Smith's Blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi) -Native to
California -Wingspan of one inch -Males- bright blue, Females-
brown -Lifespan of one week -Found in coastal areas west of the
Rockies -Buckwheat :Used for nursery, protection from extreme
weather, mating grounds, and it serves as a source of food (nectar)
-Development of grasslands and dunes which contain buckwheat has
destroyed nearly 50% of the butterflys once abundant habitat venues
-Solutions: Protecting dunes where buckwheat is found along the
coast, encourage planting buckwheat with tax breaks, etc. -Habitat
protection was proposed in 1977, but was not implemented
http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/fall99projects/smithbutterfly.htm
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/invertebrates/Smiths_blue_butterfly/index.html
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fws.gov californiawineinfo.com
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Tyrannosaurus Rex -Native to the US -Carnivore with a 4
foot-long jaw -40 feet long, 15-20 feet tall -Could eat 500lb of
meat in one bite -Went extinct nearly 65 million years ago
-Extinction thought to be caused by asteroid hitting Mexico. The
dust released into the atmosphere on impact would have blocked out
the sunlight for weeks, preventing photosynthetic organisms from
producing glucose, disrupting the food web. -One of the few ways to
revive this species would be to clone it from T-Rex DNA, a feat not
yet achieved by scientists -T-Rex was found in much of North
America, most often in wooded areas, where prey resided.
Lichen http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/fungi/lichens.htm
-There are over 18,00 species of lichen worldwide. -Lichen are a
close partnership between algae and fungi -Lichen live in nearly
every type of habitat -3 main groups: 1.Crustose 2.Foliose
3.Fruticose -Lichen absorb water and minerals directly from
rainwater, so their health reflects air quality in the area in
which they grow -Very few lichens are found near industrial cities,
due to high levels of air pollution -Lichen are abundant and are
usually removed rather than protected. Glycerin and polyurethane
are used to remove lichen from roofs, headstones, and patios.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5701826_remove-lichens-stone-patio.html
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North Coast semaphore grass (Pleuropogon hooverianus)
-Semaphore grass is a perennial herb native to California and is
found no where else in the world. - Spikelets are found in bunches
and are slightly translucent. These clumps can reach a meter in
maximum height. - It is found in mixed evergreen forests, north
coastal coniferous forests, freshwater wetlands, and wetland-
riparian zones. -Semaphore grass habitats have been destroyed for
development purposes; new housing, business centers, and retail to
name a few. - There have been no attempts made to protect semaphore
grass because it is considered threatened by the state of
California, not the US. -In order to prevent North Coast semaphore
grass from being put on the endangered list, the 3 counties in
which the grass is found should be protected from further
development. Areas that plant semaphore grass should receive a tax
break.
http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=Q1I6#conservationPlans
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Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
http://keystoneconservation.us/keystone_conservation/keystone-species.html
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/animal-guides/animal-guide-gray-wolf/476/
-Gray wolves live in the open tundra, forests, and prairies -They
typically weigh between 70-130lb, and rarely attack humans. -Wolves
hunt in packs and only the dominant male and female in the pack
will mate. When they do, they mate for life. -They will attack
livestock and domesticated animals, and for that reason have been
hunted, trapped, and poisoned by man. -The wolf will consume elk,
moose, reindeer, bison, rabbit, and beaver. -The gray wolf was
reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and has been protected
there since 1991 when Congress funded the project through the US
Fish and Wildlife Service. -This effort has been extremely
successful and should be continued
Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) interactive.wxxi.org
-The python is a rather docile snake, and often a preferred choice
for reptile owners. They can hold their breath underwater for
nearly 30 minutes and are excellent swimmers. Many owners are
unaware how quickly these constrictors grow and release them into
the wild. Handler attacks are not uncommon. -Native to Asia, it was
brought to the US. Those who live in Florida who choose to release
their Burmese pythons often release them into the Everglades -The
number of medium sized mammals has decreased dramatically,
disturbing the food web. -1,300 pythons have been removed since
2000. Removing reproductive females is a #1 priority.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/burmese-python/
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/0131/Snakes-in-the-grass-Is-the-Burmese-Python-wiping-out-
Everglades-mammals