Transcript 3.3 Threats to Biodiversity

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How Many Species Are There?
• Estimate >5-10 million species
• 1.8 M organisms scientifically
named and described
• Most are animals / terrestrial
270,000 plant
45,000 vertebrate animal
950,000 insect
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(BACKGROUND = 1/MILLION/YR)
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HOTSPOTS
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HOTSPOTS
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HABITAT LOSS
ENDEMISM
MAINTAIN
• COMPLEXITY OF THE ECOSYSTEM
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MORE COMPLEXITY = MORE RESILIENT
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• STAGE OF SUCCESSION
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• LIMITING FACTORS
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LOSS
• NON-ANTHROPOGENIC
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• ANTHROPOGENIC
LOSS
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ANTHROPOGENIC
• HABITAT LOSS
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#1 CAUSE OF ENDGANGERMENT
• INVASIVE SPECIES INTRODUCTION
• POLLUTION
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• POPULATION OF HUMANS
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• OVEREXPLOITATION
LEADS TO ALL OTHER
HIPPO PROBLEMS
WHAT MAKES A SPECIES PRONE TO EXTINCTION?
DISCUSS
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IN SMALL GROUPS.
ADD YOUR IDEAS TO YOUR NOTES.
IUCN RED LIST
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INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR
CONSERVATION OF NATURE
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VIDEO: WHAT
IS THE
RED LIST? 
• FWS NOW CAN PROTECT THREATENED/ENDANGERED SPECIES
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1260 SPECIES HAVE BEEN LISTED TO DATE.
• ILLEGAL TO SELL/BUY ANY PRODUCT MADE FROM AN
ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES.
• FWS MUST ALSO SELECT CRITICAL HABITATS AND DESIGN A
DETAILED RECOVERY PLAN FOR EACH SPECIES LISTED.
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THEY BASICALLY FIND THE SAME INFORMATION YOU RESEARCHED
FOR YOUR BROCHURE.
• CONSIDERED ONE OF THE STRONGEST PIECES OF US
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
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SPECIES ARE LISTED ONLY USING BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION…
ECONOMICS CANNOT INFLUENCE THE LIST.
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ADVOCATES: DOESN’T DO ENOUGH FOR THE SPECIES!
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FEW ENDANGERED SPECIES HAVE RECOVERED ENOUGH TO BE DELISTED!
(ONLY 8 AS OF 2002)
CRITICS: GOES TOO FAR TO HURT PRIVATE LANDOWNERS!
CAN BE AN IMPEDIMENT TO ECONOMIC PROGRESS.
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WE ARE EXPECTING SEVERAL DOZEN TO BE DELISTED IN THE NEXT 10-20 YEARS.
GEARED MORE TOWARD SAVING A FEW POPULAR SPECIES RATHER
THAN THE MANY IMPORTANT LESS-GLAMOROUS SPECIES!
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NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL & THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IN PACIFIC NW (CH.3)
1995: MORE THAN ½ OF THE FUNDING WENT TO HELPING JUST 10 SPECIES.
SHOULD MANAGE WHOLE ECOSYSTEMS AND MAINTAIN
COMPLETE BIODIVERSITY RATHER THAN HELP JUST 1 SPECIES.
International Conservation Policies & Laws
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African
Elephants
Tigers
Sources:
TRAFFIC International, 2004
http://www.solcomhouse.com/tigers.htm