May 20th is celebrated as Endangered Species Day! But what exactly does it mean for a species to be endangered? Let’s dive into this topic and explore how the Endangered Species Act (ESA) helps protect these species.
The Endangered Species Act is a law in the United States that was signed on December 28, 1973. Its main goal is to protect species that are at risk of extinction and to conserve the ecosystems they depend on. The ESA is unique because it not only focuses on animals but also includes plants and their habitats.
Since the ESA was implemented, there have been several success stories. For example, the peregrine falcon, once endangered, has made a remarkable recovery. Even lesser-known species like the Alpine flower Robbins Cinquefoil have benefited from the ESA’s protection.
There are a few ways a species can be listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. One way is through a petition by a citizen group or organization to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). If there’s enough evidence, the FWS may consider the species for listing.
Another way is through assessments by FWS biologists. They monitor and report on species that are heavily threatened. However, this process can take a long time, sometimes over 18 months, and there is no limit on how long a species can remain a candidate for listing.
The Warm Spring Zaitzevian Riffle Beetle is a small water beetle that faced habitat challenges due to human activities. Although it wasn’t a top priority for protection, efforts were made to restore its habitat and population.
Currently, there are about 2,245 species listed by the ESA. This includes over 1,354 animals and 901 plants. Interestingly, invertebrates like clams make up a significant portion of the listed animals, but many other invertebrates, like millipedes, are not listed due to lack of information or advocacy.
Conservation groups often focus on more well-known species to gain support for protection efforts. While the ESA may seem to favor popular species, listing a species as endangered or threatened is a crucial step for its protection and the preservation of its ecosystem.
One of the ESA’s goals is to encourage proactive conservation efforts before a species needs government protection. For example, the greater sage-grouse, which relies on sagebrush habitats, has seen collaborative efforts between environmental agencies and landowners to protect its habitat while allowing responsible development.
The ESA reminds us that our actions impact the natural world. We can all contribute to conservation by volunteering, learning about local endangered species, or advocating for lesser-known flora and fauna. Every effort counts in preserving our planet’s biodiversity.
The Brain Scoop is supported by the Field Museum and the Harris Family Foundation.
Research a local endangered species in your area. Create a short presentation that includes information about the species, why it is endangered, and what efforts are being made to protect it. Share your findings with the class to raise awareness about local conservation efforts.
Design a poster that highlights the importance of the Endangered Species Act and its impact on a specific species. Use visuals and key facts to make your poster engaging and informative. Display your poster in the classroom or school hallway to educate others.
Choose a conservation organization that works to protect endangered species. Write a letter expressing your support for their efforts and ask how you can contribute to their cause. This activity will help you understand the role of advocacy in conservation.
Find a local habitat restoration project and volunteer your time to help. This hands-on activity will give you a better understanding of the challenges faced by endangered species and the importance of preserving their habitats.
Engage in a classroom debate about the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act. Divide into two groups: one supporting the ESA and the other critiquing its limitations. This will help you develop critical thinking skills and understand different perspectives on conservation policies.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
May 20th is Endangered Species Day! But what is an endangered species, anyway? For starters, all of the specimens you see around me are just a fraction of the species currently recognized as threatened, endangered, or even extinct by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The United States Endangered Species Act was signed on December 28, 1973. It provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range, as well as the conservation of the ecosystems on which they depend.
The ESA is unique compared to other conservation plans in the world, and since its implementation, it has celebrated success stories, including that of the popular peregrine falcon and lesser-known species like the Alpine flower Robbins Cinquefoil. The first few lines of the ESA state that Congress finds and declares that various species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the United States have been rendered extinct due to economic growth and development without adequate concern for conservation. Essentially, the Act aims to do three things: prevent listed species from being killed or harmed, protect habitats essential to the species’ survival, and create plans to restore healthy populations.
Today, there are approximately 2,245 species currently listed by the ESA. About 650 of these live outside of the U.S. or are in foreign waters. You don’t have to live in the U.S. specifically to receive protections. The species recognized by the ESA are classified into a few groups: threatened, endangered, and candidates up for listing in either category. Endangered species are those that are at imminent risk of extinction, while threatened species are those at risk of becoming endangered.
How does a species gain endangered status? A species can be recognized as a potential candidate for listing in a few ways. The first is that a private citizen group or organization petitions for a species to be considered for listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). With enough information and documentation, you too can put forth a petition to list a species you’re concerned about. If there is substantial evidence, the FWS may determine that listing for the species could be warranted.
The second way is through a candidate assessment by FWS biologists. This is a long process of assessment, reassessment, monitoring, and reporting on a species of concern as they prioritize those organisms that are most heavily threatened. Unfortunately, this can take a significant amount of time; it might take a minimum of 18 months between a proposal submission and the listing of that species, and the implementation of protection programs takes even longer. Similarly, there is no limit on how long a species can remain in candidate status, so it’s not unusual for a lower-priority organism to be an eligible candidate for years.
