A species become endangered when its numbers are so low that it is in danger of extinction in the near future. The list of threatened and endangered species in the United States and around the world is constantly growing due to a variety of reasons. In 1998, about 965 species in the United States were listed as endangered or threatened.

What endangered or threatened species have been identified for your region of the country?

Form a hypothesis to explain some of the reasons why the organisms identified as threatened or endangered in your region are on the list.

     Goals

• Obtain and organize data.

• Infer relationships between the plant or animal and its environment.

• Use the Internet to collect and compare data from other students.

     Data Sources

• Weblinks
• View Student Data

     Plan

1. Find links to information on the Glencoe Science Web Site. You can also find information on endangered species at the local library or a local zoo.
2. Prepare a data table similar to the one below to record your findings.
3. If possible, observe one of the endangered or threatened species you've identified either in a zoo or in the wild.

     Do

1. Describe the habitat and range of the organism you chose to study.
2. Identify any steps being taken to protect the organism. Outline the recovery plan written for one of the organisms in your region.
3. Post the information you collected in the table provided below.
4. Check the postings by other students for more information on your organism and on other organisms.