Student-compiled information on endangered species of SE United States

2. I GREW UP IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, I’VE GROWN ATTACHED TO THE OCEAN
AND ALL SPECIES INHABITING IT. THE GREAT HAMMERHEAD IS VERY
MAJESTIC AND HAS SHOWN A 90% DECLINE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
THEY ARE COMMONLY CAUGHT AS BYCATCH. ITS CURRENT STATUS IS
ENDANGERED WORLDWIDE.

3. AS A LIFELONG GAINESVILLE RESIDENT, I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN
THE SANTA FE RIVER. THE SANTA FE CAVE CRAYFISH IS BEING NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED BY POLLUTION FROM MINING, GROUNDWATER ABSTRACTION,
AND THE USE OF HERBICIDES AND PESTICIDES IN SURROUNDING AREAS.

4. AN ENDANGERED SPECIES NATIVE TO THE SOUTHEASTERN REGION OF
THE UNITED STATES IS THE SPOTTED TURTLE. OVER THE PAST TWENTY-
FIVE YEARS, ITS POPULATION HAS DECREASED BY 50%. MUCH OF THE
DECLINE HAS BEEN A RESULT OF HABITAT LOSS.

5. CARS ON U.S. 1 ARE HITTING DEER KILLING ABOUT 30 TO 40 DEER A
YEAR. THE DEER HAVE ALSO LOST THEIR FEAR OF HUMANS. THE KEY
DEER PROTECTION ALLIANCE IS AN ORGANIZATION HELPING TO SAVE THE
KEY DEER.

6. THE OKALOOSA DARTER IS A FISH FOUND IN FRESH WATER STREAMS IN
NORTHWEST FLORIDA. THANKS TO LARGE HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS BY
THE JACKSON GUARD OF EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, THE OKALOOSA
DARTER’S POPULATION DECREASES HAVE SLOWED, AND THE FISH’S
STATUS WAS CHANGED FROM “ENDANGERED” TO “THREATENED” IN 2011

7. THE FLORIDA SCRUB LIZARD, IS CURRENTLY LISTED AS “NEAR
THREATENED,” ACCORDING TO THE RED LIST OF ENDANGERED SPECIES. I
NAMED ONE MARTY, AND KEPT IT IN AN OLD AQUARIUM FOR ABOUT A
WEEK, KEEPING IT AS A PET, AND STUDYING THE LIZARD.

8. THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 2,500 OF THE CHEROKEE CLUBTAIL STILL IN
EXISTENCE. THE NATURAL HABITAT OF THIS DRAGONFLY IS RIVERS,
WHICH I LOVE TO STUDY

9. GOPHER WOOD IS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN
A 98% DECLINE IN MATURE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE LAST THREE
GENERATIONS.

10. I CHOSE LEATHER BACK TURTLES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN
ENDANGERED SINCE 1986 AND ARE NOW CONSIDERED CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED. VERY FEW LEATHERBACKS MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD DUE
TO ITS HIGH PREDATION RATE AS YOUNG; THIS MAKES IT INCREASINGLY
HARD TO PERVERSE THEM IN NUMBERS

11. I CHOSE THE FLORIDA PERFORATE REINDEER LICHEN (CLADONIA
PERFORATA). I CHOSE THIS SPECIES FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION BECAUSE I
HADN’T HEARD OF IT BEFORE THIS ASSIGNMENT. CONSERVING THE
LICHEN IS IMPORTANT FOR FLORIDA’S ECOSYSTEM AND ITS RAPID
DISAPPEARANCE WARRANTS ATTENTION.

12. THE PRIMARY REASON I CHOSE THE GREEN TURTLE OR CHELONIA MYDAS
IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE IT LABELED
ENDANGERED.

13. THE FLORIDA PANTHER IS A MAJESTIC MAMMAL. DUE TO OVER HUNTING
AND ILLEGAL POACHING, THE POPULATION OF PANTHERS IN THE STATE
DWINDLED TO A SMALL HANDFUL IN THE 1970’S. NOW ESTIMATES FOR
THE POPULATION ARE IN THE HUNDREDS, AND ITS THREATENED STATUS
IS BEING EVALUATED.

14. THE WEST-INDIAN MANATEE HAS A POPULATION SIZE OF LESS THAN
2,500 AND IS EXPECTED TO DECLINE BY 20% OVER THE NEXT TWO
GENERATIONS.

