Saving Atlantic Salmon in the Gulf of Maine - Eduard Troshin

The Gulf of Maine Distinct Population segment of the Atlantic Salmon(Salmo Salar)

By Eduard Troshin 

Woah cool!!! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpIRqgZZ5DQ

Description of Organism & Ecology 

The Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar) reproduces in coastal rivers along Iceland, Europe, Russia, the East coast of Canada and America. The fish is anadromous, meaning it spends a part of its life in fresh water and another in the ocean. The Atlantic Salmon typically spends 2-3 years in fresh water growing in rivers with coarse gravel and moving water. The Salmon then undergoes a change called smoltification which changes its bodily functions to handle living in the ocean. It travels downstream to the ocean where it will spend 2-3 years in the ocean, migrating from local waters to the east coast of Greenland. The Salmon will remain in the ocean for two years until it returns to the river in which it was born to breed during the months of May to October. The fish typically ranges from 14-18 cm in the early stages of life. When the Salmon travels to the ocean, it is typically 50-60 cm and 1-2 kg. An adult Salmon returning upstream after 2-3 years in the ocean is 70-80 cm and 3.5 -4.5 kg. The Distinct population along the coast of Maine is the focus of the Recovery plan.

Geographic & Population Changes

The distinct population along the coast of Maine has experienced a gradual reduction in adult salmon returns since documenting began in 1967 demonstrated by the results found in the Narraguagus River. Most major rivers are believed to have similar and lower results. Since documentation began, development has continued along the 8 main rivers containing the Atlantic Salmon has continued resulting in pollution and overall habitat degradation. Commercial fishing has increased since results began being monitored. The increased used of sonar and large nets in open waters has only brought the return rate down. The return rate at the time the recovery plan was created was 1/5th of every salmon returning.  

Date & Type of listing 

The Atlantic Salmon was listed as endangered December 17,2000 due to critically low returns and the severly depleted status of the fish stocks (Recovery plan pg.v)

Cause of Listing & Continued Threats 

The reasons for listing are as follows: 

Critically low returns

Low survival for stocks

Habitat degradation (water quality)

Greenland commercial fishing

Disease (infectious salmon aneia ISA & salmon swimbladder sarcoma)

Predatation by introduced exotic species

The combination of the many threats to Atlantic Salmon resulted in the listing.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/monteburke/2013/06/14/endangered-atlantic-salmon-are-facing-a-new-and-potentially-devastating-threat/

Description of Recovery Plan 

The recovery plan intends to perpetuate Atlantic Salmon in the 8 major rivers along the coast of Maine and or return the replacement rate above 1. The environment must be restored and awareness promoted of the risk and value of the Atlantic Salmon. Reductions are necessary in poaching along estuaries and predatation. Wild fish stocks will be supplemented with hatchery reared salmon. While doing so, genetic integrity must be maintained. As the plan is implemented, fish stocks will be assessed as will the overall effectiveness of the plan.


The 8 rivers impacted by the recovery plan are Denmys, East Machias, Machias, Pleasant, Narraguagus, Duck Trap, Scheapscot, and Cove brook.

Sources

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/060407.pdf

All images are courtesy of the US fish and Wildlife service 

All images found in the recovery plan for the Atlantic Salmon

How to save the Giant Kangaroo Rat– start off with the habitat!

By Sky Ulep

Courtesy of Konica Minolta

Rats! 

Commonly treated as pests of the planet, rats have been given a bad rap as vermin out to spread disease and distress. But not all rodents are as rotten as they seem.

Courtesy of Konica Minolta

Take the Giant Kangaroo Rat for example. This species is known for its strong hind legs, which they use for hopping at high speeds. However, this species does not belong to the family of common rats. They belong to the family of kangaroo rats (Heteromyidae) and are the largest out of 21 different species in the family. Big hind legs, along with a large head and large eyes, are some of the principal characteristics of the kangaroo rat family.

