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WEB PAGE WORKSHOP

Biodiversity: Animals in Danger


Appendix A. Information to include.

You need to find this information:

Section 1

- Common name (example: otter)
- Species name (example: Lutra lutra)
- Class, order and family (example: class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Mustelidae)
- Size (example: 60-85 cm long)
- Weight (example: 6-9 Kg)
- Longevity (example: 15 years)
- World region (example: Europe and Asia)
- Habitat (example: stony rivers in forests, with clear waters; also lakes)
- Number of cubs per litter or eggs per lay (example: 1 or 2, occasionally more, up to 5)
- World population (example: less than a million)
- Food (example: mainly fish; also crabs, frogs, reptiles, birds, rats, etc.)
- Predators (example: no predators, but sometimes wolves or bears attack them)

Section 2

- Biological importance (example: it is an excellent bioindicator of the quality of water in a river, because it only lives in very clean water).

- Interesting habits or characteristics (example: it can reproduce at any time of the year, depending on how much food there is. Its hair is so thick that water can't go through it. It can be under water for 3 minutes).

Section 3

- Situation (example: in danger of extinction. In Spain the population is recovering slowly, and it is a "special interest species".)

- Reasons for the situation (example: water pollution; destruction of rivers to build reservoirs, canals, etc; destruction of forests; isolation in small groups; water scarcity because of draughts or irrigation systems).

- Preservation actions: we must avoid the pollution of rivers and the destruction of forests and river plants. We must not take too much water from rivers. We must control irrigation systems and canal building. We must eliminate artificial barriers. We must tell people about these problems to influence public opinion. We must make natural reserves.


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