Endangered Species
The states associated with the Great Basin have a number of endangered species, most of which are plants.
Endangered Plants
Gowen Cypress
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Cupressaceae |
HabitatFound in open pine woodlands of California.
Thrives in climate with dry, hot summers and cool winters with rain. |
PopulationFewer than 2,300 mature trees
Decreasing |
ThreatUrbanization
Agriculture Increased wildfires |
Guadalupe Cypress
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Cupressaceae |
HabitatFound on sloped land with full sun exposure.
Grows in sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils. Thrives in climate with dry, hot summers and winter rain. |
PopulationFewer than 10,000 mature trees
Decreasing |
ThreatUrbanization which has lead to increased and uncontrollable wildfires
|
Talus Fritillary
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Liliales Family: Liliaceae |
HabitatFound on sloped sites with full sun exposure.
Grows in serpentine soil. |
PopulationRapidly decreasing
|
ThreatVehicle usage
Mining (which modifies serpentine habitats) Agriculture and logging |
Whitebark Pine |
(keystone species) |
TaxonomyKindgom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae |
HabitatFound in the upper and subalpine ecosystems.
Grow at high elevations in relatively dry, cold climates |
PopulationRapidly decreasing
|
ThreatExotic pathogens (White Pine Blister Rust)
Wildfire suppression Pests (Mountain Pine Beetle) |
Monterey Pine
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae |
HabitatFound on strips of rocky coasts
|
PopulationNo more than five subpopulations still exist
Decreasing |
ThreatLogging
Feral goats Exotic pathogen (pitch canker fungus) Decreased forest fires which have reduced competition |
Torrey Pine
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae |
HabitatFound on rocky or sandy slopes with heavy fog and direct sunlight for "evapo-transpiration"
|
PopulationAn estimated 4,000-4,500 mature trees
Decreasing |
ThreatUrban development
Destructive fires Pests and disease |
Pariette Cactus
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Cactaceae |
HabitatGrows in clay hills and in desert scrub
|
PopulationEstimated at 1,000 individuals scattered in the western U.S.
Decreasing |
ThreatIllegal collection
Oil and gas exploration Off-road vehicles |
Nye County Fish-Hook Cactus
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Cactaceae |
HabitatGrows on hills and slopes in saltbush-dominated deserts
|
PopulationTwo scattered subpopulations exist Decreasing |
ThreatGold mining
Construction Off-Highway Vehicles |
Redwood
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: PInales Family: Cupressaceae |
HabitatHilly terrain
Dry summers |
PopulationStill large population, but decreasing
|
ThreatForestry management practices that alter redwood population
|
Giant Sequoia
TaxonomyKingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: PInales Family: Cupressaceae |
HabitatFound in the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada
Grows best on dry sandy land with available groundwater Humid climate with autumn rains, winter snow, and dry summers |
PopulationGroves of about 20,000 individuals in the Sierra Nevada
Decreasing |
ThreatFire risks (due to past protection meant to benefit competing trees)
|
Endangered Animals
California Freshwater Shrimp
TaxonomyKigdom: Animalia
Phylum: Anthropoda Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Family: Atyidae |
HabitatLowland freshwater streams and pools with little water flow
|
PopulationUnknown
|
ThreatHabitat destruction from flood control
Construction of dams Pollution Introduction of predatory fish |
Pasadena Freshwater Shrimp
TaxonomyKingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Family: Atyidae |
HabitatSmall freshwater rivers and streams
|
PopulationOnly 100 specimens have been collected
|
ThreatChannelization for flood control
Urbanization |
The Information on this page was found on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species website.