Courtesy of Konica Minolta

The giant kangaroo rat is distinguished from its coexisting kangaroo rats by its size and the number of toes on each of its hind feet. The giant kangaroo rat has five toes on each of its two hind feet, whereas most kangaroo rats have only four toes per foot. Unfortunately, this fascinating creature’s populations are on the decline putting them on the Endangered Species List.

Giant kangaroo rat habitat is primarily desert and dry grassland. However, in recent years most of its habitat has been the victim of habitat degradation and fragmentation due to agricultural, urban, and industrial use.

Up until the 1950s, the giant kangaroo rat was spread over hundreds of thousands of acres of continuous habitat in the western San Joaquin Valley, Carrizo Plain, and Cuyama Valley.

Courtesy of Environmental Conservation Online System

However, due to fragmentation, this species has been divided into six major geographic units: “(1) the Ciervo-Panoche Region in western Fresno and eastern San Benito Counties; (2) Kettleman Hills in southwestern Kings County; (3) San Juan Creek Valley in eastern San Luis Obispo County; (4) the Lokern area, Elk Hills previously known as the National Petroleum Reserve Number One (NPR-1), that includes Buena Vista and McKittrick Valleys, National Petroleum Reserve Number Two (NPR-2), Taft, and Maricopa in western Kern County; (5) the Carrizo Plain in eastern San Luis Obispo County; and (6) the Cuyama Valley along the eastern Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo County line” (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 1998).

Courtesy of
Environmental Conservation Online System

The giant kangaroo rat was first listed on the Endangered Species List on January 5, 1987 and was listed as critically endangered 1996-2000. The species is currently listed as endangered but its numbers are still on a downward trend. In fact, 95% of habitat has disappeared putting the species on the brink of extinction.

Description of Recovery Plan

Though currently, a majority of habitat for giant kangaroo rats are in public ownership, the addition of habitat protection is vital to recovery.

The key to protection is an adequate understanding of compatible land uses and management prescriptions that provide optimum habitat conditions for giant kangaroo rats. The highest priority for habitat protection is proper land use and management on publicly-owned and conservation lands that include giant kangaroo rat habitat. It is also very important to research habitat management and restoration on former retired farmland.

Courtesy of

Environmental Conservation Online System

Second in priority for habitat protection is the protection of additional land for the recovery of the giant kangaroo rat.

Lastly, it is crucial to have a long-term program for monitoring the giant kangaroo rat populations to understand how the species can respond to stochastic/random events.

When abundant in population, the giant kangaroo rat is prey to the critically endangered San Joaquin kit fox. In addition, its burrows are used by other endangered species such as the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, the San Joaquin antelope squirrel, and the California jewelflower. Because of its effects on so many other endangered species, the giant kangaroo rat is considered a keystone species.


FUN FACT: The Giant Kangaroo Rat is the first endangered species to be monitored from space by satellites!

Works Cited

"Counting Rats from Space | The Nature Conservancy." Counting Rats from Space | The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

"Endangered Species Recovery Program." H. Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Ingens). CSU Stanislaus, Endangered Species Recovery Program, 2006. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

"Giant Kangaroo Rat-Endangered Animals List-Our Endangered Animals." Giant Kangaroo Rat-Endangered Animals List-Our Endangered Animals | KONICA MINOLTA. Konica Minolta, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2015. 

Linzey, A.V. & NatureServe (Williams, D.F. & Hammerson, G.) 2008. Dipodomys ingens. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 March 2015. 

Novey, Levi. "Giant Kangaroo Rat Will Be the First Endangered Species Monitored from Space." PlanetSave. PlanetSave, 22 Sept. 2008. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

"Species Profile for Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Ingens)." Species Profile for Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Ingens). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

The Pecos Sunflower- Drew Stieber

By Drew Stieber

The Pecos Sunflower is a plant that grows exclusively in desert wetlands, which are a unique habitat. It is an annual, herbaceous plant that prefers to grow in “wet alkaline soils at spring seeps, wet meadows, stream courses and pond margins” (Welch and Reisberg 3). As shown below, they look quite similar to the regular sunflower, but differ by having narrower leaves. The common sunflower also blooms earlier on in May to August, whereas the Pecos sunflower blooms around September and October (Welch and Reisberg 3).

