Transcript Endangered Species in the Taunton River Watershed

Endangered Species in
the Taunton River
Watershed
Endangered Species Act
Passed by congress in 1973
The purpose of this act is to return
endangered and threatened species to the
point where they no longer need the law’s
protection
Three Categories of Species
There are 3 categories a species can be listed:
endangered, threatened and special concern.
Endangered species are in immediate danger of
becoming extinct throughout all or part of their
range.
Threatened species are likely to become
endangered in the near future.
Special concern species have been acknowledged
to have experienced a decline that could threaten
the species if allowed to remain unchecked.
Extinction Rates for North American
Freshwater Species
1. At least 123 species have become extinct since
the beginning of the 20th century.
2. Extinction rates are rapidly growing.
3. Species such as fish, snails and mussels are dying
5 times faster than animals that live on land.
4. Freshwater species are dying as fast as tropical
rainforest species, which are considered to be
among the most threatened ecosystem in the
world.
Reasons for This Decline
 There are many reasons for the decline in
species, but the one significant cause has
been the widespread of physical alterations
to rivers.
Facts About the
Taunton River
The Taunton river watershed is the 2nd largest in
MA, it is 562 square miles and is home to 38
towns and cities.
It is perhaps the most diverse and undamaged
coastal ecosystem in new England.
The watershed includes 221 lakes and ponds and
27 different habitat types.
It is home to more than 154 species of birds, 29
species of fish, and 360 plants species.
Animals such as otters, deer, hawks and others
depend on the watershed for their existence.
Endangered Species in the Taunton
River Watershed
The watershed is home to many
endangered species.
The 4 species I focused on are:
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The American Bittern
The Short-Eared Owl
The Atlantic Sturgeon
The Red-Bellied Turtle
American Bittern
• Last seen in the TRW
in Taunton (1941),
Easton (1970),
Middleborough (1992),
and in Whitman (1993)
The American bittern is easily identified by its
large size.
It is up to 34 inches tall, has a wingspan of 50
inches, weighs 1-2 pounds and lives to be about 8
years old.
It is best known for its
habit.
When it feels threatened
it stands up straight with
its bill pointing upward.
The American bittern is mostly seen along shorelines
and marshes where they prey on frogs, snakes, fish
and insects.
It is considered endangered due to the continuing
disappearance of the wetland habitat it needs to exist.
Short-eared
Owl
Last observed in the
TRW in Rehoboth
(1939).
It is medium sized with
little to no sign of ear
tufts.
It is 13-17 inches in
length, has a wingspan of
39-42 inches,weighs 1114 ounces and has
reached almost 13 years
of age.
A dark facial disk highlights their yellow eyes.
The short-eared owl hunts mainly at night and late
afternoons.
They fly over open areas, a few feet above ground and
swoop down when prey is found.
They eat small mammals such as deer mice, ground
squirrels, moles, rats, bats and rabbits.
Short-eared owls are usually found in open areas with few trees.
They require dense vegetation, which includes tall grasses and
wetlands.
Records of the short-eared owl have declined because of the
destruction of grassland habitats
Atlantic Sturgeon
Last spotted in the TRW in 1992 in Dighton and Taunton
It’s origins date back 70 million years.
It can live more than 60 years.
It has been known to reach a size of 15 feet and a
weight of 800 pounds.
It is covered with 5 rows of bony plates, has a hard
snout and 4 whisker-like sensory barbells near the
mouth.
• This fish is known for its bizarre tendency to
jump completely out of the water.
In the late 1800s east coast catches were as
high as 7 million pounds a year.
By the late 1920s it fell to 22,000 pounds a
year.
Its population has been reduced by over
fishing, pollution and dam construction.
Red-bellied Turtle
Last seen in the TRW in Kingston (1979),
Middleborough (1999) and carver (2000).
Fully grown they are 10-12½ inches long.
Males can be entirely black, but there is usually
reddish lines on the upper shell and yellowish
stripes on the head.
The lower shell varies in color from coral-pink to
red.
Red-bellied turtles live in large and deep creeks,
rivers,ponds, lakes or marshes
The habitat
required for these
turtles is under
threat from
industrial land
uses.
The preservation
of red-bellied
turtles at the
Buttonwood Park
Zoo in New
Bedford is part of
a program to
ensure their
survival.
Conclusion
Rivers and streams provide essential habitats to many
plants and animals.
Unfortunately, rivers are under constant physical attack.
Their ability to provide habitats are weakened by the
mistreatment and cruelty to their courses, along their
banks and in their watersheds.
Fortunately it is not too late for the Taunton river.
By becoming “wild and scenic” the Taunton river can
continue its legacy and save the habitats that are needed
for many species.