INVASIVE, ENDANGERED, AND REINTRODUCED SPECIES OF

PENNSYLVANIABy: Elizabeth S. Butler

Pd. 3

WHAT IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?

An Endangered Species is a species of animal that is on the brink of extinction. The endangered animal is usually close to extinction because of human’s actions, but sometimes because of natural causes. (Ex. Pollution, Hunting, Biocides, etc.)

COMMON REASONS FOR ENDANGERMENT

The most common reasons for endangerment almost always include destruction from humans. Some of them include pollution, disease, habitat destruction, over exploration, human disturbances, hunting, and some biocides. All of these do cause harm to humans as well.

PREVENTING ENDANGERMENT

There are many ways to prevent endangerment. If we all helped support our environment a lot more, there would be less endangered species. We could also place our endangered species in a more secure area, according to their habitats. We could even prevent complete habitat destruction by creating a new habitat when we destroy one we could do this by planting more trees and even moving all of the animals to the new habitat.

ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN

PENNSYLVANIA

THE EASTERN PUMA-Puma concolor cougarThe eastern puma is and endangered species in Pennsylvania. It is endangered because some people used to hunt them and their natural habitat is being destroyed by humans. There is an estimated 270 Eastern Puma’s left in Pennsylvania.

THE GREY WOLF-Canis iupusThe Grey Wolf is an endangered species, not just in Pennsylvania, but all over the world. The only reason it is endangered is because of human populations extending into their natural habitats.

INDIANA BAT-Myotis sodalisThe Indiana Bat is and endangered species that lives in the eastern states in the United States. It is endangered because of human disturbance during their hibernation, this is their most vulnerable time because they hibernate in large groups.

ENDANGERED PLANTS IN

PENNSYLVANIA

SWAMP PINK-Arethusa bulbosaThe swamp pink grows in a sunny environment, usually bogs or swampy meadows. These beautiful plants are endangered because of loss of habitat, collection by humans, and they are being eaten by some types of deer.

SWEET FLAG-Acorus americanousThe Sweet Flag is an endangered species in Pennsylvania and its surrounding states up into Canada. The sweet flag is endangered because of habitat destruction and human disturbance. This beautiful plant is found in natural wetlands.

Click icon to add picture

MOUNTAIN BUGBANE-Cimicifuga americanaThe mountain bugbane is found from Pennsylvania to Georgia and Illinois. It grows in dense hardwood forests. This plant is endangered because of collection because it appears a lot like its neighbor, the black bugbane, which is quite expensive.

INVASIVE SPECIES An invasive species is an organism

that is moved from its native habitat to a new, unknown place, in which it affects negatively by either killing or harming the other species living in that area. They disrupt the basic routine of the new habitat by impacting one or more of the species.

COMMON WAYS INVASIVE SPECIES ARE IN OUR COUNTRY

Most invasive species were brought into the USA by immigration into our country.

Some invasive species were brought to America purposefully, through imports in food in as early as the 1800s.

Other invasive species were brought to America unknowingly through disease of infections on livestock or food.

Some invasive species migrate naturally from place to place, over time.

Other invasive species were already here, in the USA.

HOW INVASIVE SPECIES NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR ENVIRONMENT

They harm and/or kill plants. They harm and/or kill animals. Invasive species alter the ecosystem

around them. Invasive species may even cause some

plants or animals to become endangered.

They also reduce habitat wildlife and cause harm to humans, indirectly.

INVASIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN PENNSYLVANIA Salt Cedar- Tamarix spp: Absorbs large amounts of

water and creates large deposits of salt. Nutria-Myocastyor coypus: Damages vegetation and

destroys habitats and wetlands. Emerald Ash Borer-Agrilus planipennis: A wood-

boring beetle that greatly affects and harms ash trees.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid- Adelges tsugae: Destroys Eastern Hemlock Trees.

Zebra Mussel- Dreissena polymorpha: Potentially damaging clam spread by water transport.

REINTRODUCED SPECIES/ EXTIRPATED SPECIES

Reintroduced-Deliberately released species, from captivity, into a habitat that the said species used to inhabitat, but has moved on because of various reasons.The North American River Otter is a reintroduced Species in Pennsylvania.Extirpated- A species that has become completely extinct in an area, but that species may exist somewhere else either in special care or still in their natural habitats.

RESOURCES www.alic.arid.arizona.edu/invasive www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us www.endangeredspecie.com

THE END