The Pecos Sunflower (fws.gov)

The Pecos Sunflower habitat (fws.gov)

The historic distribution of the Pecos sunflower is somewhat of a mystery. Originally only thought to exist in a single area near Fort Stockton in Pecos County, Texas, later field surveys found several populations in other areas of Texas as well as New Mexico (Poole and Sivinski 1). However, within those areas, the sites are rather small. “Most Pecos sunflowers are limited to less than 2 hectares” (Sivinski 4). The number of sunflowers within the sites tends to very, due to the fact that these flowers are annuals. It can be as small as a couple hundred to as large as a couple hundred thousand at any given site (US Fish and Wildlife Service 4). A visual representation of the geographic distribution of the Pecos sunflower is shown below.

The Pecos sunflower joined the endangered species list as a threatened species on October 20, 1999 with a recovery priority of 8 (US Fish and Wildlife Service iii). This means that the species is moderately threatened but has a high potential for recovery.

(federalregister.gov)

Because the Pecos sunflowers are dependent on wetlands made from natural ground deposits, habitat degradation and destruction has significantly impacted the species’ ability to thrive. When it was listed, however, “threats pertaining to each of the ESA’s five listing factors were documented” (US Fish and Wildlife Service 8). Those factors are habitat destruction, disease and predation, inadequate existing regulatory mechanisms, over utilization and other natural or man-made factors.

            The Pecos sunflower’s habitat has been threatened due to the lowering of water tables, most for agricultural or municipal use (Sivinski 8). Livestock will graze on the young bulbs of the Pecos sunflower when other greenery is scarce, however “no insects or diseases that cause mortality have been noted in Pecos sunflower populations” (Van Auken 9).

The recovery plan for the Pecos sunflower focuses on maintaining the seven existing populations of the species in Texas and New Mexico. A total of four “highly disjunct regional areas contain the entire genomic and ecotypical characteristics of the Pecos sunflower” (US Fish and Wildlife Service iii). Basically what that means is that the seven populations of the flower fall into one of four distinct regions. The goal of the recovery plan is to manage and protect “a significant, sustainable portion of each of the four region’s Pecos sunflower habitats” (US Fish and Wildlife Service 14). Future habitat degradation and loss will be combated through protecting wetlands that the flowers grow in from drainage for human or agricultural use, as well as sectioning off land specifically for the preservation of the flowers. With the implementation of this plan, delisting could occur as early as 2019 (US Fish and Wildlife Service iv).

Canada Lynx "Shadow of the Forest" - Justin Watkins

Canada Lynx - Lynx Canadensis

"Shadow of the Forest"

By: Justin Watkins

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

     Many of us have probably heard about the Canada Lynx before, and thought we knew what they are, but the real question is do we? A common misconception about Lynx is that they are the same as bobcats. Bobcats can be found in almost all of the lower 48 states, while Lynx are mostly found in the northern states that border Canada. Canada Lynx can also be set apart from any other cats by their distinctive, long ear tufts and unusually large paws. They enjoy cold climates, and play a key ecological role as a predator in any environment they exist in.

Canada Lynx by Keith Williams

Description
   
     The Canada Lynx is a rather small cat in the world of wild felines and is best compared to a medium-sized dog. Males weigh about 22 pounds on average, while females weigh about 19 pounds. They have short tails and very long legs that help them to traverse snowy woodland landscapes. In the winter months, Lynx have a dense grayish-brown fur on their backs with white legs and underbellies. In the summer, the Lynx is more reddish to gray-brown. Since the Lynx inhabits regions where there are copious amounts of winter snowfall it has very long legs and huge paws to help it move through the snow. Its large paws act as snowshoes on the top layer of snow, and their long legs put a little "spring" into their step. The Canada Lynx is also set apart from other cats by its short, black tipped tail. They have proven to be a very elusive species, which has granted them the nicknames "Shadow of the Forest" and "Gray Ghost of the North". However, the Canada Lynx faces many dilemmas due to its very specific diet and unavoidable encounters with human beings.

