Wildlife conservation (environmental science)

Least concern

A species classified under this level has widespread and ample population. Wild animals such as houseflies are classified under this level.

Critically endangered

A species is critically endangered if its population declines between 80 and 90 percent over a decade. A critically endangered species population consists of fewer than 50 mature individuals.

Endangered

A species is endangered if its population declines between 50 and 70 percent over a decade. An endangered species population usually consists of fewer than 250 mature individuals.

Vulnerable

A species is vulnerable if its population consists of fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. Moreover, if a species' population declines from 30 to 50 percent over a decade then the species is vulnerable to threat. The snaggletooth shark is one of the vulnerable species.

Near threatened

A species under this level is likely to be threatened in the near future. Species that are losing their habitats rapidly have more chances of becoming threatened.

Research on habitat needs

for effective wildlife management, a wildlife manager must be able to identify individual species and their need for habitat. Research surveys help to evaluate the number of animals harvested, the sex and age of the population, habitat conditions, and the impact of various human activities on the habitat.

Which of this is a cause of loss of genetic diversity? - climate change - invasive species - pollution - interbreeding of animals

interbreeding of animals

The 2008 amendment to the Lacey Act included which type of organism under the act? - amphibians - plants - reptiles - birds

plants

Importance of wildlife

wildlife species are important for human beings in many ways.

Diseases

All ecosystems consist of disease-causing bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These microorganisms not only affect human beings but also the wildlife species. Diseases can cause illness or death of wildlife species and affect their population. Some common diseases among wildlife species in the United States are white-nose syndrome affecting bats, chronic wasting disease that affects deer and elk, and sylvatic plague affecting prairie dogs.

Wildlife management

All this while, we discussed conservation and preservation being two ways of wildlife management. But what is wildlife management? Wildlife management in simple terms is managing wildlife and its habitat. It involves managing and controlling animal populations and their habitats to benefit other organisms including humans. It aims at achieving balance among wildlife, the environment, and modern human society. An efficient wildlife management should benefit all the species and not just one species. Wildlife management involves regulating human activities such as hunting by laws and regulations. It is necessary to keep the wildlife population in check because too many or too few species will have an impact on the environment. To increase or decrease the population of a certain species, various methods can be used. Goals of wildlife management include: - Maintaining optimum levels of population. Too many or too few species will impact the ecosystem. - Protect endangered or game species. - While protecting wildlife and their habitats, wildlife management also ensures human health and safety. - Wildlife management also helps to keep a check on invasive species from damaging the native species and environment. Wildlife management activities include:

Assisted reproduction

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a tool that includes methods such as artificial insemination or fertility medication. ART helps in broadening the gene pool of endangered or threatened species. Both in-situ and ex-situ conservation methods use assisted reproductive technology. in-situ conservation is conservation of genes in natural habitats and ex-situ conservation is conservation of species outside of their natural habitat.

Threats from wildlife

Certain wildlife species can pose a threat to human beings. Predator species such as tigers and crocodiles can be dangerous for humans. Poisonous animals such as rattlesnakes can prove to be fatal for humans. Animals such as deer affect transportation while crossing roads. Mice and bears can barge into human property and cause a severe loss of grains and other food items. Moreover, wild animals such as foxes, wolves, or cougars pose a threat to livestock. Some wildlife species such as raccoons or squirrels benefit from living near human settlements. An abundance of food or a lack of predators helps these species to thrive successfully. Human settlements adversely affect species such as mountain lions or wolves. Human encroachment of the natural habitat of these species is endangering their existence.

Fragmentation of habitat

Due to the construction of roads, dams, and highways, natural habitats are broken into pieces. This fragmentation of land is affecting the habitats of many wildlife animals. These smaller pieces are not enough to support the species in finding food and mates. Migratory species need places to rest along their migration route. Fragmentation doesn't provide resting places for the migratory birds.

Habitat manipulation

Every environment has a carrying capacity. It is the maximum number of individuals the resources in the environment can sustain. The carrying capacity of a place helps in determining how much part of the habitat must be conserved to support the wildlife. Habitat manipulation involves aiding and controlling the type and amount of food and water within a habitat. This makes the habitat more conducive to a species and helps conserve that species. Habitat manipulation aims at enhancing the habitats of game species or endangered species. This is the featured species approach. Featured species are important wildlife species that are a highly valued species that is usually limited by its habitat. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) selects such species for management. Featured species are a priority either because of their use in game sport or because of their existence status. Habitat manipulation aims at increasing the population of featured species either for hunting or for delisting the species from the endangered species list. Species richness is the number of species present in an ecological community. Certain wildlife management techniques aim at increasing non-game species simply to increase the species richness in a habitat.