15. FLORIDA TORREYA, IS A PLANT FOUND IN NORTHERN FLORIDA AND
SOUTHERN GEORGIA ALONG THE APALACHICOLA RIVER. THE HISTORY OF
ITS DECLINE WAS FIRST OBSERVED IN 1938, AND BY 1962, NO ADULT
INDIVIDUALS COULD BE FOUND IN THE WILD.

16. THE MAIN TWO ISSUES THAT HAVE LED TO THE DECLINE IN POPULATION
OF THE AMERICAN CROCODILE ARE HABITAT LOSS, AND ILLEGAL
POACHING (NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM). TOP PREDATORS PLAY A KEY
ROLL IN KEEPING AN ECOSYSTEM HEALTHY AND RUNNING.

17. ACCORDING TO THE IUCN’S RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES,
AMERICAN ALLIGATORS ARE ENDANGERED, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE LISTED
AS A LOW RISK SPECIES

18. I CHOSE THE RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER AS A SPECIES THAT EXTRA
EFFORT SHOULD BE EXPENDED ON PROTECTING. THE RCW CAN BE FOUND
THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST, BUT ONLY MAKES ITS NEST IN OLD
GROWTH LONG-LEAF PINE (PINUS PALUSTRIS)

19. STAGHORN CORAL CONSISTS OF 160 SPECIES AND REPRESENTS ONE-
FIFTH OF THE EARTH’S CORAL. THEIR ROLE IS TO BUILD THE CORAL REEF
SYSTEM AND PROTECT HABITATS FOR OTHER MARINE SPECIES FROM
“HIGH ENERGY WAVES” (FAU). HOWEVER, THEIR POPULATION HAS
REDUCED OVER 80 PERCENT IN THE PAST THIRTY YEARS (ACROPORA).

20. SHARKS ARE AN APEX PREDATOR, AND THEY ARE SEEING PRESSURE
TWO FOLD FROM HUMANS. AS WE FISH THE SEAS BARREN, THE SHARK’S
FOOD SUPPLY IS COMPROMISED. THEY ARE ALSO BEING HUNTED FOR
THEIR FINS. “FINNING” IS THE PRACTICE OF CUTTING THE FINS OFF THE
SHARK AND THROWING IT BACK INTO THE OCEAN, TO DIE.

21. COMMONLY KNOW AS SCHAUS' OR ISLAND SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY IS
ENDEMIC TO FLORIDA AND FOUND IN UNDISTURBED TROPICAL
HARDWOOD HAMMOCK AND SURROUNDING SCRUB AREA. FIRST LISTED
AS A FEDERAL THREATENED SPECIES IN 1976, IT WAS LISTED AS
ENDANGERED IN 1984

22. SOME FACTORS THAT ARE ATTRIBUTED TO THE RAPID DECLINE OF THE
THE LOUISIANA PINE SNAKE ARE: INTENSIVE PINE SILVICULTURE AND
ALTERATION OF PRE-EUROPEAN FIRE REGIMES.

23. MY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SINCE GRADE SCHOOL WAS FOCUSED
ON OUR LOCAL ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM, THE ESTUARIES, MANGROVES, AND
THE LAGOON, THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY CENTER AS I GREW
OLDER I VOLUNTEERED AT ESC AND HAD A FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE
WATCHING A LOGGERHEAD TURTLE DIE BECAUSE OF HUMANS. EVER
SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THEM.

24. FRANKLIN’S BUMBLE BEE IS CURRENTLY LISTED UNDER CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HUMAN IMPLICATIONS;
PESTICIDES THAT CAUSE DISEASE, AND AGRICULTURE THAT CAUSES
HABITAT LOSS (IUCN). IF WE DO NOT SAVE THIS SPECIES, OUR PRECIOUS
NATURAL FOOD POLLINATORS WILL BE GONE FOREVER!

25. THE NASSAU GROUPER AND OTHER GROUPERS ARE EATING THE
LIONFISH, WHICH IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE CARIBBEAN. THE
GROUPER IS ONE OF THE ONLY POTENTIAL THREATS TO THIS INVASIVE
SPECIES. THE GROUPER EATS THE LIONFISH’S EGGS, WHICH PREVENT IT
FROM REPRODUCING.

26. SINCE EVEN EXPERTS ARE UNSURE OF THE STATUS OF THE IVORY-BILLED
WOODPECKER, I BELIEVE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT SPECIAL EFFORTS ARE
MADE TO SAVE THE FEW IF ANY.