Geographic and Population Changes
   
     The Canada Lynx is known to populate areas that contain Boreal forests. They choose to live in these areas because it is where their primary source of food, the Snowshoe Hare, also lives and thrives. Canada Lynx are known to populate many regions of North America like Canada, Alaska and the northern lower 48 states. In the U.S., Lynx thrive in the subalpine forests of the West and the hardwood, Boreal forests of the East. Lynx are prominent in the North Cascade and Rocky Mountain Ranges in the West, the Great Lakes Region, and Northern Maine. Lynx currently live or are believed to be living in California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The distribution of the Lynx closely resembles the distribution of its primary prey item, the Snowshoe Hare.

Listing Date and Type of Listing
   
     The Canada Lynx is currently listed as a threatened species. It was listed on March 24, 2000.

www.Dailykos.com

Cause of Listing and Current Threats
   
     Human actions like over trapping, habitat devastation and deforestation have all played a part in the reduction of the species' original range. Timber harvest has proved to be one of the most detrimental factors in the decline of the Canada Lynx. Timber harvest and its associated activities have been shown to directly affect the Lynx in almost all of its North American habitats. The deforestation causes the numbers of Snowshoe Hare to decline, and in turn, the Lynx declines as well. Recreational and commercial trapping and hunting also play a role in the decline of the Canada Lynx.

www.anselm.edu

Description of Recovery Plan
   
     The goal of the Canada Lynx recovery plan is to address threats to the species so it can be removed from the endangered species list. The ESA plans to establish management commitments in "core" areas to try and sustain the lynx that exist there. On federal lands long-term guidance plans will be established and on non-federal lands the best management that can be arranged will be put into place.  The next step will be to keep track of the number of Lynx in each "core" area.  The plan is to measure the movement of Lynx between "core" areas. The secondary areas surrounding the "core" areas will be kept open so Lynx are able to also inhabit them. The factors that limit the habitat of Lynx and cause their population decline will be studied. Lastly, a de-listed monitoring plan will be devised to make sure populations of the Canada Lynx can be sustained.

Sources:

Canada lynx home page. (2015, March 10). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/lynx/

Canada Lynx - National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/canada-lynx.aspx

Basic Facts About Canada Lynx. (2012, February 22). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.defenders.org/canada-lynx/basic-facts

Species Profile for Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis). (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A073

Recovery Outline - Canada Lynx, 21-21. (2005). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/final draft Lynx Recovery Outline 9-05.pdf

Flying Towards Recovery: The Short-Tailed Albatross- Taryn Weiner

Short- Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)

Short- Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria Altatrus)

The Short- Tailed Albatross is the largest of the three North Pacific Albatross species. It belongs to the family Diomedeidae and the order Procellariiformes. It is a pelagic bird with long, narrow wings adapted for soaring above the water's surface. It has a large pink bill with a bluish hooked tip, a thin line around the base, and external nostrils. Their nests are on grounds lined with sand and vegetation. They eat squid, shrimp, fish, and other aquatic animals. As of 2008, 80-85% of the Short- Tailed Albatross lives in a single colony called Toroshima Island on an active volcano. Since the large majority of the species lives in Toroshima, the recovery plan mostly focuses on maintaining that specific population. It is managed by the Japanese government for conservation wildlife.

Toroshima Island

The primary threat to the Short-Tailed Albatross to cause species decline was over-harvest. In the beginning of the twentieth century, the Short-Tailed Albatross declined in population numbers to near extinction due to hunting at breeding colonies in Japan. Their feathers were used for quilts, pillows, and writing quills. Bodies were processes into fertilizer, fat was rendered, and eggs were collected to be eaten.

The Short- Tailed Albatross was enlisted as an Endangered Species on 2 June 1970.

