Introduction - Mountains and Plains: The Ecology of Wyoming Landscapes - page 10

distinguish from related species that are common, which
leads to controversy about whether the restrictions of the
endangered Species Act are needed. Do the advocates of
such action really know? the expertise of systematists,
taxonomists, and geneticists is required. it's clear, how-
ever, that scientists cannot accomplish the goal of con-
servation by themselves. Stemming the tide of habitat
destruction and extinction requires joining forces with
people from all walks of life—landowners; policymakers;
nongovernmental organizations; and local, state, and
federal agencies. collaborating with so many parties is
complicated but necessary as increased value is placed on
rare species and other limited resources. notably, some
resources, though not traditional commodities, have the
potential of providing ecosystem services that can be
bought and sold.

Ecosystem Services

earth's ecosystems provide many benefits in addition
to habitat for wildlife and rare species. these benefits,
often referred to as ecosystem services, include

Fig. 1.8. the worldwide distribution of desert yellowhead
( Yermo xanthocephalus ) is confined to several hundred acres
of desert shrubland in central Wyoming. A member of the
sunflower family, this plant was first discovered and named
by Robert Dorn in 1990 and is protected by the endangered
Species Act. it grows to a height of about 12 inches. Photo by
Bonnie Heidel.

Fig. 1.7. the black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ), a member of
the weasel family, was believed to be extinct until a few dozen
individuals were found in 1981 on a ranch near Meteetsee,
Wyoming. With the collaboration of private landowners,
biologists, and state and federal agencies, there are now about
1,000 ferrets living in twenty large prairie dog colonies in
Arizona, colorado, Kansas, Montana, new Mexico, South
Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, canada, and Mexico. Adults are
18-24 inches long. the species is protected by the endangered
Species Act. Photographed in Arizona by George Andrejko,
Arizona Game and Fish Department.

• erosion control,
• maintenance of soil fertility,
• inhibition of invasive plants,
• provision of clean water,
• air iltration,
• mitigation of droughts and loods,
• provision of habitat for insects that pollinate crops,
• detoxiication and decomposition of waste materials,
• sequestration of carbon dioxide,
• control of agricultural pests, and
• provision of meat from areas that are too dry to culti-
vate using standard agricultural practices.

Such benefits are provided by the diversity of native
plants, animals, and microbes that thrive in the harsh
environments of the region.