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Ecosystems - Wildlife:
Endangered Species
An endangered species is a plant or animal in danger of becoming extinct throughout
all or a significant portion of its range. The United States Fish
and Wildlife Service manages this nation’s endangered species program, including
developing and maintaining the federal list of endangered and threatened species.
Extinction is Forever
Extinction is a natural process. For
millions of years different types of
plants and animals have lived and then
have become extinct. We don’t always
know why a species has become extinct,
but we do know that extinction can be
caused by natural occurrences. Many
times extinction is caused by more than
one natural event, including climate
change, disease, overpopulation, or
competition for food.
When a species becomes extinct
because of a natural process, it usually
means its environment has changed,
and more than likely the species will be
replaced by a new, emerging one. It can
be disturbing when a species becomes
extinct, but we can more readily accept
that loss when it comes naturally.
However, most of the extinction and
near extinction that is occurring today
is not natural. And there has been a
great increase in the rate of extinction.
This increase is primarily caused by the
activities of humans.
Everything has its Place
One of the most difficult tasks
educators face is teaching children
about the intrinsic value of each species
on the face of the Earth. Presently, in
the environmental field, there is a strong
push to educate about the non-monetary
value of each species. This is being
accomplished through the teaching of
environmental ethics.
One leader in the environmental
ethics field, Hugh W. Nibley, states: “We
have taught our children by precept
and example that every living thing
exists to be converted into cash, and
that whatever would not yield a return
should be quickly exterminated to make
way for creatures that do.” Teaching
environmental ethics with its emphasis
on the intrinsic value of all species
will have the positive effect of helping
people understand the benefits of the
endangered species program.
These benefits may be summarized as
follows:
1. Endangered species generally serve
as indicators of larger environmental
problems and, when detected, allow
analysis and correction of more involved
problems during the pursuit of a
preservation program.
2. The “Era of Endangered Species”
has initiated a process of maturation
within fish and wildlife agencies as they
begin to consider all species in their
program planning, not simply those with
an obvious economic value.
3. By preventing the unnatural
extinction of life forms, we automatically
preserve any benefits to humans which
they may possess, but which research
may not yet have revealed.
4. Perhaps the most important reason
for preserving endangered species is the
realization that all life is connected and
interdependent.
No Place to Go
Because of its variety of habitats,
the Mojave Desert is home to a
tremendous diversity of plants and
animals. Some of these habitats are
being destroyed or altered by humans.
Groundwater pumping, construction
of roads, agricultural pollutants,
construction of large residential tracts,
grazing of domestic stock, and many
other factors affect the desert ecosystem
and the plants and animals living there.
As these habitats are destroyed, the
danger of extinction increases. Today
the Mojave Desert is home to many
threatened and endangered species.
SOME THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
OF THE MOJAVE DESERT
COMMON NAME, SCIENTIFIC NAME - FEDERAL STATUS
Mammals
Amargosa southern pocket gopher, Thomomys umbrinus amargosae - C
Desert bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis nelsoni - S
Mountain lion, Felis concolor - C
Townsend’s big-eared bat, Plecotus townsendii - C
Birds
Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus - T
California brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus - E
Least Bell’s vireo, Vireo bellii pusillus - E
Mexican spotted owl, Strix occidentalis lucida - T
Yuma clapper rail, Rallus longirostris yumanensis E
Reptiles
Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, Uma inornata - T
Desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii - T
Amphibians
Lowland leopard frog, Rana yavapaiensis - C
Fish
Bonytail chub, Gila elegans - E
Colorado squawfish, Ptychocheilus lucius - E
Devil’s Hole pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis - E
Mohave tui chub, Gila bicolor mohavensis - E
Humpback chub, Gila cypha - E
Razorback sucker, Xyrauchen texanus - E
Insects and Snails
Badwater snail, Assiminea infima - C
Devil’s Hole warm springs riffle beetle, Stenelmis calida calida - C
Plants
Bear-paw poppy, Arctomecon californica - C
Foxtail cactus, Escobaria vivipara var. alversonii - C
Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Oenothera arita eurekensis - E
Panamint daisy, Enceliopsis covillei - C
Sticky buckwheat, Eriogonum viscidulum - C
KEY TO FEDERAL STATUS:
E — Endangered T — Threatened C — Candidate S — Sensitive
Source/references:
National Park Service
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