Estimated prior to exploitation there were 300,000+ breeding pairs in Toroshima alone. By the 1930s 3000 were killed. By 1949 they were thought to be extinct, until 10 birds were observed in Toroshima in 1950. By 1954 there were 25 birds. Since then recruitment rate has been 6-8%. There was an estimated 375 breeding pairs in Toroshima in 2007. Birds observed went fro 324 in 1995 to 635 in 2007.
Colonies containing Short- Tailed Albatross (Largely concentrated in Japans and along Pacific Islands)

One current threat to the Short- Tailed Albatross is the possibility of a catastrophic event taking place. There is a large eruption overdue on the volcano of Toroshima that may have the power to kill 54% of the world's Short-Tailed Albatross population. Volcanoes can also cause habitat destruction and loss. Monsoon rains also can occur, which create mud slides and nest destruction. Another threat to the species is climate change which can result in vegetation loss. Commercial fishing can also take their main source of food. Contaminants in the air, land, and ocean such as pollution, pesticides, metals, and oil can lead to impaired reproduction, decreased immune functioning, inability to thermoregulate, disrupted endocrine balances, genetic mutations, and direct mortality. Other threats include diseases and parasites, predation such as from sharks, natural competition, invasive species, collision with planes, and genetic factors.

The goal of the Recovery Plan is to bring about recovery to the Short- Tailed Albatross so that the Endangered Species Act would no longer be applied.
The Short-Tailed Albatross can be delisted and considered recovered if the total population of the species reaches a minimum of 100 pairs, there is a 3 year running average population growth rate of at least 6% for at least 7 years, and there are at least 250 breeding pairs on island groups other than the two main colonies on Toroshima and Senkaku Islands.
The Recovery Plan intends to reach this goal by completing a series of tasks:

• Population monitoring
• Breeding size enhancement to improve nests, remove volcanic ash, attract birds to alternate, well-vegetated site on the Northwest side of Toroshima that is less prone to lava, mudslides, and erosion
• Establish new colonies
• Satellite Telemetry by tracking movements with tags
• Supporting ongoing population monitoring and habitat management in Toroshima
• Erosion control
• Conducting decoy and sound-system maintenance in all colonies
• Continuing annual monitoring of Tsubamezaki and Hatsunezaki colonies on Toroshima
• Developing and employing appropriate leg bands
• Color coating for demographic information purposes
• Establishing nesting colonies on non-volcanic islands
• Monitoring and maintaining new colony sites
• Conducting fisheries related to bycatch reduction research and management
• Analyzing contaminants
• Investigating food habits
• Outreach and international negotiations
• Periodic recovery team meetings
• Translating Japanese to English and vice versa important documents.

See the full detailed Recovery Plan document at  http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=B00Y

Work Cited

Area 83. Digital image. Static Flickr, n.d. Web.

Bhattacharya, Deepamala. Short- Tailed Albatross. Digital image. Short- Tailed Albatross. Animal Spot, n.d. Web.

Bird View of Toroshima Island. Digital image. Yamashina Institute for Ornithology. N.p., n.d. Web.

Kelly, Katelin. Among Laysan albatrosses, large, yellow-headed short tail albatross decoys attract the critically endangered species. A single short tail albatross, one of 4 on Midway, rests in the left side of the picture. Digital image. Marine Conservation Biology in Hawaii. Duke: Nicholas School of Environment, 27 Jan. 2010. Web.

"Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria (=diomedea) Albatrus)." Environmental Conservation Online System. US Fish and Wildlife Service, n.d. Web.

US Fish and Wildlife Service. 2008. Short- Tailed Albatross Recovery Plan. Anchorage Alaska, AK, 105 pp.

THE RECOVERY OF THE PENINSULAR BIGHORN SHEEP

PRESENTED BY: PAIGE GILL

March 18, 1998 was a pivotal day for the population of bighorn sheep occupying the Peninsular Ranges of Southern California.  On that date, this population was listed as

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Young

endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service due to factors including, but not limited to, habitat loss, declining population, and low recruitment associated with disease and high predation.  Peninsular bighorn sheep have a recovery priority of 3C, illustrating the fact that although they face a high degree of threat, their potential for recovery is high.  Peninsular bighorn sheep belong to the Bovidae family and are designated as a distinct population subspecies of Ovis canadensis nelsoni.

