Download
1 / 28
280 likes | 614 Vues
Endangered Species in the Taunton River Watershed. Endangered Species Act. Passed by congress in 1973 The purpose of this act is to return endangered and threatened species to the point where they no longer need the law’s protection. Three Categories of Species.
E N D
Endangered Species Act • Passed by congress in 1973 • The purpose of this act is to return endangered and threatened species to the point where they no longer need the law’s protection
Three Categories of Species • There are 3 categories a species can be listed: endangered, threatened and special concern. • Endangered species are in immediate danger of becoming extinct throughout all or part of their range. • Threatened species are likely to become endangered in the near future. • Special concern species have been acknowledged to have experienced a decline that could threaten the species if allowed to remain unchecked.
Extinction Rates for North American Freshwater Species • At least 123 species have become extinct since the beginning of the 20th century. • Extinction rates are rapidly growing. • Species such as fish, snails and mussels are dying 5 times faster than animals that live on land. • Freshwater species are dying as fast as tropical rainforest species, which are considered to be among the most threatened ecosystem in the world.
Reasons for This Decline • There are many reasons for the decline in species, but the one significant cause has been the widespread of physical alterations to rivers.
Facts About the Taunton River • The Taunton river watershed is the 2nd largest in MA, it is 562 square miles and is home to 38 towns and cities. • It is perhaps the most diverse and undamaged coastal ecosystem in new England. • The watershed includes 221 lakes and ponds and 27 different habitat types. • It is home to more than 154 species of birds, 29 species of fish, and 360 plants species. • Animals such as otters, deer, hawks and others depend on the watershed for their existence.
Endangered Species in the Taunton River Watershed • The watershed is home to many endangered species. • The 4 species I focused on are: • The American Bittern • The Short-Eared Owl • The Atlantic Sturgeon • The Red-Bellied Turtle
American Bittern • Last seen in the TRW in Taunton (1941), Easton (1970), Middleborough (1992), and in Whitman (1993)
The American bittern is easily identified by its large size. • It is up to 34 inches tall, has a wingspan of 50 inches, weighs 1-2 pounds and lives to be about 8 years old.
It is best known for its habit. • When it feels threatened it stands up straight with its bill pointing upward.
The American bittern is mostly seen along shorelines and marshes where they prey on frogs, snakes, fish and insects. • It is considered endangered due to the continuing disappearance of the wetland habitat it needs to exist.
Short-eared Owl • Last observed in the TRW in Rehoboth (1939). • It is medium sized with little to no sign of ear tufts. • It is 13-17 inches in length, has a wingspan of 39-42 inches,weighs 11-14 ounces and has reached almost 13 years of age.
The short-eared owl hunts mainly at night and late afternoons. • They fly over open areas, a few feet above ground and swoop down when prey is found. • They eat small mammals such as deer mice, ground squirrels, moles, rats, bats and rabbits.
Short-eared owls are usually found in open areas with few trees. • They require dense vegetation, which includes tall grasses and wetlands. • Records of the short-eared owl have declined because of the destruction of grassland habitats
Atlantic Sturgeon • Last spotted in the TRW in 1992 in Dighton and Taunton
It’s origins date back 70 million years. • It can live more than 60 years. • It has been known to reach a size of 15 feet and a weight of 800 pounds. • It is covered with 5 rows of bony plates, has a hard snout and 4 whisker-like sensory barbells near the mouth.
This fish is known for its bizarre tendency to jump completely out of the water.
In the late 1800s east coast catches were as high as 7 million pounds a year. • By the late 1920s it fell to 22,000 pounds a year. • Its population has been reduced by over fishing, pollution and dam construction.
Red-bellied Turtle • Last seen in the TRW in Kingston (1979), Middleborough (1999) and carver (2000).
Fully grown they are 10-12½ inches long. • Males can be entirely black, but there is usually reddish lines on the upper shell and yellowish stripes on the head. • The lower shell varies in color from coral-pink to red.
Red-bellied turtles live in large and deep creeks, rivers,ponds, lakes or marshes
The habitat required for these turtles is under threat from industrial land uses. • The preservation of red-bellied turtles at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford is part of a program to ensure their survival.
Conclusion • Rivers and streams provide essential habitats to many plants and animals. • Unfortunately, rivers are under constant physical attack. • Their ability to provide habitats are weakened by the mistreatment and cruelty to their courses, along their banks and in their watersheds. • Fortunately it is not too late for the Taunton river. • By becoming “wild and scenic” the Taunton river can continue its legacy and save the habitats that are needed for many species.
