The document summarizes key information about endangered species conservation in the United States, including: - The Endangered Species Act of 1973 and its predecessors aim to protect species threatened with extinction. The Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service manage terrestrial/freshwater and marine species, respectively. - Endangered species are in danger of extinction across all/most of their range, while threatened species are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. In 1995, the federal list contained over 1500 forms representing nearly 1000 biological species. - A minimum viable population is the smallest population size needed for a species to survive and retain its evolutionary potential. The document concludes by listing the top 10 most endangered species globally according

1. Conservation of
Endangered Species

2. The first federal policy for the protection
of endangered species was the
Endangered Species Preservation Act,
passed in 1966. This act was replaced
in 1969 with the Endangered Species
Conservation Act, which acted to
strengthen the legislation. Finally, in
1973, the Endangered Species Act was
passed. This act was recently
reauthorized.

3. The responsibility for the management
of endangered species in terrestrial and
freshwater habitats falls on the Fish and
Wildlife Service of the Department of
the Interior. For marine species,
responsibility lies with with the National
Marine Fisheries Service of the
Department of Commerce.

4. What is an endangered species?
One that is in danger of extinction throughout all or
a significant portion of their range.
What is a threatened species?
One that is likely to become endangered within the
forseeable future.
Note: the term species is not interpreted biologically.

5. The Federal list of endangered and
threatened species in 1995 contained
about 1525 forms representing 962
biological species.

6. What is a minimum viable population?
The smallest number of breeding
individuals that has a specified probability
of surviving for a certain time, without losing
its evolutionary adaptability.

7. Endangered Species Top Ten List!
According to the World Wildlife Federation,
these are the ten most endangered species
on earth.

8. #10 – The mako shark

9. #9 – Green-cheeked parrot

10. # 8 – Big leaf mahogany

11. # 7 – Hawksbill Turtle

12. # 6 – Alligator Snapping Turtle

13. # 5 - Goldenseal

14. # 4 – Beluga sturgeon

15. # 3 - Tiger

16. # 2 – Giant panda

17. And, the number one endangered
species on the whole dang planet
is…………

18. The black rhinoceros

19. And, that’s all folks.