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Biodiversity

Biodiversity. Ms. Hubbuch The Howard School. What is Biodiversity?. It is the number of different species in an area. There are thought to be 1.7 million species known Most likely more than 10 million. There are three levels of biodiversity.

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Biodiversity

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  1. Biodiversity Ms. Hubbuch The Howard School

  2. What is Biodiversity? • It is the number of different species in an area. • There are thought to be 1.7 million species known • Most likely more than 10 million

  3. There are three levels of biodiversity. • Ecosystem- the variety of habitats, communities and ecological processes • Species- the number of species in an area • Genetic- all the different genes contained in members of a population

  4. Benefits of Biodiversity • All species depend on healthy ecosystems to ensure a biosphere that has balanced cycles of energy and nutrients. • If one species disappears, there is a gap in the food web.

  5. Benefits of Biodiversity A keystone species is critical to the functions of an ecosystem by affecting survival and abundance of other species.

  6. Benefits of Biodiversity • Genetic diversity within populations in critical to species survival. • It increases the chance that some members of a population will survive environmental changes. • Small and isolated populations are unlikely to survive such a change.

  7. Benefits to Biodiversity • Nearly one quarter of all drugs in the USA are derived from plants. • Almost all antibiotics are derived from chemicals in fungi. • Many of the crops we eat originated from areas of high biodiversity.

  8. Benefits to Biodiversity • Many believe biodiversity should be preserved because species and ecosystems have a right to exist whether or not they have any value. • To people of some cultures and religions, each organism on Earth is a gift with a higher purpose. • Many people personally enjoy keeping pets, camping, picking wildflowers or watching wildlife. • In some areas, a large amount of income is generated from ecotourism, a form of tourism that supports the conservation and sustainable development of ecologically unique areas.

  9. Extinctions • We’ve had 5 mass extinctions and many believe another is now occurring. • Cockroaches and rats are unlikely to go extinct because they have large populations that are easily adapted to many habitats. • Animals especially at risk of extinction are those that migrate, those that need large space or special habitats or those that are exploited by humans.

  10. Extinctions • A threatened species is a species that has a declining population and is likely to become endangered if it is not protected. • An endangered species is a species that is like to become extinct if protected measures are not taken immediately.

  11. What causes extinctions? • HIPPO • Habitat Destruction • Invasive Species • Pollution • Population Growth (Human) • Overharvesting

  12. Habitat Destruction • As human populations grow, we use more land to build homes and harvest resources. In the process, we destroy and fragment habitats of other species. • Due to habitat loss, the Florida Panther is one of the most endangered animals in North America. Fewer than 100 individuals make up the only remaining wild eastern population.

  13. Invasive Species • An invasive species is a nonnative organism that outcompetes native species. • Nations spend billions annually eradicating invasives. • Invasives usually grow and reproduce quickly and will eat anything. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN_bMBIVggY

  14. Pollution • Pesticides, cleaning agents, drugs and other chemicals used by humans are making their way into food webs around the globe. • In the Pacific Ocean, a floating garbage pile is thought to be larger than two times the size of the United States.

  15. Population Growth • As the human population grows, more resources are used to support infrastructure and basic needs. Wood is harvested from forests, oil removed from underground and land cleared for farming. The ecosystem pays a steep price to support human life.

  16. Overharvesting • Thousands of rare species worldwide are harvested and sold for use as pets, houseplants, wood, food or herbal medicine. • Farmland can be overworked, seas can be overfished and popular trends drive the market.

  17. Special Areas of Biodiversity • Some areas of the world contain a greater diversity of species. These areas have a large portion of endemic species, species that are found only within a limited area. • Areas with the greatest level of biodiversity are called hotpots and are nearly always threatened.

  18. Special Areas of Biodiversity http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/animals/news-amazing-amphibian-diversity-appalachians

  19. How do we save species? • Captive breeding programs hope to reintroduce populations to their natural habitats. • The Guam rail is one of the few success stories of captive breeding. It’s population has bounced back from 21 in the wild.

  20. How do we save species? • For some species, especially plants, a germ plasm, which is any form of genetic material, is preserved for future use in research or species-recovery efforts.

  21. How do we save species? • In many zoos and aquariums the few remaining member of a species exist. They serve as living museums for the world’s biodiversity.

  22. How do we save a species? • Since habitat loss is responsible for an estimated 70% of all extinctions, it makes sense to prioritize preserving habitats. • Most conservationists now give priority to protecting entire ecosystems rather than individual species. • Special priority is given to areas designated as hotspots.

  23. How do we save species? • Many nations have laws and regulations designed to prevent the extinction of species. • In 1973 the U.S. Congress passed the Endangered Species Act landmark legislation that protected plants and animals deemed threatened or endangered. • It works for many species but there’s a waiting list for most.

  24. Endangered Species Act and the Tellico Dam

  25. The IUCN and CITES • At the global level, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural resources facilitates efforts to protect species and habitats. • The IUCN publishes Red Lists of species in danger of extinction around the world and advises the government on ways to manage resources and work with private groups. • The IUCN created CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which is focused on preventing the trade of threatened and endangered species.

  26. Private Groups • The World Wildlife Fund encourages sustainable use of resources and supports wildlife protection. • Greenpeace International organizes direct and sometimes confrontational actions to counter environmental threats

  27. Private Groups on a Local Level • The North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy is a local group that aims to protect the North Chickamauga Creek watershed. • Recently the NCCC worked to rally community support to block 190 acres of development in the Hixson area. • The development would have removed 100,000 tons of earth and dramatically increased pollution and runoff into the creek.

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