Transcript Biodiversity

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Official video of the International Year of
Biodiversity 2010 [www.keepvid.com].mp4
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The variety of life on Earth
Includes wild and domesticated species,
diversity of their genes, and the variety
of ecosystems
Instrumental value: a species of
individuals organisms existence is
beneficial (usually to humans)
 Intrinsic value: a species or individual
has value for its own sake, it does not
need to be useful to us
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Ecosystem sustainability
Source of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture
Source of medicine
Recreational value
Aesthetic value
Scientific value
Commercial value – ecotourism
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Do species other than humans have inherent
rights?
 Organisms with no obvious value to humans have
existed for thousands or millions of years and
represent a unique set of biological characteristics
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Physical alteration of habitat (36%)
Exotic species introduction (39%)
Overuse (23%)
The Population factor
Pollution
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We have identified almost 2 million
Estimates are from 5 million to 100 million
Why don’t we know?
We have identified most organisms larger
than a fly
Most work has been done in the developed
world, but there are biodiversity hotspots
Recently discovered new species
 Habitat Loss
 Introduced species
 Pollution
 Population Growth
 Over-consumption
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Conversion
 Natural areas are converted into farms,
subdivisions, …
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Fragmentation
 Natural areas usually have large patches of land
well connected to other patches
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Simplification
 Removing debris, managing forests for one
species, channelization of streams
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Introduced, or exotic species, are not native
to the area and have been deliberately or
accidentally transported by human activity
Zebra
Mussel
•Competes
for food
•Hinders
native
clams
•Alters
water
clarity
Brown-headed
cowbird
•Competes
for food
•Nest
parasite
•Harmful to
neotropical
migrants
European
Starling
•Competes
for food
•Competes
for nesting
holes,
affecting
native
woodpeckers
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Creation of “dead zones”
Oil spills
Chemicals (ex. DDT)
Acid Deposition
Global Warming
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Killing individuals of a particular species
faster than they can reproduce will lead to
the ultimate extinction of the species
 Hunting
 Trafficking in wildlife and products
▪ Consumers
▪ Exotic pet
 Poor management of forests and woodlands