Articles
From Thirteen to Twenty - Uncommon Species Join the Rare
Posted: January 20, 2010
The International Year of Biodiversity is just around the corner. At the global level, the United Nations 2010 Biodiversity Target is focused on achieving a significant reduction in the rate of diversity loss determined in 2001.
At every level, from globally to locally, it is an uphill battle. Given the exponential rate of decline in biodiversity, trying to halt that deterioration appears to be an unreachable goal. In spite of this, it is one worth striving for. Many successes will come out of the endeavour.
Cumulative impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, overharvesting, invasive species and climate change now threaten not only the rare species but also those we consider common.
Intuitively, given both the interconnectedness and the loss of integrity of our ecosystems, declines of common species should come as no surprise. In reality, the trends are simply startling.
Reflecting the trends in the loss of global biodiversity, the Ontario government added seven species to its Species at Risk in Ontario List (SARO) in August of 2009 bringing the list total from thirteen up to twenty.
The Chimney Swift and Whip-poor-will were listed as Threatened and the Common Nighthawk, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Canada Warbler and Bald Eagle were listed as species of Special Concern. In addition, the Snapping Turtle was listed as a species of Special Concern.
It may come as a suprise that Snapping Turtles made the list. Generally assumed common, the largest of our Ontario turtles is showing contraction of its range and density. Its slow rate of maturity, 15 to 20 years before reproduction, low survival rate of eggs and young, habitat loss and persecution all present as cumulative threats to its survival and as the reasoning behind the recent listing.
Their defensive attempts to bite combined with their appearance and size have resulted in significant human persecution. Almost exclusively water inhabitants, they are most vulnerable to human interference during the summer when many cross roads in search of food, mates and nesting sites. Consequently, they are often intentional targets for vehicles.
This direct human caused threat is the most easily addressed through education as it takes only a consideration and appreciation of the Snapping Turtle’s place in an intricate, interconnected ecosystem to evoke an attitude change. Reduction of threats to the six bird additions will require more systemic value changes.
Twelve percent of bird species have now been classified as “Globally Threatened” by the conservation group BirdLife International. BirdLife consists of more than 100 conservation organizations worldwide and their scientifically compiled “Red List” added 192 species for 2009.
Analysis of long-term data trends by BirdLife and by the Breeding Bird Survey of Ontario (BBS) indicate that in the face of rapid changes to their habitats, it is not just the rare birds that are becoming rarer. In the last ten years, some common birds are exhibiting startling declines of 30-40% across North America.
Habitat loss and fragmentation are cited by the BBS as the major drivers of the declines of the following aerial foragers: the Chimney Swift, the Common Nighthawk, the Whip-poor-will and the Olive-sided Flycatcher. However, recent investigations of the Chimney Swift indicate the major cause of the decline as being related to diet.
These ongoing investigations led by Trent University researcher Leah Finity in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources demonstrate the importance of additional investigations into the role that declining insect populations are having on other aerial foraging birds.
The concept of using bioindicators as sentinels of environmental change is not a novel one, but in practice, it is one we do not seem to heed. Startling bird declines should raise the alarms. Again, we are back to the importance of everything being connected to everything else.
With each species addition to the Species at Risk list, the goals of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust become increasingly essential to protecting our natural heritage for future generations. It is up to each one of us to address the challenge and commit ourselves to conserving and protecting critical species habitat. How is this done?
David Suzuki’s over-arching strategy of "living sustainably and respecting nature" is a conservation paradigm we can follow in addressing threats to biodiversity. It’s a value-based approach we can adopt to do our part in conserving both the uncommon and the common for future generations. Failing our stewardship, the Species at Risk list will expand and its members will become more vulnerable than ever to extinction.
Last Updated: Jan 20 2010 12:57:29 pm.
Photo: Lyn Winans
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