Endangered
Species: Canadian Species At Risk
Subject
Area
This activity
is designed for the Grade 11 Physical Geography and Grade 12 Environmental
Studies programs.
Subject
Application
Students
should be familiar with ecosystems and forces which influence
ecosystem change prior to proceeding with this activity. Particularly,
students need to understand the concepts of range, niche and habitat
(See Andrews under Resources). This activity should be utilized
as a component within the Preservation, Conservation, and Environmental
Management unit of the Grade 12 Geography, or Environmental Studies
Course. This lesson can also be used within the Grade 11 Physical
Geography Course as an activity which studies balance and stability
within the physical environment, including the influence of human
activities.
Learning
Outcomes
Teaching,
learning and evaluation will focus on the students ability
to:
Research and develop a descriptive organizer to profile
a Canadian wildlife species;
Identify threatened and endangered species and describe
factors that are affecting their continued existence;
Identify trends among endangered species in Canada;
Identify and explain wildlife-habitat conservation management
activities.
Classroom
Development
The objective
of this activity is to familiarize students with a variety of
Canadian wildlife species. Students will describe the species
including range and habitat, life history and current conservation
(endangered species status). Subsequently, students will review
the Canadian Endangered Species List and identify species at risk,
trends, causal factors and identify conservation measures.
- Individual
students or groups of students choose or are assigned a Hinterland
Whos Who species information sheet. A class set of these
sheets, profiling Canadian wildlife species, is available from
the Canadian Wildlife Service in Ottawa (please see resources
section for ordering information).
- Students
will profile the species chosen using the following categories
as an organizer:
a) Species/Description (Name and Appearance)
b) Range (Distribution)
c) Habitat/Niche Requirements (Characteristics)
d) Endangered Potential (Threats to Survival)
e) Conservation (Protection/Management Measures)
- Conduct
a class discussion to identify and analyze trends in species
at risk and habitat loss. Students should then identify and
discuss causes of and solutions to the situation of endangered
species in Canada.
- Provide
students with a copy of a current Canadian Endangered Species
List, available from the World Wildlife Fund Canada (See resources
for address). Review terms: extinct, extirpated, endangered
and threatened. Guide students in identifying trends among species
at risk and causes such as pollution and habitat loss.
- Identify
trends among species at risk and identify causes. Utilize the
Canadian Wildlife Service sheets and other materials listed
in the resources section to assist in these determinations.
- Provide
students with a blank base map of Canada. Direct students to
identify areas in Canada where species are at risk. Following
identification of species and areas of concern, students will
develop conservation management strategies to save endangered
species.
Background
Information
The State Of Canadas Environment (1991). Chapter 6 Wildlife:
Maintaining Biological Diversity and Chapter 26 Habitat
Change: Spaces For Species provide background on biodiversity,
wildlife trends, pressures on wildlife and habitat, and conservation
and recovery strategies.
Canadian Geographic (Dec. 89 /Jan. 90) contains an excellent reference
map titled Environment In Peril, which outlines endangered
species and their locations in Canada.
Timing
- 1-2 periods
(50 min) to allow students to research and write species-descriptive
profiles
- 1-2
periods to identify and discuss trends emerging in Canadian
endangered species
- 1-2
periods to map and research and develop conservation strategies
Resources
Andrews,
William A., and Sandra McEwan. Investigating Aquatic Ecosystems.
Scarborough: Prentice, 1987. Chapter Two of this book provides
an example of the background information necessary for the completion
of this activity.
Canadian
Wildlife Service (Environment Canada). Hinterland Whos
Who Series ( approximately 60 pamphlets available). Available
from the Canadian Wildlife Federation in Ottawa at (613) 721-2286,
and Toronto at (416) 954-6368.
Environment
Canada. The State Of Canadas Environment (1991).
Ottawa: Environment Canada.
World Wildlife
Fund Canada. 1994 Canadian Endangered Species List. Toronto:
World Wildlife Fund Canada. Available from: World Wildlife Fund
Canada, 90 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 504, Toronto, ON, M4P 2Z7,
(416) 489-8800.
Cross-disciplinary
Links
The Science
and Biology curriculums provide a complementary background in
understanding ecology and the importance of habitat and range
among species. Business/Law studies can provide background on
legal aspects of land management and the business of conservation
issues among corporate and non-profit organizations.
Student
Material
Photocopy
samples of the following (Not Included):
- Canadian
Endangered Species List (World Wildlife Fund Canada)
- Peregrine
Falcon: Hinterland Whos Who Series (Canadian Wildlife
Service, Environment Canada)
Also go to our Peregrine
Falcon page |