50 years of invertebrate conservation under the United States Endangered Species Act—history and threats to species
IntroductionThe United States Endangered Species Act celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. As a hallmark piece of environmental legislation, the Act has successfully prevented the extinction of hundreds of species. During these last 50 years, we have observed the decline of many species of invert...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2025.1505451/full |
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| author | Vaughn M. Shirey Vaughn M. Shirey Jayme M.M. Lewthwaite Jayme M.M. Lewthwaite Ann Marie Gawel Ann Marie Gawel Laura Melissa Guzman |
| author_facet | Vaughn M. Shirey Vaughn M. Shirey Jayme M.M. Lewthwaite Jayme M.M. Lewthwaite Ann Marie Gawel Ann Marie Gawel Laura Melissa Guzman |
| author_sort | Vaughn M. Shirey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe United States Endangered Species Act celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. As a hallmark piece of environmental legislation, the Act has successfully prevented the extinction of hundreds of species. During these last 50 years, we have observed the decline of many species of invertebrates, resulting in the listing of 356 species.MethodsHere, we summarize the state of endangered invertebrates using text mining to review all listing documents, including listing decisions, species status assessments, critical habitat designations, and status reviews. In our review, we evaluate the most prevalent threats for aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.ResultsWe found that invertebrates have been assessed and listed consistently in the past 50 years, and the last eight years have seen an uptick in status reviews. Further, we find that pollution, natural system modifications (such as dams), and intrinsic factors (such as small population sizes or number of populations) are the major contributing threats to aquatic invertebrates. On the other hand, problematic biotic factors (such as invasive species), climate change, residential and commercial development, and pollution are the major threats to terrestrial invertebrates.DiscussionOverall, our study reviews the current threats to invertebrates and provides a baseline for the next 50 years in the face of a shifting threat and conservation arena. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-12d80b3052cf48cf858f2be73e995ef1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-611X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-12d80b3052cf48cf858f2be73e995ef12025-08-20T03:44:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Conservation Science2673-611X2025-04-01610.3389/fcosc.2025.1505451150545150 years of invertebrate conservation under the United States Endangered Species Act—history and threats to speciesVaughn M. Shirey0Vaughn M. Shirey1Jayme M.M. Lewthwaite2Jayme M.M. Lewthwaite3Ann Marie Gawel4Ann Marie Gawel5Laura Melissa Guzman6Marine and Environmental Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesMcGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United StatesMarine and Environmental Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, CanadaEnvironmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY, United StatesCenter for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United StatesMarine and Environmental Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesIntroductionThe United States Endangered Species Act celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. As a hallmark piece of environmental legislation, the Act has successfully prevented the extinction of hundreds of species. During these last 50 years, we have observed the decline of many species of invertebrates, resulting in the listing of 356 species.MethodsHere, we summarize the state of endangered invertebrates using text mining to review all listing documents, including listing decisions, species status assessments, critical habitat designations, and status reviews. In our review, we evaluate the most prevalent threats for aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.ResultsWe found that invertebrates have been assessed and listed consistently in the past 50 years, and the last eight years have seen an uptick in status reviews. Further, we find that pollution, natural system modifications (such as dams), and intrinsic factors (such as small population sizes or number of populations) are the major contributing threats to aquatic invertebrates. On the other hand, problematic biotic factors (such as invasive species), climate change, residential and commercial development, and pollution are the major threats to terrestrial invertebrates.DiscussionOverall, our study reviews the current threats to invertebrates and provides a baseline for the next 50 years in the face of a shifting threat and conservation arena.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2025.1505451/fullendangered species actconservationinsectsinvertebratesmollusks |
| spellingShingle | Vaughn M. Shirey Vaughn M. Shirey Jayme M.M. Lewthwaite Jayme M.M. Lewthwaite Ann Marie Gawel Ann Marie Gawel Laura Melissa Guzman 50 years of invertebrate conservation under the United States Endangered Species Act—history and threats to species Frontiers in Conservation Science endangered species act conservation insects invertebrates mollusks |
| title | 50 years of invertebrate conservation under the United States Endangered Species Act—history and threats to species |
| title_full | 50 years of invertebrate conservation under the United States Endangered Species Act—history and threats to species |
| title_fullStr | 50 years of invertebrate conservation under the United States Endangered Species Act—history and threats to species |
| title_full_unstemmed | 50 years of invertebrate conservation under the United States Endangered Species Act—history and threats to species |
| title_short | 50 years of invertebrate conservation under the United States Endangered Species Act—history and threats to species |
| title_sort | 50 years of invertebrate conservation under the united states endangered species act history and threats to species |
| topic | endangered species act conservation insects invertebrates mollusks |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2025.1505451/full |
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