Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion)

For this organism sample I chose Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion), because I am a boring person. The environment was a baseball field at Picnic Point Elementary at approximately 47.8728° N, 122.3132° W. The environment was a field with mixed grasses and low flowing plants, only 6 different species were easily observable. The field was flat and groomed, meaning very little environmental change occurred between each sample along the transect. All of the plants apeared to occupy the same habitat, making the other species the largest limiting factor to the growth of the dandelion population.

Along the edges of field, on the other side of the fence, was a mature 2nd growth forest with mixed conifer and broad leaf trees. The edges of the field had scattered fallen leaves, however very few were in the middle of the field and aren't seen in the transect. It is likely that the leaves had been recently removed. Tire ruts were also found scattered around the field, but by chance were also not represented in the transect. Despite this, I believe my samples are an accurate depiction of the population, but it is possible that multiple species were counted. Another species, Taraxacum japonicum (Japanese Danelion), looks remarkably similar and is known to grow in the united state.

Overall 35 Taraxcum officinale were found in the survey, averaging to 2.92 plants per sample. There was another species present that looked quite similar, and more abundant, making the count difficult. Most of the Taraxcum officinale were not flowing or had their flower removed, further complicating the count.

Taraxcum officinale were spread out randomly throughout the field. Their distribution and proximity to each other appeared to only be affected by other species that were dominating the area.

Surveys like these can give snapshots of small ecosystems that can represent the larger ecosystem they belong to. By looking at these much smaller snap shots, it become easier to evaluate how the ecosystem is developing. By looking at one species at a time, we can tell how it is competing with other species around it.

Canadian lynx

Lynx canadensis (Canada Lynx)

Though it’s names suggests otherwise, the Canada Lynx’s historic range extended into the northern contiguous united states and stretched from coast to coast, reaching as far south as the Colorado Rockies. The Lynx is found in northern subalpine and boreal forests mainly in Canada and Alaska. Western Okanogan County is the only area in the state that supports a resident lynx population with an estimated population with less than 100 individuals. The Lynx is listed as Threatened in Washington state and under the federal Endangered Species ACT.

The Lynx is a specialized hunter praying almost exclusively on Snowshoe hare. It tends to be nocturnal and can cover 5 miles every day to get prey. Lynx populations are directly tied to population cycles of snowshoe hare.


Photo by Michael Zahra

They have evolved to features that provide advantages in deep snow habitats. With large saucer like paws, long legs, and dense long furry coat, the Lynx is uniquely suited to hunting on top of a large snow pack which gives it an edge against its competitors.

1.6 inches long tuffs of black hair grow from the tips of their ears. In winter the hair on their lower cheeks grows long and appears to form a ruffle covering the throat. The coat is short and reddish brown to greyish in summer, but becomes longer and greyer in winter. Their short tails are marked with dark rings and terminate in a fully black tip. Canada lynx have been reported to live up to fourteen years in captivity although the lifespan is probably much shorter in the wild.


Photo by Michael Zahra

The Canada lynx is trapped for its fur, and has declined in many areas due to habitat loss. a variety of factors contribute to its habitat reduction, particularly land use changes with human expansion, forest fires, over exploitation, and a warming climate. The lynx is particularly vulnerable to climate change as the deep snow cover that lynx depend on may be significantly reduced, removing their competitive advantage.

In 1999 the Colorado Division of Wildlife began a program reintroducing a wild lynx population into the San Juan Mountains of Colorado where it had been extinct since 1970. As of 2010 the population had expanded, confirming the possibility of successful reintroduction. Unfortunately, there is no sign that Washington's Canada Lynx population has improved since it was listed for protection.

I honestly chose the Canada Lynx because of it's unique look. I don't see the species receiving a lot of attention in the media, possibly because of it's size. I knew nothing about it to begin with and despite it's small stature, I still find it to be pretty freaking majestic.

Works Cited
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00394/
http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/SOC-LynxResearch.aspx
https://www.fws.gov/northeast/climatechange/stories/lynx.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_lynx

Black Footed Ferret

Species: Black Footed Ferret
Status: endagered
Distribution: Wyoming/ Northern parts of North America

