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
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)