Threatened and Endangered Species

WHAT IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?

An endangered species is a population of organisms which is in danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A species is considered threatened if it is likely to become endangered in the near future throughout all or most of its range. Another term you might see is candidate species. This is a species that fits the definition of either endangered or threatened, but it has not officially been added to the list.

RANKING SPECIES

Species in Alabama are ranked by the Alabama Natural Heritage Program using the Heritage ranking system. Each species is assigned two ranks. The first rank represents its range-wide or global status (G rank), and the second represents its status in the state (S rank). Species with a rank of 1 are most critically imperiled. Species with a rank of 5 are most secure. For example, a species could be considered critically endangered in Alabama (S-1), but can be listed regionally as vulnerable (G-3) because it is found to be more common in neighboring states. Conversely, a species can be considered imperiled (G-2) regionally, but there might be some large populations in Alabama to consider it secure (S-4).

	*GLOBAL RANKING*		*STATE RANKING*
G1	Critically Imperiled – At very high risk of extinction due to extreme rarity, very steep declines, or other factors.	S1	Critically imperiled in Alabama because of extreme rarity or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from Alabama.
G2	Imperiled – At high risk of extinction due to very restricted range, very few populations, steep declines, or other factors.	S2	Imperiled in state because of rarity or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extirpation from Alabama.
G3	Vulnerable – At moderate risk of extinction due to a restricted range, relatively few populations, recent and widespread declines, or other factors.	S3	Rare or uncommon in Alabama (on the order of 21 to 100 occurrences).
G4	Apparently Secure – Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors.	S4	Apparently secure in Alabama, with many occurrences.
G5	Secure – Common; widespread and abundant.	S5	Demonstrably secure in Alabama and essentially "ineradicable" under present conditions.
GX	Presumed Extinct – Not located despite intensive searches and virtually no likelihood of rediscovery. Eliminated throughout its range, with no restoration potential due to extinction of dominant or characteristic species.	SX	Presumed Extirpated – Species or community believed to be extirpated from Alabama. Not located despite intensive searches of historical sites and other appropriate habitat, and virtually no likelihood that it will be rediscovered.

SPECIES FOUND AT RUFFNER

Below are some species you might see at Ruffner Mountain that have been ranked by the ALNH. As you will see some rankings of species will differ between the global and state ranks.

Amphibians

Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola)

Ranks: G-5 S-5

The seal salamander is a species of lungless salamander native to the mid- and southeastern United States. Its habitat includes deciduous forests with rocky mountain streams, spring-fed brooks, muddy sections of streams and seepages. They are usually found hiding under rocks or moss, or burrowing into muddy banks. They can also be occasionally observed perching on wet rocks. Threats: Habitat destruction and stream pollution.

Photo taken from Tennessee.gov

Birds

Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Ranks: G-5 S-3

The Cooper’s hawk is a medium-sized hawk native to North America, ranging from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Males are significantly smaller than females, both having short, rounded wings with long banded tails. Juveniles have yellow eyes that will turn red as adults, along with a black “cap” on the top of the head. They are found in various types of mixed deciduous forests and open woodlands; including small woodlots, riparian woodlands, open pine woodlands, and forested mountainous regions. Threats: Habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Photo taken from birdillinois.com

Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus)

Ranks: G-5 S-3
The worm-eating warbler is a plain olive-brown color that has black and light brown stripes on its head. They breed in dense deciduous forests in the eastern U.S. They nest on the ground mixed within the forest debris, and will try to distract predators away from the nest by pretending to be injured. Worm-eating Warblers eat insects and despite their name, they rarely eat earthworms. Worm-eating Warblers have disappeared from some parts of their range due to habitat loss. They are vulnerable to nest parasitism by the Brown-headed cowbird where forests are fragmented. Threats: Tropical deforestation on wintering grounds and forest fragmentation on breeding grounds. Nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus)

Ranks: G-5 S-4
The Kentucky warbler is a small, sluggish, heavy warbler with a short tail that prefers to spend most of its time on the ground. They are mostly olive-green in color on their back, and a brilliant yellow below from their throat to their belly. They have a black “mask” with a yellow pattern that runs from the beak to the eyes. The Kentucky Warbler is a very common bird with a large range, commonly found in mesic, deciduous forests. It spends its summer in the eastern United States, and then migrates back to the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean. Kentucky Warblers build their nests on the ground, hidden at the base of shrubs or in thick vegetation. Threats: On the breeding grounds the species has been hard-hit by losses of bottomland hardwood forests in the southeastern U.S., first for timber and later for conversion to agriculture. A major threat to the species habitat in many areas, a complete loss of understory vegetation across broad areas caused by browsing by an over-abundant White-tailed Deer population.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

Ranks: G-5 S-5
The wood thrush range is widely distributed across the central and eastern U.S. It has a cinnamon brown color on its wings and back, and is white with black spots on its underside. The male wood thrush has one of the most beautiful songs of birds in North America. Wood thrushes are solitary birds, and will defend a territory that ranges from 800 to 28000 square meters! It prefers deciduous, upland mesic forests that have a moderately-dense shrub layer. The Wood Thrush has become a symbol of the decline of songbirds in eastern North America, having its population decline by 43 percent since the 1960s. The threats both come from its North American breeding grounds and Central American wintering grounds. Forest fragmentation in North America has resulted in both increased nest predation and increased cowbird parasitism, significantly reducing their reproductive success. Threats: Forest fragmentation in North American forests results in increased nest predation, increased cowbird parasitism, and continuing destruction of primary forest in Central America eliminates preferred Wood Thrush wintering habitat.

