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Vol. 9, No. 1 Kansas Wildlife & Parks Spring, 2003 KANSAS THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES REVISITED INSIDE... Why Is Biodiversity Important? 2 Endangered Species of Kansas 4 Prone to Extinction? 10 The Endangered Species Act 11 Myths & Realities of the ESA 12 You & Your School 13 Threatened Species of Kansas 14 Endangered IQ 23 T & E Species List for Kansas 26 Map of T & E Species in U.S. 28 SINC List for Kansas 29 Glossary 32 Why is Biodiversity Important? This issue of On T.R.A.C.K.S. ,revisits a plant species that were derived from native or topic that that appeared in these pages in 1991. wild ancestors? Are you aware that 20 years ago Unfortunately, the topic of “Threatened and blight wiped out about one-fifth of the corn crop Endangered Animals,” is a fast-paced, ever- in the United States? By crossing domestic vari- changing subject that demands constant atten- eties of corn with their wild cousin, scientists tion, for in the blink of an eye, a species can created a type of corn that resisted blight. One of disappear. Our goal is to update you on the our most important agricultural defenses against current status of animals in Kansas listed as blight, pests, drought, and disease may be to threatened or endangered.But the most invigorate domestic species by hybridizing them important questionis this: “WHY SHOULD YOU with their wild counterparts. CARE ABOUT THREATENED AND ENDAN- You have a cold or fever and take aspirin GERED ANIMALS?” to relieve the symptoms. You have an infection The answer lies in biodiversity . and take penicillin to cure it. Biodiversity refers to “biological diversity” or Are you aware that the incredible variety of life on this planet-- aspirin is derived from birds to bugs to bacteria and everything from the willow else in between. The greater the diversity of and penicillin life, the healthier the environment. The follow- from a fungi? ing article entitled,“Why is Biodiversity Recently,a com- Important” was written by Thomas G. Barnes, pound called an Extension Wildlife Specialist at the cyclosporine was University of Kentucky. (reprinted with per- identified from a mission from Farmers and Wildlife, 1998) mushroom. It has the ability to suppress Why should you care about some non- the rejection response in descript, rarely seen snail? Would it make a dif- humans undergoing tissue transplants. ference if you knew this snail did not get can- Thousands of people undergoing heart, lung, cer? Would it make a difference if scientists liver, kidney, and bone marrow transplants are discovered why this happens and applied this alive today since the introduction of this drug. It knowledge to prevent or cure cancer in man? is surprising to many people that from one- This is just a simple answer of why people fourth to one-half of all our medicines contain should care about protecting and managing for plant extracts. a variety of living organisms. Each “cog and wheel of the land mecha- Biologists contend that if the loss of nism” can be considered an encyclopedia of biodiversity continues, many aspects of our genetic information or a treasure chest of infor- quality of life will be lost. The diversity of life mation that may be useful to humans. Because benefits us in infinite ways. The reasons to each species is unique, to lose a species is to manage for biodiversity touch on ethical, aes- deny future generations the opportunity to use thetic, economic, and practical factors that ulti- the chemical and genetic secrets to improve their mately affect our quality of life. quality of life. The quest for indentifying useful organisms that may improve the quality of our Practical Reasons lives has just begun. Scientists have described It is difficult to dispute the “practical” less than one-half of all living things on this and potential economic reasons for protecting planet. Of all the plants and animals we do biodiversity. Are you aware that the world’s know, less than 1% have been tested for a food supply depends on about 20 different possible benefit to humans. We have barely start- On T.R.A.C.K.S. 2 ed to unlock the potential benefits of the world’s Some species also serve as environmental plants and animals yet with the loss of each barometers that indicate something is wrong species we may be destroying the potentially with the environment. Just as canaries warned important drug or agricultural commodity of miners of poisonous gases, so do some species tomorrow. warn us about unhealthy ecosystems. The same factors that cause more sensitive creatures to Ecological Reasons decline may ultimately affect the human popula- Biologically diverse communities of tion. plants, animals, and other species provide indis- pensible ecological services. While scientists Other Reasons have been studying nature for years, we are