Derek Bunkofske
ENVS 201 Conservation Ecology
Charles Cole
Buena Vista University
Endemic Species
I chose option 2 for the workshop three assignment which involves defining endemic and finding two endemic species and describe them and their location, and what risks they have due to their location and their specific needs. Determine a region with a high percentage of endemic species and a region with a low percentage of endemic species. Explain the specific reasons that these areas either have high or low percentages of endemic species.
An endemic species is one whose habitat is restricted to a particular area. The term could refer to an animal, a plant, a fungus, or even a microorganism. The definition differs from “indigenous,” or “native,” species in that the latter, although it occurs naturally in an area, is also found in other areas. Endemic species are often endangered, and particular examples may become a focus point for campaigns to protect biodiversity in a given environment. Some have become national or regional emblems. The term can sometimes be used relatively. A species may be said to be endemic to one tiny area or to a large land mass, such as Australia. When it comes to birds, which are less land-bound than mammals or other animals, biologists might use slightly different terms to talk about what habitats a bird is “endemic” to. Bird experts talk about Endemic Bird Areas or EBAs that represent the total habitat for a bird species. An EBA may include temporary habitats or regions for a bird, as migration patterns broaden the spaces that bird types live in.
There are two ways in which a species may come to be endemic to a particular area. An initially widely distributed population may disappear from many of its habitats, due to changes which have occurred. These could be climate changes, an influx of predators, or human activities. Eventually the organism may be confined to just one area: This type
Cited: www.wisegeek.org/what-is-an-endemic-species.htm www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whooping_Crane www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Condor