PROTECTING CANADA’S ECOSYSTEMS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhuLInfisuE

LEARNING GOALS

• Describe how species at risk are protected in their surroundings (improving habitat) or by removing them from the wild (until habitats can be restored).

• Explain how governments use laws to enact programs to protect ecosystems.

• Understand that conservation biology works to protect biodiversity, partly by assessing which species are at risk of extinction and developing strategies to protect these species.

AT RISK SPECIES

• Any native species in danger of becoming extinct/disappearing from a region

http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/species-risk

CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

• Ex-situ conservation: conserves species by removing them from their natural habitats, used when…• Habitat is threatened or no longer exists

• If existing population is extremely small

• Individuals are taken to zoos, botanical gardens, or reserves

CONSERVATION STRATEGIES CONT’D

• In-situ conservation: conserve species in their natural surroundings, using strategies such as

• Protecting habitats

• Protecting a species from predators

• Cleaning up or restoring habitat

• Isolation from human activity (creating reserves)

PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES

1. Endangered Species Act (Ontario, 2007)

• Illegal to kill, capture, possess, sell, or trade Ontario endangered species

• Illegal to damage or destroy ecosystems that the species depends upon

2. Protected areas: national/provincial parks, wildlife reserves, and marine sanctuaries

PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES CONT’D

3. Remedial action plans: governments, industries, and community groups working together to solve and monitor a problem

4. Preventing introduction of invasive species: Agriculture Canada has strict laws against bringing foreign food, animals, or plants into the country

CREATURE FEATURES• Barn Owls (3:09) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohqEquNnzfU

• Massasauga Rattlesnake (6:19) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGW3MSt8nJI

QUESTIONS

1. What is the difference between extirpated and extinct?

2. Why is it important for there to be an agreement between Canada and the United States to help rehabilitate the Great Lakes?

3. Canadian border officials allow a family to bring a box of grapefruit home to Canada from their trip to Florida. However, United States border officials confiscate a box of grapefruit that another family wishes to bring with them on their trip to the U.S. Why might there different responses to the grapefruit by U.S. and Canadian officials?