NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Protected Species and Protected

Spaces

OUTLINE NATIVE and INTRODUCED SPECIES

Definitions Impacts of Introduced SpeciesNL Examples

PROTECTED SPECIESWhy Do Organisms Become Species at Risk?Why Protect Species?At Risk CategoriesNL ExamplesAnthropogenic vs Natural ExtinctionsSpecies Recovery

PROTECTED SPACES IntroductionWhy Protect Spaces?Categories of Protected SpacesNL Examples

NATIVE AND

INTRODUCED

SPECIES

Native versus Introduced Species NATIVE SPECIES

Any organisms that occur naturally in an area or region.

INTRODUCED SPECIESAny species that has been accidentally or

intentionally introduced to an ecosystem by human activity.

Also known as ALIEN SPECIES or EXOTIC SPECIES

INVASIVE SPECIESIntroduced species that outcompete native species.

Impacts of Introduced Species POSSIBLE IMPACTS INCLUDE:

Outcompete Native species with similar niches

Upset ecosystem balance by creating new feeding relationships

Bring disease EXAMPLE

Green Crab○ Example of an INVASIVE SPECIES

Coyote○ Example of an INTRODUCED SPECIES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-K1wrn8mDI

HHW video http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/publicati

ons/coyotenews2.pdf

NL ExamplesNEWFOUNDLAND MAMMALS

NATIVE INTRODUCEDWoodland Caribou Moose (1904)

Black Bear Bison (1964, unsuccessful)

Lynx Mink (1935, through fur farming)

Red fox Eastern Chipmunk (1962)

Ermine (Weasel) Red Squirrel (1963)

NL Marten Norway Rat

NL Wolf (extinct) Bank Vole (1967)

River Otter Deer Mouse (prior to 1968)

Beaver Red-backed Vole

Muskrat House Mouse

Meadow Vole Snowshoe Hare (1830-1880)

Arctic Hare Masked Shrew

Little Brown Bat Coyote

Eastern Long-eared Bat

Hoary bat

NATIVE SPECIES

INTRODUCED SPECIES

PROTECTED SPECIES

Why do Organisms Become At Risk? The main reason is HABITAT LOSS. OTHERS

Genetic and Reproductive IsolationSuppression of Natural EventsEnvironmental ContaminationOver HarvestingExcessive TradeClimate ChangeDiseasePresence of Invasive Species

Why Protect Species? Protection of biodiversity is key to survival of

the whole ecosystem. SARA

Species at Risk ActProtects wildlife through recovery and

population management plans. COSEWIC

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

Identify, document, and recommend species to the national list

At Risk Categories EXTINCT

A Species that no longer exists anywhere on Earth.

ENDANGEREDA Species that is close to extinction in all

parts of its natural habitat.

EXTIRPATEDA species that no longer exists in one part

of natural range.

At Risk Categories THREATENED

Any species that is likely to become endangered.

VULNERABLE/SPECIAL CONCERNAny species that has low or declining

numbers. NOT AT RISK

Any species with a healthy population. DATA DEFICIENT

Not enough information of assess.

NL Examples LINK Extinct

Great Auk, Labrador Duck, Newfoundland Wolf Endangered

Blue Whale, Atlantic Wolffish, Wolverine, Piping Plover, Eskimo Curlew

ExtirpatedAtlantic Walrus

ThreatanedNL Marten, Peregrine Falcon

Special Concern Polar Bear

EXTINCT IN NL GREAT AUK

Last one died in captivity in 1844.One habitat was the Funk Island, off the coast of

NEwfoundland.Decline due to overhunting.

EXTINCT IN NL LABRADOR DUCK

Last one seen alive in 1878.

Decline due to habitat loss, pollution, decline of shellfish population.

EXTINCT IN NL NEWFOUNDLAND

WOLFMostly due to

decline in caribou population

Last seen about 1930.

ENDANGERED IN NL Blue Whale

Largest Existing Animal in the World3000-5000 individuals LeftDecline due to whaling, global warming, and

food loss.

ENDANGERED IN NL ATLANTIC

WOLFFISHAtlantic Ocean

HabitatDecline due to

Bottom Trawling

ENDANGERED IN NL

WOLVERINENo verified reports

in QC. Since 1978No verified reports

in LAB since 1950OmnivoresDecline due to

hunting, trapping, dwindling caribou population, poison baits, habitat loss

ENDANGERED IN NL Piping Plover

Decline due to loss of habitat, human disturbance, global warming

ENDANGERED IN NL ESKIMO

CURLEWUnrestricted

hunting between 1870 and 1890

Thought to be extinct

EXTIRPATED IN NL ATLANTIC

WALRUSExtirpated from

NW AtlanticStill found in ArcticExtirpated around

1850.

Threatened IN NL NEWFOUNDLAND

MARTENAt one point, 300 pairs

left in NL and categorized as endangered

Numbers are increasingDecline due to

accidental trapping, predation, and habitat loss.