Source: California Department of Fish & Wildlife

As a diurnal species, bighorn sheep are mostly active during the day and tend to stick close to their native home range.  Females, called ewes, stick together in smaller groups to take advantage of of group alertness and decrease the risk of predation.  On the contrary, rams tend to have a wider range, moving between ewe groups.  Bighorn sheep are rarely able to outrun predators, therefore they require a habitat that offers escape terrain which is generally steep, rugged areas where they can utilize their climbing skills.  Peninsular bighorn sheep differ from other subspecies in that their habitat is generally below elevations of 4,600 feet due to the dense vegetation found at higher elevations that decreases the visibility used in avoiding predators.

Although the range for Peninsular bighorn sheep encompasses the Peninsular Ranges of Southern California and crosses the US/Mexico international border, only the populations

Source: California Department of Fish & Game

located in California are listed as endangered.  The recovery area for Peninsular bighorn sheep is divided into nine subpopulations that encompass Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial Counties.  The map for the recovery areas (shown to the left) can be found by clicking here. According to the data provided in the 5 year review conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the population of the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep has increased from an estimated 335 adults in 1998 to an estimated 955 adults in 2010.  This represents an impressive 185% increase in the adult population over a 12 year period.  The subpopulation area showing the most increase was area 9: Carrizo Canyon, Tierra Blanca Mountains, Coyote Mountain area, which went from an estimated 28 adults in 1998 to an estimated 232 adults in 2010.  This is an astounding 729% estimated population increase for this area, which shows that recovery efforts have been successful.  A full version of the 5 year review can be found by clicking here.

The recovery plan outlined in 1998 by the US Fish & Wildlife Service describes three main strategies to aid in the recovery of the Peninsular bighorn sheep.  Below is an outline of the main strategies listed in the recovery plan along with examples of action items associated with each strategy:

Promote Increase in Population & Protection of Habitat

Protect, improve, restore and acquire habitat necessary for the growth of the Peninsular bighorn sheep population

Initiate or Continue Research Programs Necessary to Monitor and Guide Recovery Efforts
Monitoring abundance
Development of population models
Conduct research on the relationship between bighorn sheep, mountain lions, mule deer, and the habitat 

Create and Initiate Education and Public Awareness Programs
Distribution of information related to recovery efforts
Development of additional education programs related to the recovery effort

Although significant improvements have been made in the recovery efforts for Peninsular bighorn sheep, the 5-year review conducted in 2008 by the US Fish & Wildlife Service

Source: 5-Year Review conducted by the US Fish & Wildlife Service

shows that there are still significant threats to the growth in population.  Factors of major consideration are: urbanization, road and highway use, invasive non-native plants, and drought and climate change.  The road to recovery for the Peninsular bighorn sheep has been long, but significant improvements have been made.  As threats to their continued population growth are managed, the populations of these great animals will continue to increase.

Sources:

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=43873&inline=true

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/001025.pdf

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/Bighorn/Desert/Peninsular/Images/Maps/phs_recovery_region_map_6-2011_draft.pdf 

http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/speciesRecovery.jsp?sort=1 

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/Bighorn/Desert/Peninsular/Conservation.html 

Save The Jaguars!

                                                                Save The Jaguars!

                                              

                                                                By: Johnathan Tu

                      

                                         (Jaguar, Animals Encyclopedia)

Jaguars belong to the felidae (cat) species group and they are one of the largest within their family. The Jaguar species can range anywhere from 5 to 8 feet long and can weigh 80 to nearly 350 pounds! Jaguars have short but powerful legs along with a strong chest and large head equipped with a very strong jaw and powerful canines. The Jaguar can produce offspring year round and cubs usually stay with the mother for 1.5 to 2 years. The lifespan of a Jaguar tends to range from 10 to 15 years. The Jaguar’s diet consists of a variety of species such as birds, fish, deer, and rabbits just to name a few! The Jaguar uses stealth, the element of surprise, and their speed to catch their prey.

More pictures here: http://www.arcanamundi.com/jaguar_expedition/JE_Jaguar_Tours.html

Jaguars tend to be found closer to the equator and they enjoy environments such as wetlands, savannahs, and tropical rain forests. Jaguars thrive in environments with an abundance of prey, a reliable water source, and dense vegetation cover. Jaguars are found in North and South America.