The Black Footed Ferret (Bff) is a mammal who is a nocturnal carnavour and generally feasts on ground squirrels, mice,  insects, birds, and Prairie dogs. This animal has stout legs and is never more than 2 feet on length from nose to the tip of the tail. Also their facial features resemble that of a n adorable racoon. They live in grasslands, especially the Northern Great Plains. The reason for this favoritism is because the grass is crisp and short, but also of vast variety of grasses.   This species was believed to be extinct not to long ago. However, in 1987,  the BFF were taken into captivity for breeding.  They were then reintroduced into the wild with a very successful outcome. There is now an estimated 300 BFF living in the wild.  Black Footed Ferrets live in the Northern most part of North America and are the fruition of relocation programs. The main causes of the declination of the BFF are as follows: the BFF rely on Prairie dogs as a food source,  but also because the BFF use the tunnels dug by the prairies to make their homes.  In recent years,  farmers have deemed prairie dogs  to be pests, and as such they have started a campaign to rid their land of the Prairie dogs. They use pesticides by means in which to kill the Prairie dogs, thus killing the BFF. Also, domestic dogs and coyotes have brought additional diseases into their population.  I haven't found a link to climate change and the endangerment of BFF, however vulnerability is a key issue.  For instance,  the BFF have had to congregate into smaller habitats. Because of this,  isolation has occurred. Within this isolation,  reproduction has decreased,  and worse,  inbreeding has increased the vulnerability of the species. Once inbred, diseases run rampant through the population because of lowered immune systems. Other simular animals such as coyotes have introduced disease into their population. The bright side of this situation is that the Wyoming department of fish and Game is currently at the forefront of research for this species,  a part of that includes reintroduction into the wild. This is the perfect example of one species depending on another. Native American environmentalists, state and Federal organizations have given funding and research money to this cause. I picked this species because they are adorable, and my day-care provider as a child had Ferrets. 💚

I got my info from the WWF website for endagered species and from Bagheera, a site dedicated to giving out information about species who are threatened.

Killer Whale (Orca)

ORCA WHALE

Orcinus orca

While looking through the many species that are included in the Washington state species of concern, I felt overwhelmingly saddened by the sheer amount of species and, likewise, the human contributions to their places on the list. As soon as I saw the Orca, or Killer, whale (scientific name of Orcinus orca) on the list I knew that this would be the animal I wanted to further research. Growing up in Florida, it was always a dream of mine to visit somewhere in the Pacific Northwest so I could see one of these awe-inspiring and intelligent animals. Orca whales are classified as an endangered species, shockingly to me, the population numbers only 84 whales as of March 2016! While I have known for a while that their population was suffering and dwindling, I had no idea just how few were left living. While Orca whales can inhabit any ocean in the world, they are most typically found in colder coastal waters surrounding the Pacific Northwest and northern Norway.

Orca whales are intelligent mammals (fun fact: their brain weighs about 15 pounds!) that form extremely strong social bonds among their pod. Orca pods typically consist of multiple matrilines, which are a group of whales that are connected via a maternal bond, which is not surprising as females are the dominant gender among them. Mothers and calf's have very strong relationships and many spend much of their lives together. Thanks to one of the longest cetacean field studies ever, conducted right here in the Pacific Northwest, it is known that females live an average of 29 years and males live around 17 years. 

Orca whales face many threats to their population, all of which have contributed to their population decline. It is well known that over-fishing and pollution have had a terrible effect on marine life and the depletion of fish populations; salmon in the Pacific Northwest are just one example of this travesty in practice. This is a serious concern for Orca whales as many fish species are a source of food for the whales. With less food to consume, Orcas have become far weaker and, thus, more susceptible to suffering from diseases and pollution infesting ocean water. The majority of the pollutants that are having such a devastating effect on the ocean waters are caused by humans. Another way we are threatening the Orca whale's existence? Noise pollution! Orca whales highly reliant on their fantastic hearing ability and vocalizations in order to communicate with their fellow whales and to navigate their territory. With the increasing number of boats roaming the same waters the Orcas call home, it only makes sense that the boat engines and vessel sounds are disrupting normal life for the whales and effecting their well being. Finally, in what has, sadly, become a common theme for many of the world's species, climate change, particularly water temperature and water levels, is also adding to the many threats Orca whales are struggling with.

It is not surprising that with Orca's numbers dwindling some have come together to try to form conversation efforts to help save the remaining whales and encourage breeding and, thus, an increasing population. For example, while people love whale watching and getting a chance to glimpse this majestic animal in it's natural habitat, it is now known that boats coming so near to them impedes their normal life and measures have been taken to keep a safer distance. Many are involved with efforts to keep water pollution to a minimum, reducing contaminants in the water and, therefore, increasing fish populations. As fish provide a big source of nutrition for Orca whales, this will be helpful to their overall health. It is also important that the laws preventing Orca whales from being hunted are strictly enforced and maintained. It will be an uphill battle to save this species but it is worth the challenge and if everyone makes even a little contribution a lot of good can be done.   

Photo link: http://us.whales.org/wdc-in-action/facts-about-orcas

Grizzly Bear

Ursus arctos horribilis

The Grizzly Bear

photo by Daniel Dietrich

       One of the most fearsome animals to be found in the wild, the grizzly bear now remains an endangered species. Only around 1,500 remain -stretching from Yellowstone, up through Idaho/Western Montana, the Cascades, and into Canada.