Photo taken from Wikipedia.org

Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)

Ranks: G-5 S-2

The blue-head vireo is a small songbird with olive colored back and wings. They have a blue-grey head, dark eyes with white "spectacles" and white wing tips. They breed in open mixed deciduous and coniferous woods in Canada and the northeastern United States. During the winter months they will migrate to the southern and southeastern United States south to Central America. They forage for insects around the canopies of trees, sometimes flying out to catch them. They will also eat berries and nuts, especially in winter when invertebrates are scarce. Threats: Habitat destruction and fragmentation, and parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Photo taken from Wikipedia

Mammals

Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus)

Ranks: G-5 S-3

The little brown myotis, better known as the little brown bat, is one of the most common bats of North America. It is found all over North America from northern Mexico all the way into Canada and Alaska. The fur is dark brown and glossy on the back with greyish fur underneath. Adult bats are typically only 2.4–3.9 in long and weigh 5–14 grams. Little brown bats are insectivores, and prefer to roost near water where aquatic insects are abundant. These little creatures can live up to 33 years, but only about 50% of little brown bats survive through their first year. Threats: White-nose syndrome, a fungus that spreads among hibernating bats, and by toxic substances such as mercury and PCBs from industrial pollution

Photo taken from Wildnatureimages.org

Reptiles

Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata)

Ranks: G-5 S-3

The mole kingsnake can be found throughout the Southeastern and mid-Atlantic states, but is not found through the Appalachian Mountains. The mole kingsnake is light brown to gray in color, with dark brown or orange-brown blotches down its body. They are easily mistaken for the Copperhead. Mole kingsnakes prefer to live in open fields with loose, dry soil, typically on the edge of a forest. They are non-venomous, and if harassed they will vibrate their tail rapidly. Mole kingsnakes are mainly nocturnal and are commonly seen on roads at night. Threats: Habitat destruction and fragmentation and human persecution.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

Invertebrates

Cave Cricket (Euhadenoecus sp.)

Ranks: GNR (not ranked) S-1

The cave cricket is usually found in caves, animal burrows, cellars, or under rocks and logs. Cave crickets belong to a large family that can be found on all continents, and may be the reason they are globally unranked. Cave crickets have very large hind legs and no wings. They are brownish in color and humpbacked in appearance. Threats: Pollution and habitat destruction

Photo taken from Wikipedia

Fairy Shrimp (Family Anostraca)

Ranks: GNR SNR

Fairy shrimp often appear in vernal pools, pot holes and other ephemeral pools. Their eggs will survive drought for several years and hatch after rain fills the pools where they live. About 200 species of fairy shrimp are known. The species found at Ruffner is currently un-identified.

Photo from Wikipedia

Plants

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea sp.)

Ranks: G-4 S-2

Purple coneflowers are herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the daisy family. They are found in eastern and central North America. They typically grow in open prairies or open wooded areas. They have large, showy flowers and bloom early-late summer. Threats: Habitat destruction, competition with invasive plants, overgrazing, and poaching.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

Piedmont Rhododendron (Rhododendron minus)

Ranks: G-4 S-2
The piedmont rhododendron, also called the dwarf rhododendron, is an evergreen shrub that prefers shady, well-drained moist soils at low elevations, typically along stream banks. It is found east of the Mississippi River to the Atlantic coast up to Canada. It is most common in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, and northeast Alabama. They flower from May – June have are whitish-pink in color. Threats: Habitat destruction, competition with invasive plants, overgrazing, and poaching.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

South Nodding Trillium (Trillium rugelii)

Ranks: G-3 S-2

The south nodding trillium is a perennial plant native to the southeastern U.S. A distinguishing characteristic about this trillium is that it hangs its flower below its leaves. It is usually found growing near streams or well-drained soils, in well protected shade under deciduous trees. Threats: Habitat destruction, competition with invasive plants, overgrazing, and poaching.

Photo taken from goldendelighthoney.com

Spring Coral Root (Corallorhiza wisteriana)
Ranks: G-5 S-2

The spring coral root, also called Wister’s coralroot orchid, is a leafless orchid that relies on fungi in its roots to help provide the nutrients it needs. This species is red because it does not produce chlorophyll, not does it depend on photosynthesis for light. It can be found in the under story of deciduous forests, usually near streams or in well-drained fertile soil. Threats: Habitat destruction, competition with invasive plants, overgrazing, and poaching.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

Ladies’ Tresses (Spiranthes sp.)

Ranks: G-4 S-1

Ladies’ tresses are a subgroup of the orchid family. They can be found in meadows, fields, and savannas, but also in both acidic and calcareous soils. Spiranthes is a small orchid, growing 5 to 14 inches tall, with perennial, clustered flowers. The flowers are usually white to yellow-white. The ladies’ tresses species found in Alabama are all critically imperiled. Threats: Habitat destruction, competition with invasive plants, overgrazing, and poaching.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

Yellow-eyed Grass (Xyris sp.)
Ranks: G-2/G-3 S-1

There are over two hundred and fifty species of yellow-eyed grass belonging to the genera Xyris, and the one at Ruffner is currently unknown. Most species flower with a yellow-golden color and usually require full to partial sunlight. They are usually found along roadsides or in meadows and fields. Currently in Alabama both species of Xyris are considered critically imperiled, having very few wild populations left. Threats: Habitat destruction, competition with invasive plants, overgrazing, and poaching.

Photo taken from Wikipedia