27. THE FOUR-PETAL PAWPAW IS NATIVE TO FLORIDA AND HAD BEEN
ENDANGERED SINCE 1986. IT HAS BEEN BLOCKED FROM THE SUN BY
OAKS AND PINES RESTRICTING ITS GROWTH. IT IS ALSO LOW IN NUMBER
DUE TO COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

28. ELKHORN CORAL IS LISTED AS A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES. IT IS
IN DECLINE FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS, INCLUDING CLIMATE
CHANGE, HUMAN IMPACT, AND DISEASE. WHITE BAND DISEASE HAS
ATTACKED ELKHORN CORAL SINCE THE 1980’S.

29. EVEN IN TECHNOLOGICALLY-ADVANCED COUNTRIES LIKE THE USA, HALF
OF THE 100 MOST-PRESCRIBED DRUGS ORIGINATE FROM WILD SPECIES.
AMPHIBIANS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE SEARCH FOR NEW MEDICINES AS
IMPORTANT CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS CAN BE FOUND ON THE SKIN OF
MANY FROGS

30. ACCORDING TO IUCNREDLIST.ORG, THE HABITAT OF THE FLATTENED MUSK
TURTLE IS CURRENTLY LIMITED TO “A SINGLE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN
ALABAMA… FROM POLLUTION AND SEDIMENTATION FROM NEARBY OPEN
COALMINING, AND IMPOUNDMENT OF STREAM SECTIONS.”

31. I CHOSE THE GEORGIA OAK AS MY SPECIES THAT NEEDS SPECIAL
ATTENTION, BECAUSE NATIVE TREE SPECIES ARE BECOMING MORE AND
MORE THREATENED. TREES PROVIDE HABITATS FOR MANY DIFFERENT
SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, ALSO NATIVE TREES ARE MORE
ADAPTED TO THEIR HABITATS.

32. GRAY BATS, LIKE MANY OTHER ENDANGERED ANIMAL SPECIES, ARE
TAKING THE HARDEST HIT DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT. THEY ARE FOUND IN
CAVES YEAR ROUND, WHICH MAY MAKE THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO
HUMAN DISTURBANCE SUCH AS MAN MADE FLOODING AND PESTICIDES.

33. THE DECLINE OF EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT, THEY
LIVE IN LONG LEAF PINE FORESTS WHICH MANY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
AND CONVERTED TO SLASH PINE OR OTHER LAND USAGE.

34. THE SPINY RIVER SNAIL IS OVERLOOKED TREMENDOUSLY, BUT IS VITAL TO
THE ECOSYSTEM OF OUR RIVERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

35. THE KEMP RIDLEY SEA TURTLE HAS BEEN ENDANGERED SINCE 1986 AND
IS CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED1. BOTH THE
IXTOC1 RIG BLOWOUT AND THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL HAVE
BEEN ESPECIALLY DESTRUCTIVE ON THIS SPECIES3.

36. I CHOOSE THIS ANIMAL BECAUSE IT LIVES IN GEORGIA. I AM FROM
ATLANTA, AND MUSSELS ARE A PART OF MY REGULAR DIET. THE DECLINE
OF THIS ANIMAL IS SEVENTY-EIGHT PERCENT OVER THE LAST FOURTEEN
YEARS.

37. THROUGH HUMAN DESTRUCTION OF ITS HABITAT, WE HAVE WIPED OUT
NEARLY THE ENTIRE RED WOLF POPULATION. AS A RESULT, DEER
POPULATIONS AND OTHER PREY SPECIES ARE NOT IN PROPORTION TO
THE BALANCE OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

38. THE PASCAGOULA MAP TURTLE RANGE IS LIMITED TO THE PASCAGOULA
RIVER SYSTEM OF MISSISSIPPI. SINCE 1950, THE POPULATION HAS
DECLINED BY 80 TO 90%. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO WATER POLLUTION
THAT IMPACTED MOLLUSKS, THE TURTLE’S FOOD SOURCE.

39. I have seen three of
River Birch these plants and will Florida Buckeye
probably see more in
my forest conservation
class soon.
Florida Maple
Climbing Aster Devil’s Walkingstick

40. I have only seen
Eastern Indigo Snake the whooping crane Florida Scrubs-Jay
out of these five
animals.
Whooping Crane
Florida Manatee Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

41. I chose this endangered species because many people are not aware
of the “sea cow’s “endangered status. I did not know it was endangered
and have not heard about many efforts to protect the animal till now.
More Floridians need to be aware of these creatures when enjoying the
waters of the state. Combinations of state and federal agencies have
been proficient in reducing the loss of manatees. Andrew Aloise notes
that Florida Manatee Refuge Officers and U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
have created speed zones to avoid hitting the slow moving mammal. He
also states that enforcement has not always been comprehensive, but
has come very far in the last 20 years.