Species Characteristics and Traits of Species: The Loggerhead Sea Turtle has a large head with an unsharpened, strong blunt jaw, which helps them fed on tough shell victims. Adults grow to an average of 200 pounds. They grow to an average length of 3 feet. The carapace color is reddish-brown, while the underbelly is yellow. These animals can live up to 100 years. These turtles like to live deep in the seawater and have lungs that exchange oxygen in a way that prevents any other gases to enter their lungs. They don t contract their necks back into their shell. The male counterpart that fertilizes the egg in reproduction. The most common sea turtle off United States coasts. Habitat: The younger Loggerhead Sea Turtle live by estuaries. Adult Loggerhead Sea Turtles live very far out in sea, but can also be found close to shore in bays, lagoons, and creeks. They live mainly in the Atlantic ocean, and the Mediterranean, but found through the world s oceans. From Argentina to Newfoundland in the western Atlantic. Ecological Niche(s): These turtles like to live in temperatures between 13.3-28 degrees Celsius They migrate during a summer season and a winter season. In summer they stay at lower latitudes when they forage at their nesting beaches and lay eggs, then migrate down south when it hits autumn. They use the warm waters of the gulf coast to keep warmth during the winter. They like to find nice, warm, sandy beaches to nest their eggs.
Map of distribution Threatened Species
Threatened Species Current Population Vs. Historic Population: The historic population of these turtles was much larger for they have been around for over 100 years. The loggerhead sea turtle has been on the United States and South Carolina List of Endangered and Threatened Species since July 28, 1978. They have been in a declining rate from human activities. Cause of threatened status: Human activity has been degrading the foraging habitat. Activities like beach armoring, disorientation of baby turtles hatching from beachfront lighting, marine pollution and debris on the beaches preventing confronting the babies pathway to the ocean when they hatch from their eggs. Also channel dredging and fishing play an unintended role in harming this species.
Threatened Species Solutions/Successes/Possible courses of action: Protection plans for nesting areas have been happening in nesting areas of these turtles. Many coastal counties in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have developed lighting ordinances to decrease the hatchling disorientations.
Extinct Species Common Name: Passenger Pigeon Scientific Name: Ectopistes migratorius Pictures:
Extinct Species Characteristics and Traits of species: This bird species were very fast. The head and neck of a passenger pigeon were small. The wings were pointed, and the tail was wedged shaped. The average height was 16 inches for a male. (Females were shorter) This bird was bluish gray in color, having pink patches by the throat. They flew at speeds around 60 miles per hour. They flew in large flocks. Habitat: The range of the passenger pigeon in its migrations was from central Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia south to the uplands of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Only a few birds were ever reported as far west as the Dakotas. They liked to live in forested areas. Ecological Niches: The forests gave them their nesting sites for winter. They found their foods in these forests containing berries from trees, nuts, worms, insects.
Map of Distribution: Extinct Species
Extinct Species Date of Extinction: (1914) The last Passenger Pigeon died on September 1, 1914, in Cincinnati, Zoological Garden. Causes of Extinction: When hunters started shooting these birds rapidly for food in the 1800 s is when they began decreasing rapidly. No laws were written to stop the killing of pigeons back then, because they were common. They burned pots of Sulphur and placed them underneath the nesting grounds because hundreds lived in one tree at a time. The Sulphur dazed the birds and they would all fall to the ground and drop dead. Also deforestation played a big role in killing the Passenger Pigeon. Was anything done to prevent the extinction of this species? Passenger Pigeon was already at a very small Environmentalists words back then didn t mean much and bills were passed but they were passed to late, for the population. Affect on the Ecosystem after Extinction: People cared more about their birds after this species died out. The fate of the Passenger Pigeon illustrates a very important principle of conservation biology: it is not always necessary to kill the last pair of a species to force it to extinction.
