With the Sea Otter present, the kelp forest and rocky-reef communities they inhabit flourish. Those species, which are endangered or threatened in Glacier Bay, include the humpback whale (threatened: Mexico wintering population), the Steller sea lion (threatened), and the spectacled eider (threatened). Even slight differences in elevation and directional exposure can radically alter the occurrence of specific habitats and, hence, the distribution of plants and animals.Monitoring changes to the environment, such as impacts due to global climate change and the spread of exotic species, is matched with serious restoration efforts. The Gray Wolves have a population of only 20,000 throughout the world, and they are the largest of the canine family. Official In 1996, the California condor was released back into the wild in the Glen Canyon area, near Lake Powell. If ice covered nearly all lowland areas between Seward Peninsula, Alaska and Puget Sound, Washington, within the last 12,000 years, then it is understandable why the distribution of animals is not yet complete. According to the IUCN Red List, Kittlitz’s Murrelet, are a critically endangered species. The only endangered animal in the park is the gray wolf. Presently, 140 plant and animal species found in Glacier Park are listed by the state of Montana as "Species of Special Concern", four are federally listed as "threatened" (bald eagle, grizzly bear, lynx and bull trout), one is designated "endangered" (gray wolf) and one (slender moonwort) is a candidate for federal listing. Highly adaptable plant forms begin to colonize this sterile environment. The Sea Otter was near extinction, and during this period the Sea Urchin proliferated to unhealthy numbers.
T heir importance is in shaping this near-shore marine ecosystem. However, this has not prevented most species from colonizing Glacier Bay. In November, the U.S. These set the stage for the later and climactic plant species to play their role in the plant succession drama.Spruce, hemlock, blueberry, devil's club and skunk cabbage develop rapidly in a mature forest ecosystem. With the headwaters of three continental drainages located in Glacier Park, flora and fauna have diverse affinities with many species occurring near the geographic limits of their range. Pictures on this page is …
Within the park's environs are found five major land ecosystems: wet tundra (muskeg), coastal western hemlock/Sitka spruce forest, alpine tundra, glaciers and icefields and early post-glacial meadows and thickets.Three major marine ecosystems have been identified in and around the park and preserve: continental shelf, wave-beaten coasts and fjord estuaries.The plants and animals of Glacier Bay are mainly those of the temperate North Pacific coast between northern California and south central Alaska rather than the biota of interior Alaska. Scientific Name: Eumetopias jubatus Family: Steller sea lions are the largest of the otariids and the fourth largest of the pinnipeds, meaning “feather” or “fin” foote
"Wilderness" is a word with many emotional or historical meanings, but one meaning carries federal distinction. As a result, these species have had less difficulty finding habitat. As glaciers retreat, a new barren land emerges. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve provides an outstanding natural environment. Some mammal species have not reached Glacier Bay since the last major ice age drew to a close. The mountain goat and brown bear, both highly mobile creatures, have roamed the region for thousands of years. Seeds and spores are transported by birds and carried by wind to the exposed land surfaces. Glacial movements past and present complicate the distribution of species. They hunt in packs and are an incredible sight to see at Glacier National Park. Horsetail, fireweed, dryas and willow shrubs are the early pioneers. Many smaller mammals such as the vole, wolverine, marmot and porcupine are found in the park as well.Marine mammals include the humpback whale, killer whale, harbor porpoise, harbor seal, Steller sea lion, and sea otter.
Fish and Wildlife Service added the western glacier stonefly (Zapada glacier) and the meltwater lednian stonefly (Lednia tumana) to the Endangered Species List, both under the designation of threatened. In recent times, the coyote, moose and wolf have found suitable habitat in the park. Some wildlife, such as the marbled murrelet, endangered outside of Alaska, and the bald eagle, threatened outside of Alaska, are found in strong numbers in Glacier Bay National Park. Threats that contribute to the decreasing trends in the population include habitat loss, habitat degradation, oil spills, and a possible link between changing climates has been noticed. The final act is found in the climax muskeg-bog, yellow cedar and sphagnum community.