Endangered Species: A Reference Handbook(Contemporary World Issues)

A detailed exploration of the variety of threats that endangered species are facing around the world, whether they are due to human impact or so-called natural causes. Endangered species is a more complex issue and problem than it may seem on the surface. What species are endangered, and what is causing them to become vulnerable to population decline? How can essential industries such as farming, housing development, and manufacturing continue to thrive without harming flora and fauna that are protected? Are current efforts adequate or should more be done to protect endangered species? And who should be responsible for the substantial costs of working to save endangered species? Endangered Species: A Reference Handbook begins with an introduction that addresses major threats and extinctions in history, discusses the geographical and cultural contexts in which these incidents happened, highlights other key moments along the endangered species timeline, and clearly shows why the topic of endangered species matters. The following sections examine an unbiased synthesis of classic and contemporary studies that inform the issue of endangered species and outline the most controversial events related to endangered species and the actions that have been taken to address them. The book also presents perspective essays by scholars, activists, and other experts to provide diverse informed opinions on the issue of endangered species and includes a data and documents chapter that applies research finding to provide answers to questions like what species are most likely to become endangered in the future and which practices have historically been the most effective at protecting vulnerable species.

Table of Contents:
Preface, 1 Background and History, The Sixth Mass Extinction, Evolution and Biodiversity, Early Conservation Action in the United States and the Preservation of Public Lands, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, National Monuments and the Antiquities Act, National Parks, The Environmental Movement Takes Off in the 1960s: Three Decades of Environmental Legislation, Why Protect Endangered Species?, Key Provisions of the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA), The Snail Darter, Tellico Dam, "God Squad," and 1978 ESA Amendment, The Mission Blue Butterfly and Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), No Surprise and Safe Harbor Agreements, The Role of States in Endangered Species Protection and Conservation, Criminal Liability under Wildlife Laws, Legal Challenges to ESA Policy, Status of the ESA Today, International Threatened and Endangered Species, International Trade in Endangered Species, Ecosystem Services, References, 2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions, Introduction, Roadblocks to Action: Environmental Skepticism in the 21st Century, Global Warming, Climate Change, and Species Extinction, How Does Global Warming Endanger Species?, Climate Change Controversy, Climate Action, Species in Rapid Decline, Fungi in Amphibians and Bats, Poaching of Megafauna, Bleaching of Coral Reefs, The Pollination Crisis, The ESA Works, The ESA Is Not Working, States' Rights and Local Control of Wildlife, The "Taking" of Private Property, The Good and the Bad of HCP, A More Effective Endangered Species Program and Act, Options Available to Private Land Owners, Politics and Problems at the FWS, The Gray Wolf: The Intersection of Science, ESA, and Politics, Reintroduction of Gray Wolves as Apex Predators, Controversy Surrounding Delisting Gray Wolves, Mexican Gray Wolves, Lethal and Nonlethal Control of Wolves, Sage-Grouse Politics and Partnerships: A Different Approach, References, 3 Perspectives, Introduction, Conservation in a Time of Rapid Climate Change by Camille Parmesan, Endangered Amazon by Tom Lovejoy, The Wolves Return by Suzanne Asha Stone, Saving the Ancient Forests by Brock Evans, Dams, Rivers, and Fish—A Continuing Conundrum by Mark Rockwell, Respecting Fellow Predators by Dave Stalling, Unlikely Partners by Michael Lehnert, Macaws and Jaguars: Ecotourism—Reality or a Dream? by Douglas Trent, Marine Extinction by C. Sarah Cohen, 4 Profiles, Introduction, People, David Attenborough (1926– ), Rachel Carson (1907–1964), Eugenie Clark (1922–2015) and Sylvia Earle (1935– ), Jane Goodall (1934– ), Dian Fossey (1932–1985), and Birute Galdikas (1946– ), Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910–1997), Jean-Michel Cousteau (1938– ), Philippe Cousteau (1940–1979), Alexandra Cousteau (1976– ), Philippe Cousteau Jr. (1979– ), Aldo Leopold (1887–1948), John Muir (1838–1914) and David Brower (1912–2000), E. O. Wilson (1929– ), Organizations, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation International, Defenders of Wildlife, Earth Day, Earthjustice, Endangered Species Coalition, Greenpeace, National Audubon Society, Natural Resource Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, 5 Data and Documents, Introduction, Data, Figure 5.1. Increases in Global CO2 Emissions in the Past 55 Years, Figure 5.2. Annual Global Temperature Increases Worldwide since 1901 in Degrees Fahrenheit, Figure 5.3. Cumulative Change in Sea Level for the World's Oceans since 1880, Figure 5.4. Results of Rhinoceros and Elephant Poaching in Kruger National Park, South Africa, Figure 5.5. Cumulative Number of Inferred Extinctions of Frogs in (A) Mesoamerica and Brazil, and (B) Madagascar and Sahul Region Where Highly Concentrated in New Guinea, Table 5.1. Average Number of Flood Days on U.S. Coasts 1950–1959 Compared with Flood Days during 2010–2015, Table 5.2. Summary of Number of Listed Endangered and Threatened Species and Recovery Plans in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, Table 5.3. Dates Domestic Species Were Declared Extinct, Listed as Endangered and Then Delisted as Recovered under the 1973 Endangered Species Act in the United States, Table 5.4. A Sample of Highly Endangered Species in the United States, Their Approximate Distribution, Estimated Number, and Cause of Decline, Table 5.5. Sample of Critically Endangered and Endangered Species Globally from IUCN Red List, Table 5.6. Endangered Species Act Petitions Received by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Table 5.7. Ten Shrinking Areas with the Most Threatened Species, Table 5.8. Traits of Vulnerable Species, Documents, Excerpt from the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill (1978), Testimony on Reintroducing Wolves (1995), Examining the Endangered Species Act (2014), Executive Order Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth (2017), U.S. Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord (2017), 6 Resources, Introduction, Books, Articles, Comments, and Hearings, Internet Sources, Reports, 7 Chronology, Glossary, Index, About the Author,

About the Author :
Jan A. Randall, PhD, is professor emerita at San Francisco State University's Department of Biology. She has published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals and was previously the associate editor of Animal Behavior.