THREATENED IN NL WOODLAND

CARIBOUDecline due to

habitat loss, hunting, human disturbance, predation, climate change.

SPECIAL CONCERN POLAR BEAR

Found in ARCTICDecline due to

overharvesting, climate change, pollution (especially oil spills and pesticides)

THREATANED in NL PEREGRINE FALCON

Agricultural pesticides cause egg thinning/breaking and reduced breeding.

Natural Extinction NATURAL EXTINCTIONS

Extinctions have been occurring since life began and represent a NATURAL PROCESS.

Examples of causes include:○ CATASTROPHIC EVENTS

Volcanic eruptionTidal WaveEarthquakeMeteor Crash

○ CLIMATE CHANGE○ CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

CompetitionPredationDisease

EXTINCTION OF DINOSAURS 65 MILLION

YEARS AGO Why did the

Dinosaurs Go Extinct?

One Theory

EXTINCTION OF DINOSAURS

LINKLINKLINK

EXTINCTION OF DINOSAURS

EVIDENCE:○9.6 km deep and 300 km wide

crater just off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico

○The impact clouded the earth in a layer of dust.

○Dinosaurs could not survive.

EXTINCTION OF DINOSAURS

ANTHROPOGENIC EXTINCTIONS Today, we have ANTHROPOGENIC

EXTINCTIONS, which are human-related. Today, due to human activities, extinctions are

occurring at a FASTER rate than any other time in history.

Estimates are between 1000 to 10000 times greater rates of extinction due to human activity.

Examples of Causes Include:Habitat LossOverhunting/fishing/trappingPollution

Species Recovery STEPS:

RESEARCH○ Studying what the species needs to survive

MONITOR POPULATION○ Keep an eye on recovery efforts through research.

STEWARDSHIP○ Individuals/groups take responsibility

EDUCATION○ Educate the general public about the species

SOCIO-ECONOMIC○ Find out how the habitat is being used.

RECOVERY TEAMS○ Concrete plans to increase species numbers

THE MORAL OF THE STORY "Those who wish to pet and baby wildlife

love them, but those who respect their natures and wish to let them live their natural lives, love them more."- Edwin Way Teale

PROTECTED SPACES

GROS MORNE

BLOW-ME-DOWN PROVINCIAL PARK

BARACHOIS PROVINCIAL PARK

LITTLE GRAND LAKE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

Introduction PROTECTED AREAS

NATURAL SPACES that are LEGALLY protected from harmful human use so that they maintain their ecological integrity.

HOW MUCH OF NL is PROTECTED AREA?18000 km2 or 4.5 % of the total land mass.These are protected by the FEDERAL AND

PROVINCIAL government. HOW MUCH OF CANADA is PROTECTED

AREA?1,050,000 km2 or 10.5 % of the total land mass.These are protected by Parks Canada, Environment

Canada, and Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Why Protect Spaces? ENVIRONMENTAL CONNECTIONS

It is important to maintain natural areas that are relatively free of human impact.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONSExamples include sightseeing, hiking, bird

watching, kayaking, camping, etc. ECONOMIC CONNECTIONS

Tourism revenue, Environmental Research Funding, Educational Initiatives, etc.

SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONSOur natural environment is deeply tied to our

culture, history, and heritage in NL.

Categories of Protected Spaces NATIONAL PARKS

Protect ecosystems that are representative of each of Canada’s natural regions.

NL Examples○ GROS MORNE, TERRA NOVA, TORNGAT

MOUNTAINS○ PROPOSED 4th MEALY MOUNTAINS

NATIONAL HISTORIC SITESProtect nationally significant places, people, and

events.NL Examples

○ Port au Choix National Historic Site○ L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

GROS MORNE NATIONAL PARK

LINKLINK

TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK RESERVE

LINK

L’ANSE AUX MEADOWS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

PORT AUX CHOIX NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

LINKLINK

Categories of Protected Spaces MIGRATORY BIRD SANCTURIES

Protects migratory bird habitat, such as nesting or wintering grounds.

NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREASManages for sustainable use and zones of high

protection.Ex: seabed, wetlands, estuaries, etc.

MARINE PROTECTED AREASProtects marine habitat.

Categories of Protected Spaces WILDERNESS RESERVES

Protect the habitat of wide-ranging species, such as caribou.

ECOLOGICAL RESERVESProtects 4 items:

○ Sections of ecoregions○ Rare Species○ Exceptionally biodiverse areas (ex: seabird

colonies)○ Unusual natural features (ex: fossils)

PROVINCIAL PARKSUsed for recreation, but also provide some

protection for natural features and species.

CAPE ST. MARY’S ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

LINK

Categories of Protected Spaces WILDLIFE RESERVES

Protect the habitat of a particular wildlife species.

WILDLIFE PARKSUsed for wildlife rehabilitation and

educational/research purposes.One in NL: Salmonier Nature Park

CROWN/PUBLIC RESERVESNot generally protected, but can be set aside for a

variety of reasons.Glover Island Public Reserve (marten habitat)