still Aesthetic, recreational and ethical reasons largely ignorant of the complex interrelation- to protect biodiversity are also important. The ships in any given ecosystem. Another way of beauty of the many other varied life forms with looking at ecological relationships is to think of which we share the earth may be another reason each species as a brick in a house. Every brick for preserving biodiversity. As a society, we contributes to the support of the house. If you spend billions of dollars acquiring, protecting, slowly and randomly removed bricks, cracks and enjoying beautiful works of art, music, or would develop in the wall, the roof would sag, architecture. We are outraged when vandals and leaks would appear. At some point, the house attack precious paintings, sculptures, or other would collapse. works of art. Have you ever looked closely at a No one knows how many of nature’s “cogs monarch butterfly, a lady-slipper orchid? Their and wheels” can be lost without turning an beauty and intricacy rival the finest works of art. ecosystem into Shouldn’t we protect these natural works of art? rubble. No one Finally, many people believe we should can predict if or manage for biodiversity because we have a when a catastro- moral or ethical responsibility to future genera- phe will strike. tions. We are wiping out species at the rate of at However, it is least 1 per day. Because man is the primary certain we are cause of the loss of these organisms, we should eroding the fab- also have the obligations to preserve them for ric of life with future generations. Future generations are enti- each species tled to expect an environment as biologically lost. Consider a rich as the one inherited by today’s generation. simple example. There is one sin- gle wasp species that pollinates the majority of fig trees that grow in the tropics. What would happen if that wasp were eliminated from the ecosystem? Because figs are an important food source for many trop- ical birds and mammals during the dry season, losing the figs might mean losing bats, spider monkeys, peccaries, and other species dependent on the figs for food. Once these animals are gone, would we lose the jaguars and other preda- tors? Once the bricks begin to disappear from the house, how long before “our house,” the plan- et Earth, begins to crumble? On T.R.A.C.K.S. 3 Endangered Species of Kansas E STATUS: Endangered in KS and US CLASSIFICATION: Mammal N COMMON NAME: Gray Myotis (Myotis grisescens) D Description: This bat is gray to rusty brown in color with a A body length of up to 4 inches and a wingspan of up to 12 inches. In Kansas, it is known only from the southeastern part of the state and N may occur as occasional transients along stream corridors. One colony is known to exist in the storm sewer beneath the city of Pittsburg, G Crawford County. Photo by Merlin Tuttle, BCI E STATUS: Endangered in KS and US CLASSIFICATION: Mammal R COMMON NAME: Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) E Description: The Black-footed Ferret has a long body with short black legs and feet. The muzzle, forehead, and ears are white, with a D black band between and around the eyes. Adults may reach a total length of 24.5 inches. This ferret formerly occurred over the western 2/3 of the state. The last confirmed record of a live ferret in Kansas was in 1957 near Studley in Sheridan County. The Black-footed Ferret is largely dependent upon prairie dog towns for food and cover. STATUS: Endangered in KS and US CLASSIFICATION: Bird COMMON NAME: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Description: Peregrine Falcons are crow-sized birds with long, pointed, slate-colored wings, narrow tails, and swift flight. The head is black with a dis- tinctive “black mustache” on each side of the face. Adults may reach a length of 21,” with a wingspan of slightly more than 36.” Historically, the Peregrine Falcon was a regular transient throughout Kansas but it is now only a rare transient and ocassional winter visitor, especially where waterfowl concentrate. STATUS: Endangered in KS and US CLASSIFICATION: Bird COMMON NAME: Whooping Crane (Grus americana) Description: The Whooping Crane is a large white bird with black wing tips and a distinctive red crown on its head. Depending on age, it may have cheeks of red or black. Adults may attain a height of 4 feet, with a wingspan of 7 1/2 feet. The Whooping Crane is a spring and fall migrant through Kansas with most observations recorded at prairie marshes like Cheyenne Bottoms in Barton County. On T.R.A.C.K.S. 4 STATUS: Endangered in KS and US CLASSIFICATION: Bird COMMON NAME: Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) E Description: Adult Least Terns grow to 10 inches in length and are the N smallest member of the tern family, with a wingspan of just 20 inches.

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