, Research Paper

Lorin McNulty McNulty 1

Environmental Biology

Biology Mid-Term

10 April 2000

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR

The natural environment of the modern universe has been under besieging for the better portion of the past century. This has been due to many factors. The waste produced by an ever-expanding human population has tainted much of the natural resources available to both worlds and animate beings likewise. Attempts to control this waste end product and to more efficaciously dispose of the waste have failed in the mainstream. The changeless alteration of the common environment instituted by worlds who have jointly sought to modify their ain home ground has exacted a high toll on the available home ground for lesser animals. Changeless waste production, hapless disposal, and habitat invasion have combined to render the balance of the natural universe asunder. ? The delicate and intricate balance of the natural universe has been damaged by a dominant species that has normally disregarded its built-in duty to garnish its actions concurrent with the universe it portions with the remainder of nature? ( Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species. p3 ) .

An all excessively common consequence of this instability is the termination of full species of animate beings that are dependent on cherished resources. Historically, the presence of worlds

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has exponentially accelerated the natural rate at which periphery species have met with extinction. Modern worlds have followed their ain ancient case in point in this respect. ? Recorded grounds of early human colony has shown that human presence entirely had accelerated extinction rates to several times its natural rate? ( Center for the Reproduction of Endangered Species. p4 ) .

However, it is a different case in point that modern worlds have sought with the coming of a new and more complete consciousness of our corporate function as the dominant species. Several recent progresss in waste intervention are offering options to the usual high-output, uneconomical social paradigm. Although habitat invasion continues to be a beginning of great struggle between the human population and the carnal universe, the human race has begun in earnest to try Restoration of some species that have fallen casualty to pollution, invasion, or both. Although success has been limited, these renewing attempts represent a calculation on the behalf of worlds with their topographic point in the natural order.

One of the most successful of these plans concerns the California Condor. This brilliant species had all but disappeared from its natural scope due to the human presence. With the late recorded death of the California Condor? s natural population came the attempt to repopulate selected countries of home ground with captively strain condors.

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THE STUDY OF THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR

The California Condor is a singular species of scavenging birds autochthonal chiefly to California. Early surveies showed populations of condors runing from the bouldery coastal countries to the interior mountains. In the early 1900s, sightings of these olympian birds, although recluse in nature, were platitude.

Early on in the 1900s, serious scientific surveies began on the California Condors. There were many successful surveies in the natural state, and at that place was increasing involvement from the scientific community. In 1939, the naturalist Carl Koford foremost began a careful scientific survey of these condors in the natural state. Carefully documented field surveies yielded a wealth of information about a species in the American West that had antecedently eluded the scientific oculus. One development ensuing from the survey of Carl Koford was the constitution of the exact nature of the diet of these birds. Although known to be chiefly scavengers, it was learned merely how good adapted these birds are at happening and know aparting suited quarry. It was learned that the primary eating times were during daylight hours, with most activity focus oning near midday. They were observed feeding on carcases in all provinces of decay, and even viing with other more aggressive species for rights to a putting to death. Their measures are finely adapted to rupturing carnal flesh, and their digestive systems are specially suited to digesting decomposing flesh. Condors were non known to hold attacked unrecorded quarry, and the diet of condors was found to hold been an mixture

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of carcases found throughout the eating scope. ? Condors were found to hold spent an norm of 15 hours a twenty-four hours at the perching site, and even more hours on yearss of inclement conditions? ( Grossman. p38 ) .

These surveies besides produced the first scientific step of the societal construction of these birds. Their population had come under intuition during this clip, and the population count during this clip seemed to turn out their diminution. The districts of these birds were found to be broad stretching, frequently including several hundred stat mis. The ability of these birds to roll these districts in hunt of nutrient was found to be unbelievable, with some specimens gliding on big wings every bit far as 10 stat mis with no flying motion. Poor conditions and still air had been found to curtail the birds to the nesting site. In optimal conditions, doing usage of thermic updrafts for efficient flight was found to be common among these birds. This mobility was shown to supply another advantage with the remains of coastal Marine mollusk found near some nesting sites during the survey. In combination with the diet of these birds, this mobility led to conflict with the ranching attempts of worlds. Many ranchers began doing a ill-conceived attempt to protect their farm animal by regularly shot condors even though condors are scavengers, and are non huntsmans of unrecorded quarry. Further, athletics hiting went mostly unregulated for old ages.

