Final answer:
Endangered species are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which covers laws and regulations for species at risk. The act mandates the creation of management plans and extends protection to both public and private lands. The correct answer to complete the statement about species protection is option d. Endangered Species Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
Endangered species are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which prohibits any activity that would harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, catch, capture, or collect any species identified as endangered.
This act was established in 1973 and strives to preserve not only individual species but also the ecosystems they inhabit, despite facing challenges such as the difficulty of listing new species and the implementation of effective management plans. The U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service is mandated to create these plans and to consult with federal agencies on actions that could affect these species, thus extending the act's reach to both public and private actions that may jeopardize listed species or their habitats.
The correct option that completes the statement is d. Endangered Species Act.