Interior least tern : endangered species
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"Facing threats of habitat loss or degradation, Interior Least Terns have struggled to maintain their population throughout the United States. Man-made dams placed throughout the Missouri River reduce the occurance of natural flooding. Natural flooding is beneficial for the Interior Least Tern because it creates new sandbar habitat and scours vegetation from existing sandbars. Because their primary breeding nesting habitat is located on river sandbars and along lake and reservoir shorelines, they are vulnerable to increasing river discharge flooding their nests. Hydro-electric dams on the Missouri River discharge water during the the energy generation process, so water levels will fluctuate based off of the activity of the dam that divides the water body. ... Due to habitat protection and enhancement, Interior Least Tern numbers have increased substantially since they were listed, especially along the Lower Mississippi River. A 2013 status review recommended they be delisted, contingent on sustained monitoring to ensure population trends are sustainable over time and on development of agreements with federal river-management agencies to continue current conservation measures to support their recovery."--Page 1-2.