They normally live to be about 25 years old, weighing anywhere from 250-600lbs. Typically, they will eat just about anything they come across and are therefore opportunistic omnivores. And they need to be, too. Grizzlies are up against a list of factors that limit their chance at recovery. The first being the over-hunting of the species during Western colonization leading up to the turn of the 20th century. The second biggest problem they face is now there are a multitude of highways and settled valleys that have fragmented their population. This has led to a lack of genetic diversity and even genetic isolation since female immigration between populations has dropped significantly -making the future of their existence very uncertain. 

      

Matthias Breiter—Minden Pictures/Getty Images

Conservation efforts have been the upgrading the status of the species from threatened to endangered. Operations like Western Wildlife Outreach work to spread a respect for the species throughout communities that are in contact or conflict with grizzlies that have resulted in high mortality.


I chose to highlight this animal because although I fear ever running into one, I respect the important role they play in the ecosystem. They also are fascinatingly big and powerful which adds somewhat of a thrill to learning about them, which I was sad to learn that there remain so few of them left.



Works Cited
WDFW. "Endangered Species: Grizzly Bear." Annual Report. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2012. PDF. 07 Oct. 2016.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Photo by Jürgen Freund / WWF

The Leatherback Sea Turtle is a state and federally recognized endangered species, with a nesting female population of perhaps only 7752 as of 2010 (Wallace). They can be found in both tropical and temperate waters around the world.

Leatherback Sea Turtle's are long lived, beginning their life when they hatch from their eggs and crawl to the ocean. If they make it to adulthood, they can weigh between 500 and 200 pounds and be 4 to 8 feet in length. Their name is very fitting, because they are the only turtle lacking a hard shell. They instead have a lattice of bones covered by leathery skin. They gain the majority of their calories from jellyfish (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife).

This species is especially vulnerable to humans encroaching on their nesting habitat and stealing their eggs. In the ocean, pollution from plastic mistaken as jellyfish and eaten can kill a turtle, and fishing nets can accidentally capture turtles, killing them. Climate change is also a threat to egg hatching and the young's survival rates (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife).

To help protect Leatherback populations, the fishing industry has instituted devices that exclude turtles from their catch, and waters off of Washington have been designated as turtle habitat (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife).

I chose the Leatherback Sea Turtle because I was surprised that they actually have populations in Washington. I have seen nature documentaries of the adorable baby turtles crawling to the ocean only to have 90% of them die before adulthood, but I never imagined that that happened here. To me they seemed too tropical of a species to nest here.




Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Leatherback Sea Turtle." wa.gov. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2016.

 Wallace, B.P., Tiwari, M. & Girondot, M. 2013. Dermochelys coriacea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T6494A43526147. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T6494A43526147.en. Downloaded on 07 October 2016.

Northern Spotted Owl

                                                                              

                                    

Northern Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalis ssp. caurina

State Status: Endangered since 1988 - Population size unknown

Distribution: Data collect from 1976-2011 shows there there were 1,070 known sites in Washington where they were present. Mostly in the Cascades and Olympics but have rarely been seen in the Puget Sound region.Almost exclusively associated with forests, the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis ssp. caurina) is one of three known subspecies of spotted owl and the only one found to live in the Pacific Northwest, primarily in conifer forests. They have been found at sea level and up to 3,000 feet on the Olympic Peninsula and up to 5,000 feet in Cascades. Ranging from southwest British Columbia to northern California.

                                              Potential Range of the Northern Spotted Owl

Natural History: Known as "birds of the forest," spotted owls in western Washington occupy mature, old growth forests dominated by Douglas-fir, western hemlock, grand fir, western red cedar and other species of conifers that contain snags and fallen trees. Being birds of prey, their diet consists most of small mammals. They nest and roost in the canopy but never make their own nests, instead they use hollowed out crevices in snags or utilize an abandon nest from other raptors or sometimes squirrel nests. They usually lay two eggs after mating, not always mating every year. The female looks after the young while the male brings food back to the nest. They have been known to live for 17 years.

Threats: Habitat loss and competition with Barred Owls are the main threats this species is facing. Timber harvest and urbanization are the leading factors contributing habitat loss. The eruption of Mt. St. Helens is thought to have caused a large area of habitat loss.

Climate Change: Research shows that climate change has not directly threatened spotted owls but could threaten trees and forests they occupy in the future.

This species is vulnerable because their populations are in decline from the loss of habitat and the competition with Barred Owls. Actions are being made to protect and conserve spotted owl habitat and research is being made on the experiment of removing Barred Owls.

I chose this species because I really love owls, and have had few owl encounters in my life. Seeing a Great Horned Owl in the Cascades was quite amazing and quite a few Barred Owls in Seattle, one I saw that was just in the University District off of 50th. What surprised me learning about spotted owls was that they don't build there own nests, thought that was pretty interesting.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_owl
               http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01752/wdfw01752.pdf
               http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/endangered/species/northern_spotted_owl.pdf