Endangered Species and Ecosystems. The Hundred Heartbeat Club The name “Hundred Heartbeat Club was...
If you can't read please download the document
Endangered Species and Ecosystems. The Hundred Heartbeat Club The name “Hundred Heartbeat Club was created by E.O. Wilson, Professor Emeritus at the Museum
The Hundred Heartbeat Club The name Hundred Heartbeat Club was
created by E.O. Wilson, Professor Emeritus at the Museum of
Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. The club refers to a group
of species consisting of one hundred or fewer individuals.
Literally, it means that they are a hundred heartbeats away from
global extinction. Some members of the club include Spix's macaw
(Cyanopsitta spixii), the Hawaiian crow (Corvus hawaiiensis), the
Chinese river dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), the Philippine eagle
(Pithecopaga jefferyi), and the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus).
This presentation spotlights the cause of their decline. This is
their story
Slide 3
The Hundred Heartbeat Club Spixs Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) The
Spix's Macaw (also known as the Little Blue Macaw) is considered
one of the world's most critically endangered species with no known
wild specimens remaining. Life Span: Is estimated to be 20-30 years
in nature and 20-40 years in captivity. The last known wild
individual was known to be at least 20 years old, at the time of
its disappearance. There is one Spixs Macaws in captivity which
hatched in 1976 and is the oldest recorded individual of the
species.
Slide 4
The Hundred Heartbeat Club Spixs Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) The
Spixs Macaw is endemic to the state of Bahia which is located in
the north-east of Brazil. There they inhabit a great expanse of
semi-arid territory known as the Caatinga. Within the Caatinga
there are micro habitats, one of which - the Caraibeira riparian
woodland, was home to the Spixs Macaw. Caraibeira (Tabebuia
caraiba) is the dominant tree species found along the banks of the
Melancia Creek; it is also the most important tree species for the
Spixs Macaw, since it provides nesting hollows, shelter and food
for the species. This particular habitat zone is located close to a
town called Curaa.
Slide 5
The decline of Spix's Macaw has generally been attributed to
two principal factors: First, long-term destruction of its caraiba
woodland habitat and the impact of settlers moving through its
habitat during the past 300 years. Second, trapping by poachers for
the illegal live bird trade in recent decades pushed the species
towards extinction.
Slide 6
Spixs Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) The last known population of
Cyanopsitta spixii (in the region of Curaca, Bahia State, Brazil)
was effectively wiped out by bird poachers; the only known nest was
plundered and the chicks were offered for sale on the international
market for $40,000. Because of the birds great beauty, rarity and
prestige, they are highly prized and are most notable targets by
pet traders. The recovery of the Spix's Macaw will depend on the
success or failure of the captive breeding program. There is still
hope that the bird known as the Spix's (Little Blue) macaw will
once again fly in the wild "caatinga" habitat of Brazil.
Slide 7
Watch me fly for I may never fly again Tell me, how can I fly
free once more What is the price of my freedom A female Spix macaw
introduced back in the wild
Slide 8
The Hundred Heartbeat Club Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis)
The Hawaiian crow, known locally as alal, has undergone a drastic
decline in range and population. This species, endemic to Hawaii,
is one of the most endangered animals on the planet. Like many
corvids, alal are long-lived and have a life span of 20 or more
years. The species diet primarily consists of native and introduced
fruits, invertebrates, eggs, nestlings of other forest birds, also
nectar, flowers and carrion.
Slide 9
The Hundred Heartbeat Club Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis)
Historically, the alal occurred in the high and low elevation
forests of the western and southeastern region of the island of
Hawaii. When coffee and fruit farmers began shooting them in the
1890s, their population was already declining. By 1978, only 50 to
150 crows were believed to exist. Fewer than 10 breeding pairs
remained in the wild in 1985. The last two alal vanished from their
natural habitat in South Kona in 2002.
Slide 10
Factors in the decline of the Hawaiian crow: Food shortage
resulting from loss of food source. Predation by introduced mammals
(cats, rats, dogs) Alal are susceptible to diseases such as
toxoplasmosis and mosquito-borne disease. Habitat degradation -
little suitable habitat exists for the species. The reproductive
failure of the alal (low hatching success, high nestling and
fledgling mortality) is a result of deteriorating habitat
quality.
Slide 11
The Hundred Heartbeat Club Chinese River Dolphin (Lipotes
vexillifer) also called Yangtze River Dolphin The Yangtze River
dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), an obligate freshwater
odontocete known to occur only from the middle-lower Yangtze River
system and neighbouring Qiantang River in eastern China, has long
been recognized as one of the world's rarest and most threatened
mammal species.. The 2007 IUCN Red List classifies it as critically
endangered and possibly extinct. The baiji is the first cetacean
species known to have been driven to extinction by human
activity
Slide 12
The Tragedy of the Yangtze River Dolphin Although there was one
sighting in 2007, indicating that a few baiji may still exist,
experts believe there is no hope for recovery. Its extinction is a
reflection of the latest stage in the progressive ecological
deterioration of the Yangtze region, home to approximately 10% of
the world's human population
Slide 13
The Tragedy of the Yangtze River Dolphin Environmental impact
of the three gorge dam constructed by the Chinese government:
Disrupt the natural seasonal flow patterns to which aquatic animals
are adapted, block and destroy spawning grounds and migratory
paths, and fragment populations. Aquatic mammals such as Lipotes
vexillifer are even more vulnerable to the effects of the dam than
fish and invertebrates.