The Warm Spring Zaitzevian Riffle Beetle is one of a handful of insects that was considered for protection between 1984 and 2002. It is a water beetle found in a habitat smaller than the size of an average studio apartment. Due to unfortunate events, a cement water collection box was built around much of their habitat in the early 1900s, and by the 1970s, a solid metal lid was placed on the box, blocking light and preventing algae, their main food source, from growing. At that point, they were nominated to become candidates for protection by the ESA, but they weren’t a top priority.
Species at a higher risk for extinction move to the top of the priority list, and each candidate species is assigned a recovery priority from 1 to 18, with 18 being the lowest priority. Priority levels are assigned based on factors such as the degree of threats, uniqueness of taxonomy, and recovery potential. Although the Zaitzevian Riffle Beetle never quite made it to priority number one, action was taken to restore their stream ecosystem and population numbers even without legal protection.
As one species moves off the candidate list, others move on. The most recent report of species awaiting review listed 59 different ones, including the bivalve Quad Rula patrina, commonly known as the Texas pimpleback. This brings me to my next point: What sort of species are covered by the ESA? Out of the 2,245 species listed, more than half (1,354) are animals, while 901 are plants. There are 280 invertebrates, and 90 of those 280 invertebrates are clams. Invertebrates comprise 21% of all listed animals.
You might think there would be more invertebrates listed simply because their biodiversity dwarfs that of vertebrates. However, it appears there is a trend toward listing more charismatic organisms. For example, despite their ecological importance, there are no millipedes recognized as threatened or endangered. This doesn’t mean millipede habitats or populations aren’t threatened; it may simply indicate that there isn’t enough information on these species or enough advocates to petition for their candidacy.
Understanding this, conservation groups have likely had more success protecting less charismatic organisms by seeking support for better-studied species. While it may seem that the ESA favors the more popular species, being listed as an endangered or threatened species can be both good and challenging. On one hand, it suggests that enough research has been done to confirm that the species needs government protection, which can be a step in the right direction for the future of that species and its ecosystem. On the other hand, listing a species can make it more difficult to study or to study species that share the same habitats.
One of the major goals of the ESA is to prompt enough support for an organism that change can occur before it requires governmental protection. Once an organism is listed as endangered or threatened, certain measures must be undertaken to ensure its safety. This includes securing land where that organism occurs and enforcing regulations about any activities that might affect its habitat.
The case of the greater sage-grouse is a great example of various groups deciding to be proactive about a species’ protection. These birds rely on low brush sage habitats across Wyoming and the Northern Plains, which are also rich farmland and ranch land in areas ripe for development. Population numbers have been declining in recent years, but listing the bird would restrict any encroachment on its territory, which is not considered a sustainable approach even by environmentalists. Instead, environmental agencies have worked with private landowners and energy producers to find a way to coexist with the greater sage-grouse. This required creating sustainable plans that would keep the sage-grouse’s vital habitat intact while allowing for responsible development.
The Endangered Species Act is not perfect, but one of its greatest contributions is making us accountable for how we interact with the world. It has helped us recognize that our cities and developments do not have borders separating us from nature; fragile ecosystems exist all around us, sometimes despite our actions. It’s important to acknowledge this reality and take ownership in whatever way we can—whether by volunteering to monitor a local habitat, learning more about endangered or threatened species in your area, or promoting undervalued flora and fauna. Every effort counts.
The Brain Scoop is made possible by the Field Museum and the Harris Family Foundation.
Endangered – At risk of becoming extinct due to a small population or threats from environmental changes. – The giant panda is an endangered species that requires special protection efforts to survive.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The polar bear is a species that has adapted to live in the Arctic environment.
Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources and the environment. – Conservation efforts are crucial to maintaining the health of our planet’s ecosystems.
Habitat – The natural environment in which a particular species lives and grows. – The rainforest provides a habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal species.
Ecosystems – Communities of living organisms interacting with their physical environment. – Coral reefs are vibrant ecosystems that support a wide variety of marine life.
Protection – Measures taken to guard something against harm or destruction. – National parks offer protection to wildlife by preserving their natural habitats.
Biodiversity – The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. – High biodiversity in an ecosystem can contribute to its resilience against environmental changes.
Advocacy – Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy. – Environmental advocacy groups work to raise awareness about the importance of protecting natural habitats.
Extinction – The state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or becoming extinct. – The extinction of the dodo bird serves as a reminder of the impact humans can have on wildlife.
Animals – Living organisms that feed on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous systems. – Animals play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems through their interactions with plants and other organisms.