                                            (Panthera)

                       

The geography has quickly changed for the Jaguar Species. Human expansion and forest degradation have greatly reduced the available habitats for the Jaguar. Loss of geography is one of the biggest reasons for the endangered status of Jaguars. The population of Jaguars is believed to be around 200,000 currently worldwide. However in the 1960’s, the population was estimated to be over 400,000 (Count Jaguar: How Many?). The implementation of the recovery plan has helped in stabilizing the Jaguar population and slowly expanding their numbers.

The Jaguar species were listed as an endangered species in Mexico, United States, and South America on August 20^th 1994.  The Jaguars are an incredibly interesting species however “the population trend of Jaguars is decreasing” (Caso et al. 2008). Jaguars are currently classified as a near threatened species on the red list of the International Union for the Conservation (IUCN). Deforestation and destruction of habitat is the main cause of a declining Jaguar population. For example in Mexico, the species have lost roughly 60 percent of their habitat due to deforestation. Another significant threat of the Jaguars is Illegal hunting for various reasons such as for their pelts, livestock, a trophy, and their teeth. A lack of enforcement of these illegal killings of Jaguars has greatly contributed to the near endangered status of this species.

Fortunately The U.S fish and wildlife have outlined a recovery plan to increase the number of Jaguars in the world. A primary cause of the endangered status of the Jaguar is due to a loss of habitat. The recovery statement declares that an emphasis will be put on stabilizing and expanding core Jaguar habits. This will allow Jaguars to produce more offspring and extend core habitats. Another major aspect of the recovery statement is to strictly enforce the laws against hunting Jaguar so they can gradually replenish their population size. Jaguars are very specific to their habitat so recovery plans are emphasizing the preservation of those habitats to ensure the species have a place to live. 

            

          (Federal Subsistence Management Program.)

Learn more about Jaguars at these sites!

http://www.defenders.org/jaguar/basic-facts

http://www.livescience.com/27301-jaguars.html

http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/specialfeatures/animals/mammals/jaguar.xml

Ocelot: The Dwarf Leopard

By: Alyssa Wilson

What are the characteristics of an ocelot?

The ocelot is a pale gray to cinnamon-colored medium-sized animal. It has spots, a ringed tail, and stripes on its neck and cheeks. It has black rounded ears with a distinct white spot, and it weighs 7-16 kg and has 30 teeth. Ocelots are divided into 11 subspecies from the southwestern U.S. to northern Argentina. Two of these subspecies are in the U.S., particularly in Texas (Tamaulipas) and Arizona (Sonora) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

What is the ecology of ocelots?

They follow a nocturnal pattern probably because of prey activity. Ocelots adjust their movements to probabilities of encountering local prey OR to avoid competition/predation with other cats. They need larger reserves and mechanisms to connect isolated populations (Neotropical Biology and Conservation).

What are the geographic and population changes of the ocelot?

The range and distribution of the ocelot in the U.S. has dramatically decreased in the past 2 centuries. In the late 19^th century, ocelots ranged from southeastern Arizona all the way up as far north as Fort Verde. In Mexico, they could be found in the foothills of Sierra Madre Occidental and northeastern Sonora south into north Sinaloa. Currently, they reside in extremely south Texas and south Arizona through the coastal lowlands of Mexico and Central America, Ecuador, and north Argentina. They do not occur south of the Province of Entre Rios (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

There are two populations in south Texas. One occurs on private ranches, the other can be found on Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Both populations occupy remnant habitat fragments. There is no genetic interchange between the 2 Texas populations or between Texas and Mexico populations. As a result, the Texas populations have lost genetic diversity and have become increasingly more isolated. Arizona ocelots completely disappeared. The last one was shot legally on Pat Scott Peak in the Huachuca Mountains (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

When was the ocelot listed in the Endangered Species Act?

The ocelot was listed as "endangered" on August 22, 1990. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave it a Recovery Plan on August 26, 2010. 

Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9cBBG19lSQ for more information about ESA listing and tracking.