Indicator Species Common Name: Oysters Scientific Name: Ostreidae Pictures:
Indicator Species Characteristics and Traits of Species: These species are invertebrates. The Pacific oyster is called Crassostrea gigas, while the Atlantic oyster is called Crassostrea virginica. They live up to 1-3 years on average. They can grow between 3 inches and 14 inches. Their color is whitish-gray usually on the outer shell, and inside is white. There are 150 types of oysters. Oysters filter water through their shells, so that their vulnerable bodies are never in danger. They don t move until their adults so they get easily hunted by prey. Habitat: They are founded attached on shipwrecks, and debris around the world. Reefs, and rocky shores in waters. Ecological Niche(s): The Crassostrea virginica ecosystem as both a habitat for a variety of sessile plants and animals and free-swimming fish and shellfish, and as filter feeder because they feed upon phytoplankton. Like to live in rich, nutrients. Also they like to live near plankton because it is their main food source.
Map of Distribution: Indicator Species
Indicator Species Why is it considered an indicator species in its community: Oysters are an indicator species in their communities because they are considered bio monitors. They indicate when a region is polluted by disease outbreak and pollution. This is because of their filter water process. Does this species indicate a positive or negative environmental condition? This species indicates a negative environmental condition. This species is not really on the conservation side. There are still plenty of oysters around the world. But increases levels of pollution are staring to make them decrease in number, and the oysters in polluted water are not healthy. Some protections of the species is from creating cleaner waters.
Keystone Species Common Name: Hummingbirds Scientific Name: Trochilidae Pictures:
Keystone Species Characteristics and Traits of species: Hummingbirds liven up to an average of 4 years. Very colorful birds. A hummingbirds heart beats 1,200 times per minute. These birds are very small and light. Hummingbirds have a very long tongue. There tongues lick their meals 13 times per every second. They are small birds that require a lot food every day. This is because of the high heart rate, and high body temperature. Habitat: South and North America. There are several species found in areas of Alaska. This is as far North as they have been identified. Their habitat in the South extends down to the Southern tip of Chile. Ecological Niche(s) They need to be in a warm environment because they their fragile size would make it difficult for them to stay alive. These birds are found living among the trees, bushes, and vines in their given habitat. They are very territorial and keep a close eye on who else is in their range. They will fight with each other over food sources and habitat.
Map of Distribution Keystone Species
Keystone species Describe two adaptations that make this species a keystone species? Hummingbirds are important pollinators, for when they feed their forehead rubs against the stamens and pistils collecting pollen. They then move from flower to flower, pollinating as they go. Describe how 2 additional species rely on this species for survival: Plants rely on hummingbirds pollination for survival. Describe any successes and/or protections of this species: Humans grow flowers in the US to attract hummingbirds in the warmer months. This allows the hummingbirds to get energized again on their migratory path.
Invasive Species Common Name: Mediterranean Fruit Fly Scientific Name: Ceratitis capitata Pictures:
Invasive Species Characteristics and Traits of species: Adults: The Mediterranean Fruit Fly s color is yellowish, with brown spots..14-.20 inches they grow. Forewings are broad with black, and brown, and yellowish marks on them. Can tolerate cooler climates. Pupae:.16-.17 inches they grow. Reddish-brown in color. Larvae:.28-.35 inches they grow. Their color is white. They burrow into the pulp of a developing fruit.
Invasive Species Native range and niche(s): The Mediterranean Fruit Fly native land is from Africa. Enjoys a warm climate. New Habitat and Niche(s): The Medfly has spread throughout the Mediterranean region, southern Europe, the Middle East, Western Australia, South and Central America and Hawaii. Feed on fruits in deciduous forests, and tropical forests.
Map of Distribution: Invasive Species
Invasive Species: Adaptations which allow this species to survive in its new habitat: They can survive in multiple climates, and they still have a food source here. How has this new species affected the invaded ecosystems: This species has infested hundreds of varieties of fruits and is killing off food for other animals. Fruits containing these fly's have been brought to the United States because no one inspected the fruit coming over. Course of action for removal of this species: