What is the difference between a 'threatened' and 'endangered' species?

Question

Does anyone know? Anyone here do Biology?

Answer 1

An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. An endangered species is usually a taxonomic species, but may be another evolutionary significant unit. The World Conservation Union (IPCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species as 40 percent of all organisms based on the sample of species that have been evaluated through 2006.[2] (Note: the IUCN groups all threatened species for their summary purposes.) Many nations have laws offering protection to these species: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating preserves. Only a few of the many species at risk of extinction actually make it to the lists and obtain legal protection. Many more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, without gaining public notice.

Examples of Endangred species incude the Blue Whale, Black-footed Ferret, Tiger, Snow Leopard, Bali Mynah, Mindoro Imperial-pigeon, Jackass Penguin, Loggerhead Sea Turtle,Aurelio's Rock Lizard, Green Sea turtle, Baikal sturgeon,Amami Tip-nosed Frog Amami Rabbit. Aye-aye.

Near Threatened (NT) is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa which may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status. As such the IUCN notes the importance of re-evaluating Near Threatened taxa often or at appropriate intervals.

The rationale used for Near Threatened taxa usually includes the criteria of Vulnerable which are plausible or nearly met, such as reduction in numbers or range. Near Threatened species evaluated from 2001 onwards may also be ones which are dependent on conservation efforts to prevent their becoming threatened, where as prior to this Conservation Dependent species were given a separate category.There are 3703 taxa which have been evaluated and are considered Near Threatened by the IUCN. These include 2423 animal species, and 1050 plant species.Additionally the 402 Conservation Dependent taxa may also be considered Near Threatened.

Examples of near threatened species include the leafy sea dragon, Kererū, Salamanderfish, Krüper's Nuthatch, California Red-legged Frog, Silvery Woolly Monkey, Arrojadoa dinae, Chamaesyce olowaluana, Cycas brunnea, Dayak Fruit Bat.

Answer 2

one is under threat, possibly could become endangered of extinction.

The other is endangered somethings happens "boom" no more existy

Answer 3

This isn't so much biology as a legal definition. The distinction I use is that an endangered species (or other group) is in immediate danger of extinction. A threatened species is in danger of becoming endangered (one step more secure). Some groups also recognize species "of special concern", locally endangered or threatened populations, and species that are at the edge of their ranges in the area that you are dealing with (e.g. a state).

Answer 4

Threatened species are species that are in decline but not yet reaching extinction. Endangered species are species that are approaching extinction and if something isn't done they will disappear.

It is basically a matter of numbers/how many are left and how fast they reproduce.  

Answer 5

Your asking a defnition Q and you can look up the EPA definitions. I will however as some other participants have already mentioned, emphasize the we have a threatened category to keep the species or habitat from becoming endangered and closer to extinction. People who think such matters are irrelevant are ignorant since they believe nature and humans are separate, when in fact we are embedded in nature, changing with it. When a species goes extinct, the world is poorer for it! Literally because the species had a niche to fill sustaining the ecosystem incl the food web and the recycling of matter and energy in ways essential to everything else. If we loose certain species, like the bees or corals for example, the catastrophic consequences could be nearly beyond rational belief bec we have no way to perform their poorly understood or under-appreciated ecological roles!

"Generally, an endangered species is an organism in danger of disappearing from the face of the earth if its situation is not improved.



When its race has not been seen in the wild for over fifty years, we say that it is extinct. Those species that may soon become endangered are called threatened species. Rare animals are species with small populations that may also be at risk.

         In the United States of America, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was created to protect endangered species and the habitats on which they depend. This piece of legislation established two degrees of endangerment: immediate risk and threatened. For example, endangered species such as the California condor are at immediate risk of extinction and probably cannot survive without direct human intervention.

         Threatened species, such as the gray wolf, are abundant in parts of their range but are declining in overall numbers and are at risk of extinction in the probable future. In addition to these official categories, biologists also recognize rare species, such as the greater prairie chicken, which exist throughout their range but in relatively low numbers.

         The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is a nongovernmental organization collecting global information on endangered species. It has established similar categories of endangered species, but refer to them as critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable.

         The main causes of species extinction or endangerment are habitat destruction, commercial exploitation (such as plant collecting, hunting, and trade in animal parts), damage caused by non-native plants and animals introduced into an area, and pollution. Of these causes, direct habitat destruction endangers the most species. Many organisms have already been wiped out. The only certain thing is that we must act quickly. Once endangered species become extinct, they are gone FOREVER."

ref:---> http://library.thinkquest.org/25014/what...

Answer 6

Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to extinction in the near future. World Conservation Union (IUCN) is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories: vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered, depending on the degree to which they are threatened while an endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. Species which are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of critical depensation, a mathematical measure of biomass related to population growth rate. An endangered species is usually a taxonomic species, but may be another evolutionary significant unit.