Some other developments included set uping the nature of the generative biological science of the condors. These birds were observed as pit inhabitants. ? Nesting in bouldery caves, crannies, or among boulder formations, these condors were found to travel to new sites between nesting efforts? ( The Encyclopedia of Birds ) . This was deemed to be portion

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of the home ground needs these birds required. The incubation period of these birds was found to be 54 to 58 yearss, with each parent taking bends guarding the nest. The breakability of these birds was attributed in portion to their low birth rate. ? A mature female will put one egg merely every two old ages, and the immature are fed throughout most of their 18 to twenty month adolescence. Although a smart Begins flight pattern at five to six months of age, the dependence on the grownups for nutrient can go on into the 2nd twelvemonth? ( Audubon? s Birds of America. ) . This generative profile rendered the condor population sensitive to runing and invasion because they required so long a period of clip to renew losingss in population. ? The effects of industrial chemical pollution farther complicated regeneration of losingss. Industrial chemical pollution has been proven to be destructive with surveies holding shown that the eggshells of condors were reduced in thickness by every bit much as 30 per centum after the widespread usage of DDT? ( MacMillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds ) .

CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR

With the cognition gained from successful field surveies, scientists began to see solutions to the dwindling wild population of California Condors. Captive genteelness was an thought that garnished considerable attending from the general scientific

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community. Two scientists from the San Diego Zoo proposed a captive-breeding plan aimed specifically at renewing the wild population of California Condors. The San Diego Zoo Director Belle Benchley and Curator K.C. Lint had met with considerable success with a confined genteelness plan aimed at engendering Andean Condors through a technique known as dual clutching. This involved taking eggs from confined genteelness braces, thereby exciting the female to put one egg every twelvemonth. The twofold egg puting rate offered possible for regeneration of Numberss faster than a of course engendering brace. Pressure from environmental groups finally prevented the proposed plan from traveling into action with the overruling concern being perturbation of the staying braces in the natural state.

The attending devoted to the saving of the California Condor experienced a revival in 19 sixty-six when the California Condor appeared on the first published list of endangered species. The population estimations ranged from 50 to sixty birds.

The population continued to worsen and in 19 79 estimations ranged from 25 to thirt

y-five birds in the wild. There was increasing force per unit area from the California Fish and Game Commission, The Audubon Society, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to implement an aggressive plan to salvage the staying condors. Two old ages subsequently, a positive observation was made by life scientists of California Condors puting replacing eggs after losingss of first laid eggs at distant nesting sites. This provided extra acceptance to the thought of utilizing the dual clutching technique with

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confined braces to renew the species. The Condor Research Center was granted licence to try calculated arrangement clutching or condor braces to help in a captive-breeding plan.

Several old ages passed with go oning attempts to get down confined genteelness ensuing in the first confined hatch in March of 19 83. By this clip, the wild population was estimated to be 19 birds. By 19 85, this continued diminution of the wild genteelness population coupled with the initial confined genteelness success resulted in blessing of a program to capture the staying wild birds for confined genteelness. The staying nine wild birds were captured, and the genteelness plan expanded.

Finally, unreal incubation began as portion of the regeneration attempt. The unnaturally incubated eggs hatched at about twice the rate of eggs studied in the natural state. This high success rate Lent farther acceptance to the one time controversial intercession in the name of species regeneration.

The proper attention of the confined birds was the intent behind the design of the confined genteelness installation. The first installation was called the Condorminium, and was designed as an enclosure that would let the most natural scene possible. This was concurrent with the concluding end of reintroduction. The installations used for this captive-breeding plan were designed to let limited flutter and mobility for the birds, therefore extenuating the emphasis of imprisonment. Constructed in an country of entree to weave and some conditions, these enclosures helped to continue some sense of inherent aptitude. To farther keep a healthy environment, the enclosures were purely off bounds to the populace. Enclosures used

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in this plan were installed in several parts of the American West, with braces being raised in San Diego, Boise, and finally Los Angeles.

The success of this plan was to be measured by the release of engendering braces of condors that were bread in imprisonment. There were several jobs to be addressed in this procedure. One inquiry was how to guarantee that the condors to be released would hold the benefit of human antipathy. Minimizing human contact during the raising phase was one step stipulated in the plan lineation. Negative support preparation was widely used to condition confined birds with the accomplishments needed to win in the natural state. Aversion preparation was besides used in an effort to prevent inadvertent hurts after release. The natural wonder of condors can take wild condors near population centres, frequently to roost on power lines. Aversion preparation aimed at forestalling such roosting can include showing confined birds with a combination of trees and mock telephone poles to roost on. If the birds choose to roost on the mock poles instead than on the available trees, they are provided negative support by manner of a mild daze. These techniques are in topographic point to afford confined birds every chance for success upon release.