Threats to Wildlife

From a traditional viewpoint, wildlife consists of animals that are not raised by humans. They include terrestrial vertebrates such as birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that can grow and survive on their own in the wild. Vertebrates are animals with backbones. Wildlife includes all the undomesticated animals hunted for food or sport. According to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, wildlife means "any member of the animal kingdom, including without limitation any mammal, fish, bird (including any migratory, non-migratory, or endangered bird for which protection is also afforded by treaty or other international agreement), amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod or other invertebrate and includes any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof, or the dead body or parts thereof."

Destruction of habitat

Humans are clearing forests for agriculture, logging, and urbanization. This clearing destroys the natural habitat (home) of many wildlife species. Extensive deforestation is causing problems such as soil erosion and the release of excessive carbon dioxide leading to disturbances in the ecosystem. Loss of natural habitat is leading to displacement of wildlife or extinction. Displacement of wildlife species is dangerous for humans because these species in search of a new habitat will barge into human settlements.

Hunting and trapping

Hunting and trapping are the most important wildlife management tools. They help in removing excess animals in a population. Periods experiencing plenty of game species will have larger hunting seasons. Similarly, periods with few game species will have short hunting seasons. This will maintain the carrying capacity of the environment. Hunting and trapping are useful activities to maintain wildlife species from disrupting human activities. The hunting of deer, for example, will prevent deer-car collisions or control the deer from damaging agricultural property.

Camera trapping

In order to conserve wildlife, it is necessary to study their habitats, health status, reproductive functions, and behavior without capturing them. Camera trapping is a non-invasive method used for this purpose. With advanced technology, miniaturized heat and motion sensors replace old bulky camera trapping equipment. These devices help humans to observe and understand different species and the problems faced by them.

Invasive species

Increase in trade has led to the introduction of many species to new environments. When these non-native species thrive successfully in the new environment, they compete with the native species for resources. They become invasive in the new environment, causing harm to the environment. Many native species become extinct due to these invasive species.

Conservation plans and ecosystem modeling

It is essential to understand the features of the habitats in order to preserve the species. Conservation plans and ecosystem modeling help us to understand the impacts of degradation, loss, and fragmentation of habitat on the species.

The wildlife action plan

It is mandatory for all states and territories in the United States to develop a Wildlife Action Plan to receive funds through the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program and the State Wildlife Grants Program. These plans encompass the state of wildlife, their habitats, problems faced, and the possible actions to conserve them. The Wildlife Action Plans help to protect and conserve wildlife before they become endangered or it becomes too expensive to recover them. Apart from these acts, species can be preserved by following methods:

Climate change

Many human activities are leading to climate change. Increasing temperatures are leading to habitat loss. For instance, increasing temperatures will lead to an increase in seawater levels. This increase will threaten the existence of coastal animals.

Loss of genetic diversity

Many species are endangered due to loss of genetic diversity. Individual species differ from each other because of genetic variations. Genetic diversity is necessary for the long survival of a population. According to research studies, species having few genetic variations are more prone to endangerment or extinction. Inbreeding occurs when animals breed with close family members. These species have fewer genetic variations when no new genes are introduced. Groups of species that are inbred have less resistance to diseases, so they have less chance of survival. Thus, species having less genetic diversity are more threatened or endangered. For instance, cheetahs are a threatened species in Asia and Africa. A long period of inbreeding is supposed to be the cause of this threat. Moreover, these inbreeded species have low resistance to climate change and have a poor ability to adapt. Human activities such as overhunting or fishing have also led to a loss of genetic biodiversity.

Establishing WMA

One of the wildlife management tools involves maintaining a minimum amount of animals to increase the population. This is done by setting up special breeding areas for animals. Wildlife management areas are these areas set aside for breeding and protecting wildlife species.

Restrictions on hunting and trading of the species

Overhunting or overexploitation of animals is one of the most important reasons for species to be endangered or threatened. Thus, restrictions on hunting and trading of the species will help to preserve wildlife.

The Endangered Species Act

Passed in 1973, the Endangered Species Act protects and recovers the species that are on the verge of extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manage this act. The FWS primarily looks after terrestrial organisms and the NMFS looks after marine wildlife. Under this act, species are classified as "endangered" or "threatened." The FWS lists, delists, or reclassifies the species as endangered or threatened. When a species has to be listed or delisted as endangered or threatened, the FWS announces the proposal. Public opinion is taken into account before accepting, rejecting, or revising the proposal. Reclassification includes classification of an endangered species as a threatened species, if the situation improves, and threatened to endangered if the situation worsens. Species listed under this act are protected by prohibiting poaching of the endangered species.

