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Puget Sound Georgia Basin Ecosystem |  |
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As of September 1, 2004, 63 species of concern were listed by one or more jurisdictions in the Puget Sound Georgia Basin marine ecosystem. Read more… |
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There are four major factors that influence a species' decline. Read more… |
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The famous E.O Wilson believed that all people have a built-in genetic imprint that causes our inner need to commune with nature. Read more… |
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Strategies generally fall into the following categories. Read more… |
This indicator describes changes in listings or designation of marine species at risk in the Puget Sound Georgia Basin. The species listed are native to this area and their populations have decreased so dramatically they are at risk or, in some cases, threatened with extinction. In some cases, a local population of a species has been listed or designated by State, Provincial or Federal listing in the U.S. or Canada because it is genetically distinct and uniquely adapted to this area (called a sub-species or an ecologically significant unit) and, therefore warrants special attention to ensure its conservation. The indicator addresses only those marine species that utilize the Puget Sound Georgia Basin ecosystem and were formally listed or designated as an at-risk species prior to September 2004.
In many ways, the species at risk indicator represents the comprehensive
effects that humans have on the Puget Sound Georgia Basin through
population pressure, development patterns, use of toxic chemicals
and land use changes. It is these factors, in combination with
over-harvesting, that have resulted in a decrease in local area
biodiversity and species reproductive viability.
The Puget Sound Georgia Basin is one of the most biologically productive, diverse and stunningly beautiful places in the world. Biodiversity is often characterized by species richness – the number of plants and animals that spend all or part of their lifecycle in a particular area.1
What is an estuary? |
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An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body
of water that has a free connection with the open sea and
where fresh water derived from land drainage (usually mouths
of rivers) is mixed with seawater; often subject to tidal
action and cyclic fluctuations in salinity.
In estuaries, the fresh river water is blocked from streaming into the open ocean by surrounding mainland, peninsulas, barrier islands, or fringing salt marshes. This mixing of fresh and salt water creates a unique environment that brims with life of all kinds.41 |
We are bounded by water, enriched by the productivity of our estuarine environment, and fortunate to have a dizzying array of plants and animals as our neighbors.
They help define our collective experience, whether walking the rocky coastline with great blue herons, brants and western grebes; kayaking in a bay with a watchful eye for sea lions, porpoises or Killer Whales; watching with bated breath through a pair of binoculars at a Grey Whale or wading the intertidal amongst sea stars and shore crabs.
Species live in ecosystems of which humans as a part. An ecosystem is similar to your body, your family or your neighborhood. It is composed of different elements such as:
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What is a healthy ecosystem? |
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A healthy ecosystem is one that is intact
in its physical, chemical and biological components and
their interrelationships, such that it is resilient and
can withstand change and stressors. It is a system that
is not experiencing the abnormal growth or decline of native
species, the concentration of persistent contaminants, or
drastic human caused changes to its landscape or ecological
processes. A healthy and diverse ecosystem is one that provides
abundant and beneficial services to its constituents, such
as food, water, shelter, economic livelihood, recreation,
and natural beauty3.
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Within an ecosystem there are figurative blueprints, for what types of microorganisms, plants and animals interact within that system.
These are elegantly inter-connected and inter-dependent natural systems, relying on a very wide range of essential species and habitat relationships.
Plants, through photosynthesis, use the energy from sunlight
to make carbohydrates. A range of both primary and secondary "consumers"
such as plant eating animals, plant parasites, animals and scavengers,
eat plant and animal matter. Decomposers such as bacteria and
fungi then break down organic matters to provide basic plant nutrients.
These collective processes make our lives possible.
Think for a moment about bees and other pollinators in your garden dipping themselves into the sweet nectar of aster, ribes, lupine, mint, delphinium, snowberry and English lavendar. Without pollination, plants – including fruits and vegetables – could not flower and grow, including most commercially significant crops. This is significant since plants are the primary food source for animals2.
Ecosystems also provide free wastewater treatment systems because they remove heavy metals and toxins from water and soil (see the Urbanization and Forest Change Indicator for a description of ecosystem services). Our local ecosystem provides highly valued recreation and roughly 50 percent of all prescription medicines are derived from natural sources. Accordingly, it's in our best interest to protect ecosystems by managing where and how we grow more thoughtfully.
| Marine Species at Risk Indicator Technical Background Document (PDF, 7pp., 51KB) | Download PDF |
| Listed Species of Concern Within The Puget Sound Georgia Basin Ecosystem | View Data |
| Map Data for Species at Risk in the Puget Sound
Georgia Basin Ecosystem |
View Data |
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Marine Species at Risk