Although the loss or degradation of habitat is the primary threat to most endangered plants and animals, many of these species also face danger in a variety of other forms. Among these additional factors are environmental contamination from the misuse of pesticides and other chemicals, disease, invasions of harmful non-native species, and the loss of genetic diversity in small populations. This edition of the Endangered Species Bulletin takes a look at these other threats which, like habitat loss, are often the result of human related changes in the environment. The solutions usually are not obvious or easy to carry out, but cooperative public and private efforts offer hope that they may eventually be overcome.

Endangered Species Bulletin -- March/April 1996 -- Table of Contents