Larry Caldwell wrote in message t...
In article ,
writes:
The only reason any species would go extinct would be do to its
elimination in other vast areas due to previous human activity!
Actually, most threatened and endangered species have always been
confined to a limited area. It is the wildflower only known to grow in
one small area that is in danger of extinction from wildfires. There are
rare plants, like indian pipes, that are distributed over a huge
geographic area that are in no danger of extinction even though they are
not often seen.
Well, I just guess ole Colorado does things differently than you
parts:
http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/sta...509465,00.html
Habitat loss blamed for birds' decline
Audubon Society assessment lists 39 species frequently found in state
By Gary Gerhardt, Rocky Mountain News
October 29, 2002
As farmland gives way to housing, and timber is cleared to make roads,
39 bird species are losing their native habitats in Colorado.
"There definitely are problems, mainly stemming from a loss or
fragmentation of habitat, especially in the short-grass prairies of
the eastern Plains," said Ken Strom, director of bird conservation for
Audubon Colorado in Boulder, a branch of the National Audubon Society.
One in five of the 917 bird species in North America are in decline,
according to Audubon officials. Thirty-nine of them are frequently
seen in Colorado.
Here, the problems range from the lowlands to the mountain peaks as
the state becomes more populated, agricultural practices change and
outdoor recreation increases.
Prey bases as well as nesting habitats are being destroyed.
For instance, in the coniferous forests, logging is encroaching on the
habitats of flammulated owls and Lewis' woodpeckers, Strom said.
In the piņon-juniper forests on the Western Slope, the gray vireos
population is in decline.
Gunnison sage grouse and greater sage grouse are susceptible to loss
of sagebrush shrublands, and in the montane shurb habitats, Brewer's
sparrows and Virginia's warblers' numbers are down.
The lesser prairie chicken has declined by 97 percent since the 1800s,
he said. These birds are heavily dependent on sand sagebrush and
shinnery oak grassland. Cattle grazing, hunting and alteration of
habitat is threatening them.
Farmers contribute to the problem when they poison prairie dogs, Strom
said. The practice makes the land more productive, but it disrupts the
food supply of birds like the ferruginous hawk.
When builders tear out bushes and trees, they are disturbing the
nesting areas of neotropical birds as they complete their northern
migration from Central and South America.
In North America, 201 species are nearing "endangered" or "threatened"
status. They are on what Audubon calls its "watch list."
But Strom said the Audubon Society's 10,000 Colorado members have
helped the group compile an extensive database of species most at
risk.
The Audubon's Christmas bird count, for example, is an annual
tradition, he said.
"We know the types of habitat each species requires and are watching
them disrupted as ranchers try to make land more productive by tearing
out sage," he said. "In addition to identifying species in trouble,
local Audubon chapters have been identifying important bird areas,
called IBAs, needed for protection and recovery of various species.
"To date, we're identified 53 sites around the state as IBAs, and
while many aren't currently disturbed, we have to ensure it remains
that way."
If the Yellowstone Park area were to go up in a Volcanic explosion it
would devestate the area for a longer period than normal becuase there
would be few species in the surrounding area to recolonize!
Yes, volcanic eruptions can be terrible. The St. Helens explosion wiped
out dozens of sensitive species. I don't know what "longer than normal"
means in the context of volcanic eruptions. Certainly the slope
stabilization and replanting efforts around St. Helens have done a lot to
help the area recover.
I wasn't aware that enough city had grown up around Yellowstone to
sterilize the surrounding countryside. I haven't been there in 40 years.
I suppose I would be shocked by the urban destruction.
You would be surprised! In the West a study was carried out in the 80
showing island biogeography among parks in the west that have become
isolated from surrounding areas! The smaller the park, the greater
was the loss of larger mammals!