Slide 14
The tragedy of the Yangtze (Chinese) River Dolphin (Lipotes
vexillifer) A range of anthropogenic extinction drivers (e.g. boat
collisions, dam construction), which also threaten freshwater
cetaceans in other river systems have been implicated in the
baiji's precipitous decline. At least half of all known baiji
deaths in the 1970s and 1980s were caused by rolling hooks and
other fishing gear, and electro-fishing accounted for 40% of baiji
deaths recorded during the 1990s. Harmful fishing practices are
still widespread and may be increasing in the Yangtze region.
Intensive shipping noise has greatly disturbed the growth and
development of the baiji dolphin. Pollution in the Yangtze river
also threatens this species.
Slide 15
The Tragedy of the Yangtze River Dolphin
Slide 16
The Hundred Heartbeat Club Philippine Eagle (Pithecopaga
jefferyi) The Philippine eagle (Pithecopaga jefferyi) is the
largest bird of prey in the Philippines, considered to be one of
the three most critically endangered eagles in the world. It
measures about one meter tall, 95 cm long and weighs approximately
4 kg. It has 6.5 ft wingspan. Pithecopaga jefferyi is listed under
critically endangered by IUCN. Its population was estimated to be
6,000 in the 1930s, in 1997 the number plummeted to approximately
200. The current population of the Philippine eagle is not known.
The species has been considered rare since it was discovered in
1896.
Slide 17
Range and Distribution of the Philippine Eagle The bird is
endemic to the islands of Luzon, Leyte, Samar and Mindanao. The
Philippine eagle and its mate require 20-100 sq km territory and a
home range of some 30 sq km within which no other similar eagle
must nest. Mindanao Samar Leyte
Slide 18
The biggest threat to the survival of the Philippine eagle The
Philippine eagle inhabits primary mature dipterocarp forests for
its habitat and nesting. Forest destruction and fragmentation,
through commercial timber extraction and shifting cultivation, is
the principal long-term threat
Slide 19
The Philippine deforestation rate, which is reported to be
91,000 ha per year and is considered among the highest in the
southeast. The Philippine ranks number 3 in the world.
Slide 20
The Hundred Heartbeat Club Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros
sondaicus) The Javan rhinoceros, (Rhiniceros sondaicus) numbering
less than 60 individuals is perhaps the most endangered large
mammal on earth. The Javan rhino prefers tall grass and reed beds
in dense lowland rain forests with a good supply of water and
plentiful mud wallows.
Slide 21
Javan rhinos have poor eyesight but possess keen sense of smell
and hearing. The reproductive rate of Javan rhino is naturally low.
A single calf is born after a prolonged gestation of about 16
months. The calf remains with its mother for up to two years. The
entire species is limited to two locations: Ujung Kulon in Western
Java (Indonesia) and Cat Tien in Southern Vietnam. Javan Rhino: The
Last Survivors
Slide 22
Javan Rhinos worst enemy: Homo Sapiens Threats to its survival:
Loss of habitat because of expanding human territory and hunted
down for sport and commercial value. Human ignorance and arrogance
have pushed this species to the brink of extinction. Javan rhinos
have nowhere to hide. Human ignorance and arrogance have pushed
this species to the brink of extinction. Javan rhinos have nowhere
to hide.
Slide 23
What is the essence of life . If the price of my freedom is
death
Slide 24
The biggest threat comes from human ignorance: Belief in the
medicinal, religious or magical value of the various parts and
products of the rhinoceros is common to most peoples of South and
East Asia. Every part of the body is highly prized, from hide, hair
and toenails to the blood and visceral organs. In many cases, the
belief extends even to the urine and faeces of the animal. The most
valuable part is the horn. The greatest market is China were horns
are carved by the Chinese into buttons, belt buckle, scabbards and
cups. The cups were used as a protection from poison. Today, this
insatiable demand for horn is as high as ever since the horn is
used as an aphrodisiac by the Chinese.
Slide 25
Endangered ecosystem: Coral reefs
Slide 26
Coral Reefs: Rainforests of the seas Support and nourish so
many marine species while providing shelter to more than 25% of
fish species. The crevices and hollows in coral reefs provide
refuge for fishes from predators The photosynthetic activities of
coral reefs remove CO 2 from the water and air Coral reefs play an
important role in protecting coastlines as they reduce the forces
generated by powerful tropical storms
Slide 27
Coral Reefs: Rainforests of the seas Many people depend on
coral reefs for food, entertainment and as a way of making income
through harvesting and selling coral reef products Income from
coral reef tourism Significant pharmaceutical products that prevent
cancer and HIV and also a compound that blocks harmful ultraviolet
rays of the sun Medical treatments are now using coral reefs for
bone grafts, treating viruses and leukemia
Slide 28
Threats to coral reefs The same human populations that benefit
from the free services that the coral reef provides are causing an
incredible destruction to the reefs and its associated marine
species To satisfy the voracious appetite of the growing human
population, fishers have resorted to using explosives and poisons
to catch tropical fish that lived among coral reefs CYANIDE
POISONING DYNAMITE FISHING
Slide 29
Threats to coral reefs To make matters worse for these very
fragile ecosystems, the international trade of coral associated
products is in constant increasing demand For SALE
Slide 30
The aftermath of harmful fishing activities This method of
collecting tropical fish for the aquarium trade or for supplying
Asian fish markets poisons the coral reefs (bleached) and other
invertebrates. Overexploitation of certain species leads to
depletion of target species and change in the ecological structure
of the reef community. Juvenile fish are also caught before they
can grow to reproductive age and replenish the population.
Slide 31
The aftermath of harmful fishing activities The loss of
targeted species such as the herbivorous surgeonfish which is a
critical component of a healthy coral reef environment will result
in the algae population to overwhelm the coral reefs. Algae
overgrowth