Why was the ocelot listed as endangered, and what are the main threats to its continued existence?

       First of all, the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the ocelot’s habitat or range is the largest cause of listing. They have had an extensive loss of habitat. 95% of thornscrub has been altered for agriculture and urban development in Rio Grande. In Cameron County, 91% of the native woodlands were lost for agricultural use in the mid-1900s. In Central America, less than half of the region retains the original forest cover (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Secondly, they are threatened by the overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific or educational purposes. There has been illegal hunting. Ocelot pelts have been heavily exploited and imported for trade. The peak was in 1970, when customs officials found 140,000 skins. Laws were placed, but they were not all universally accepted and enforced (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Disease and predation cause problems for the ocelot as well. Ocelots are bioaccumulators, so small amounts of chemicals affect them more since they are higher up on the food chain. Diseases and parasites that affect the ocelot include Notoedric mange, hepatozoon, cytauxzoon, fleas, dog ticks, and tapeworm. Typical predators of the ocelot are domestic dogs, coyotes, unknown mammals, diamondback rattlesnake, and even occasionally other ocelots (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

There is also an inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms. For example, landowners don’t have their land surveyed because they are afraid of the implications of having an endangered species on their property. This leaves ocelot habitats unprotected from development. Poverty, ineffective law enforcement, and the lack of incentives to support conservation all threaten the ocelot, especially in Central and South America. Hunting ocelots is still allowed in some countries, and the U.S. has little authority over anywhere outside their borders (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Lastly, there are other natural or anthropogenic factors affecting the ocelot’s continued existence.

 Roads: Ocelots experience collisions with motor vehicles. They are also less likely to have successful dispersal between patches in the presence of roads, which leads to more isolation. Also, they do not inhabit otherwise suitable habitats simply because of road density in the vicinity (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Border Issues: There are many border issues that affect the ocelot, including urbanization (brush gets cleared and sewage gets dumped), water development, agriculture (brush gets cleared, pesticides run off), U.S. Border Patrol Operations (lighting, maintenance, and human activity all affect them), and fencing (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

https://www.utexas.edu/law/centers/humanrights/borderwall/analysis/briefing-The-Environmental-Impacts-of-the-Border-Wall.pdf

Genetics: Populations of ocelots are small and declining. Plus, they are isolated. So, there is little genetic variation. Genetic health can be maintained by connectivity with landscape connections or translocations (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Miscellaneous: There are other factors that affect them outside of these categories. Particularly, they have been exposed to low levels of pesticides and herbicides. Also, their prey availability has decreased, and they have to get used to the climate change as global warming becomes more and more of an issue (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

What is the ocelot's Recovery Plan?

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service experts are encouraging the assessment, protection, reconnection, and restoration of sufficient habitat to support viable populations of ocelots in the borderlands of the U.S. and Mexico. They wish to reduce human population growth and development threats to ocelot survival and mortality. Experts also want to find ways to maintain and improve genetic fitness, demographic conditions, and health. The use of adaptive management would be helpful for monitoring recovery and revising recovery tasks when new information becomes available. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs the support of international efforts to determine the status of and conserve the ocelot south of Tamaulipas and Sonora. The ultimate goal of the Recovery Plan is to recover and delist the ocelot. The intermediate goal is to downlist it from endangered to threatened. The cost of this Recovery Plan is $60,870,000 total. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that this goal could be met by 2030, but the realistic estimate is 2040. The assurance of the long-term viability of ocelot conservation can be reaffirmed through partnerships, development and application of incentives for landowners, the application of existing regulations, and public education and outreach (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

http://www.cooperativeconservationamerica.org/viewproject.asp?pid=827

Sources:

Ocelot Recovery Plan by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Ecology of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Atlantic Forest of Southern Brazil from Neotropical Biology and Conservation

Image Sources:

www.becuo.com

www.pinterest.com

www.wildcatconservation.org

www.ducks.org

www.q-files.com

www.images.frompo.com

www.valleymorningstar.com

www.kilshaws.com

www.wildsonora.com

www.davidmixner.com

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