12/8/2016 0 Comments Boulder Star CoralPictured here is the Boulder Star Coral. Usually very abundant where it is found, this coral is listed as endangered due to a 50% drop in population over the past 30 years. This coral is just one of the many species threatened by coral bleaching, a phenomenon of mass coral death that is becoming ever more common in reefs around the world. Corals are vital to the diversity of our oceans as the reefs they form become home to underwater metropolises, filled to the brim with life. They are the backbones of these ecosystems. The major issue these corals face is that they are incredibly slow growers and can only grow under ideal circumstances.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/133134/0
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12/8/2016 0 Comments hawaiian yellow-faced BeesIn late September, 7 species of Hawaiian yellow faced bees were added to the U.S. Endangered Species List. These species are found only on the Hawaiian islands and are key pollinators there. The role they play for their ecosystem is critical, especially considering that around 1000 of the plant species in Hawaii are endangered. if these bees become extinct, then that will dramatically increase the likelihood that the diverse plant life of the islands will also suffer. These were also the first bee species to be listed as endangered in American territory. This is the latest development in a long string of discussion on the health of bees in the U.S.
http://www.xerces.org/hawaiian-yellow-faced-bees/ 12/8/2016 0 Comments Ethiopian wolfThis is the Ethiopian Wolf, one of many species currently listed as endangered with a total population of under 200 adults within the species. These wolves are isolated to 7 mountainous regions in and around Ethiopia and Eastern Africa. These wolves are in serious decline due to how isolated their populations are and the sparceness of their available habitat. These wolves live almost exclusively above 3,200 m in alititude in the Bale Mountain range of Ethiopia. Their biggest threat is habitat destruction and loss of habitat to high altitude farmland, destroying their hunting grounds and also because these wolves are then hunted down by people as nuisances and threats to livestock. They play a vital role in their ecosystem as at this altitude there aren't very many large predators. With the absence of these wolves, herbivores that exist in the mountains will most likely be allowed to grow in population unhindered by any predation. The wolves keep grazer populations lower, meaning farmers also don't have to deal with the grazers eating their crops.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/3748/0 |
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