1 Key Findings

· Geographic patterns of diversity in the South indicate that species richness is highest in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. Texas leads in the richness of mammals, birds, and reptiles; North Carolina leads in amphibian diversity. Texas dominates vertebrate richness by virtue of its large size and the variety of its ecosystems.




· Loss of habitat is the primary cause of endangerment of terrestrial vertebrates. Forests, grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands have been converted to urban, industrial, and agricultural uses. Other factors include environmental contaminants, commercial exploitation, coastal development, fire suppression, river and stream modification, and wetland degradation.




· Species that are Federally listed as threatened or endangered consist of 22 birds, 33 mammals, 7 amphibians, and 17 reptiles. Florida leads with the number of threatened (16) and endangered (26) vertebrates; Texas is second in endangered species (23); while Mississippi is second in the number of threatened species (11).




· Birds of high concern include the red-cockaded woodpecker, bald eagle, piping plover, whooping crane, wood stork, black-capped vireo, Florida scrub jay, and the roseate and least terns.




· Habitat destruction and the paucity of large tracts of undisturbed land threaten far-ranging mammals such as the Florida panther, red wolf, and the Louisiana black bear. Other mammals of concern include the Carolina and Virginia northern flying squirrels, the river otter, and several rodents.




·Twenty species of bats inhabit the South. Four are listed as endangered: the gray bat, Indiana bat, and Ozark and Virginia big-eared bats. Human disturbance to hibernation and maternity colonies is a major factor in their decline.




· The South is the center of amphibian biodiversity in the Nation. However, there are growing concerns about amphibian declines. Potential causes include habitat destruction, exotic species, water pollution, ozone depletion leading to excessive ultraviolet radiation, acid deposition, synthetic chemicals, and prolonged drought conditions.




· Seven species of amphibians are listed as threatened or endangered by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service: the Houston toad, Flatwoods salamander, San Marcos salamander, Barton Springs salamander, Red Hills salamander, Shenandoah Mountain salamander, and Texas blind salamander. These species are imperiled due to physiological constraints that limit them to moist habitats, relatively small ranges, and highly specific sites.




· Reptile species of concern include the Louisiana pine snake, eastern indigo snake, crocodile, glass lizard, bluetail mole skink, gopher tortoise, and bog turtle. General problems faced by reptiles include habitat destruction, pet trade, negative public attitudes, degradation of aquatic habitats, and fire suppression or the lack of sufficient prescribed burning.




· Many reptiles and amphibians are long-lived and late maturing, and have restricted geographic ranges. Managing for these species will require different strategies than those in place for birds and mammals. The paucity of monitoring data further inhibits their management.