The number of Maine\u2019s \u201cspecies of greatest conservation need\u201d has almost doubled in the latest wildlife protection roadmap released by the state.<\/p>\n
The 10-year Wildlife Action Plan now includes more than 700 kinds of birds, mammals, fish and invertebrates.<\/p>\n
For the first time it also includes plants, said Alex Fish, endangered and threatened species coordinator with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that increased around 300 species there, including endangered, threatened and special concern plant species,\u201d Fish said in an interview.<\/p>\n
Plants were not included in previous iterations of the plan, but were folded in this time because of an understanding that plant species have associations with other vulnerable wildlife, Fish added.<\/p>\n
\u201cEndangered, threatened, or special concern plants occupy less than 1% of the state, so they\u2019re not common at all but they can really be indicators of rare and uncommon habitats,\u201d Fish said.<\/p>\n
The higher number of species also reflects better understanding of the conservation status of some invertebrates such as bees and butterflies, according to the department.<\/p>\n