According to an EPA source cited in Planning Magazine, Which state has the highest number of endangered species?

According to an EPA source cited in Planning Magazine, Which state has the highest number of endangered species?

• A. Hawaii
• B. Alaska
• C. Louisiana
• D. California

Answer: (A)

Endangerment counts by state hinge on how many species occur exclusively within that state's borders. Hawaii stands out because its isolated island ecosystems host a large number of endemic species—plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. Those endemics typically have small, localized populations, so they are especially vulnerable to threats like habitat loss, invasive species, and introduced diseases. When the EPA compiles and reports the number of endangered or threatened species for each state, Hawaii ends up with the highest total, which is the figure Planning Magazine cites. Other states like Alaska, California, and Louisiana have many imperiled species as well, but Hawaii’s unique mix of endemism and vulnerability drives its top position in these EPA-based counts.

Endangerment counts by state hinge on how many species occur exclusively within that state's borders. Hawaii stands out because its isolated island ecosystems host a large number of endemic species—plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. Those endemics typically have small, localized populations, so they are especially vulnerable to threats like habitat loss, invasive species, and introduced diseases. When the EPA compiles and reports the number of endangered or threatened species for each state, Hawaii ends up with the highest total, which is the figure Planning Magazine cites. Other states like Alaska, California, and Louisiana have many imperiled species as well, but Hawaii’s unique mix of endemism and vulnerability drives its top position in these EPA-based counts.