Wildlife conservation

People often use the terms conservation and preservation interchangeably as methods to manage wildlife. However, differences exist between the two terms. Conservation is the process of using natural resources efficiently to ensure their availability for future generations. It involves sustainable use and management of natural resources. Conservationists value the environment in terms of the goods and services provided by it. They support development when it occurs without creating waste. Preservationists feel that natural resources should be left untouched, in their original form. Human encroachments on natural land or resources for agriculture, industry, or urban areas are impacting the environment severely. Preservationists believe that natural resources should be left untouched without any human interference. Preservation believes that every natural resource should be protected even if humans don't receive any economic or material benefit from it.

Overexploitation

Poaching of wildlife species is another threat for wildlife. Poaching is the illegal hunting, killing, or capturing of animals. Many wildlife species are poached either for their meat or body parts that have high economic value. For instance, gorillas are killed for their meat while elephants for their ivory tusks and rhinos for their horns. Overexploitation of these species is threatening their existence.

Pollution

Pollution of all sorts impacts terrestrial as well as wildlife species. Untreated industrial waste, sewage, or pesticides thrown in the water affect many aquatic wildlife species. Extensive use of DDT, a chemical used post-World War II to improve crops and save human lives had a serious impact on wildlife in the United States. Oil spills are also a major threat to wildlife. Many animals die due to coatings of oil and the toxic components of oil on their skin and fur.

Extinct in the wild

Species that survive only in cultivation or captivity or outside their native environments are extinct in the wild.

Part 3 of threats from wildlife

The Red List of Threatened Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) gives the conservation status of plants and animals. This list has seven levels:

Genome conservation

This method involves storing species' genes for future use. Storing species' genes ensures that the reproductive material of endangered species is available and can be used to reproduce the species and prevent the extinction of species.

Captive breeding

This process breeds animals in a controlled environment. Captive breeding is beneficial for species whose survival is threatened because of impaired natural breeding. Captive breeding was successful for crocodiles in India. Before rehabilitating the animals from captive areas, they are trained to hunt for their prey and defend themselves from predators.

The lacey act of 1990

This was the first federal law protecting wildlife. According to this act, poaching animals illegally is subject to criminal and civil penalties. The Lacey Act bans interstate movement of wildlife. An amendment to this act in 2008 included a variety of plants and plant products such as timber and paper. This was world's first ban on illegally traded wood products. There are two parts of this ban: 1. There is a ban on the illegal trading of plants and plant products. 2. It is mandatory for all importers to declare the scientific name, value, quantity, and country of origin. Currently, the act helps to prevent the spread of invasive species. Any violation of the act, either knowingly or unknowingly, is subject to penalties. However, the penalties will vary according to the violator's involvement in the crime. A person will face more penalties if the person knowingly got involved in the illegal trafficking. This act, especially after the 2008 amendment, bought drastic changes in the unregulated logging industry.

Economic benefits

We consume many wildlife products. We obtain leather and fur from wild animals. Certain wildlife species are consumed as meat.

Part 2 of threats from wildlife

We often hear the words threatened or extinct. What do these words actually mean? The moment we hear the word extinct we think about the dinosaurs that existed on our planet 65 million years ago. However, there many species currently that are on the verge of extinction. Let's first understand what is meant by threatened species, endangered species, and species extinction. Threatened species are species that are susceptible to endangerment in the future. An endangered species is one that is likely to face extinction. Extinction is the death or end of a species. An extinct species is one that no longer exists on our planet. Species extinction is a natural phenomenon. Historically, natural earth processes such as asteroid strikes, volcanic eruptions, and natural climate changes and species interactions caused major extinctions.

Extinct

When the last individual of a species dies, the species is said to be extinct. It's a scary truth that our planet is in the middle of the sixth mass extinction of plants and animals. However, 99% currently threatened species pose a threat from human activities. According to October 2009 statistics, 1,361 plants and animals are threatened or endangered. Human activities are taking a toll on wildlife all around the world. Many of our actions pose a threat to wildlife species. Natural and human causes of species extinction include:

Recreational benefits

Wildlife and its habitat provide us with recreational benefits such as hunting and fishing. These activities are essential for regulating the population. Many people around the world play hunt animals for food or sport.

Protection of wildlife

Wildlife in North America was abundant during 1500 to 1849. However, as more Europeans started settling in North America, there were many changes in land use. Urban areas, farmlands, and roads started replacing the wildland. Wildlife started deteriorating. Many species such as the passenger pigeons became extinct. Many Americans were concerned with this state of wildlife. To protect and preserve the wildlife in North America, the Lacey Act was passed in 1900.

Contribution to biodiversity

Wildlife species are an important component of an ecosystem. They help in maintaining a balance of the food chain. Some of the wildlife species are predators. They help in controlling and regulating the population of different species.

What type of species does the Department of Natural Resources select? The Department of Natural Resources selects ____ species for habitat manipulation.

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