The release plan continued to turn, with multiple braces deriving release between 19 93 and 19 97. The first release site was in the Los Padres National Forest in southern California. There were two separate release points constructed at that place in response to an addition in human activity and power lines. There was a 2nd release point used in Lion Canyon, which is besides in the Los Padres National Forest. Subsequently, a site 30 stat mis north of the Grand Canyon called Vermillion

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Cliffs was chosen as a release site because of its alone landscape and distant location. The success of the released condors has proven promoting. There are four countries now populated by released genteelness braces, and future releases are planned at regular intervals. Care of released birds includes teasing designated feeding countries with carcases to promote the birds to larn to scavenge. This requires regular arrangement of nutrient with careful turning away of any human contact in order to assist continue the bird? s natural seeking inherent aptitude. Many inquiries remain about the hereafter of these birds, but the regeneration of the wild population continues to profit from the confined genteelness plans.

LIMITATIONS OF CONDOR CAPTIVE Breeding

Captive genteelness plans represent a conjunct attempt on behalf of worlds to prolong the species that have been soberly affected by the alterations in environment bought approximately by the actions of world. Many people accept plans such as these as advancement toward repairing the harm inflicted by worlds on the environment. There are, nevertheless, several cardinal inquiries that are traveling unreciprocated.

First, does replying the slow regeneration job through confined dual seizing fix the job of extinction or merely detain a symptom? It is of import to acknowledge that the Numberss of wild condors were diminished to the point of close extinction as a consequence of human devastation of home ground. Through pollution and

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invasion, worlds have for good changed the environment. Decelerating this rate of alteration is cardinal to any solution if we are to try to make equilibrium with nature.

Second, can the corporate actions of the human race be changed sufficiently for the continued endurance of periphery species? Evidence has shown that struggle between delicate species and the agricultural colony of common home ground necessarily leads to the decimation of the species in inquiry, in this instance the California Condor. The solution to this component of the job is possibly the most elusive. This can non be answered by relocation or repopulation. The actions of the human race must go responsible on the single degree. Education about endangered species and federal protection of endangered species can assist, but the questionable hereafter of delicate species can be made more certain merely by responsible actions on the portion of persons. Additionally, can worlds portion common land with wild scavengers with out justification for gratuitous runing? Many people do non see why worlds should seek to portion resources with a viing species.

This leads to possibly the most cardinal inquiry refering preservation in general. Why preserve? Many mean people fail to see the mistake in the actions of worlds as the dominant species on the planet when annihilate subsidiary species. If there exists a struggle between human involvements and the demands of a viing species, so why suit a lesser-developed animate being? The reply can merely be found in the thought that worlds have a duty to continue the natural order. Possibly best answered by

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a Park Ranger with whom I had the chance to talk about this really issue, ? salvaging weak species may look like a waste of clip to some people, but every bit shortly as we give up on a individual species, we have started down the incorrect way? . Humans, as a race, benefit from natural saving in the jutting hereafter. Long term saving of natural resources, works, mineral, and animate being likewise, is an thought that holds small virtue with a bulk of worlds who are frequently faced with more immediate concerns for their ain good being and public assistance. Balancing immediate demands and long term involvements is one challenge confronting the human race as resources become more scarce and human demands grow with our population. If we are to jointly last as members of an intricate ecosystem, we must larn to pull off our natural laterality toward the good of the planet.

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? New World Vultures. ? Macmillan Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia. 1984 erectile dysfunction. p216

? Condors and Vultures. ? Audubon? s Birds of America. CrossRiver Press, 1981. p89

Grossman, Mary Louise. Birds of Prey of the World. Clarkson N. Potter, 1964. p37-39, 203-204.

? Birds of Prey- The Raptors. ? The Encyclopedia of Birds. 1985 erectile dysfunction. p103-104

? California Condor Conservation Efforts. ? Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species. 1 April 2000. pp1-5. San Diego Zoo. 8 April 2000. *http: //www.sandiegozoo.org/cres/milestone.html* .

? Condor Reproductive Biology. ? Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species. 1 April 2000. pp 1-4. San Diego Zoo. 7 April 2000. *http: //www.sandiegozoo.org/cres/reproductive.html*