Transcript Conservation

CONSERVATION
Bri Bowerman and Emma Johnson
INTRO TO CONSERVATION
 What is conservation?
 preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment,
natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife.
 Who is involved in conservation?
 Why are species declining?
 Climate change
 Pollution
 Urbanization
 Human exploitation
 Disease
 Invasive species
CLIMATE CHANGE
Global Impacts
 Increase in global average
temperatures
 Melting of ice caps / rising sea
levels
 Shifting habitat ranges
 Increased frequency and
strength of natural disasters
Effects on Species
 Increase or decrease of species
ranges
 Migration patterns
 Adaptability
 Predator / prey relationships
 Loss of habitat completely
 Shifting breeding patterns
POLLUTION
 Water pollution
 Pesticides
 Dump sites - nuclear
 Household chemicals
 Indicator species
 Air pollution
 Fossil fuels
 Acid rain
 Trash
 Physical debris impacts
URBANIZATION
Changes
 Development (roads, buildings)
 Fewer trees
Effect on Species
 Less suitable habitat and
breeding grounds
 Pollution
 Increased flashiness
 Erosion
 Habitat fragmentation and
 Less habitat diversity
 Humans
isolation
HUMAN EXPLOITATION
 Pet trade
 Consumption
 Medicine
 Animal stereotypes
DISEASE
 Propagated by pet trade and invasive species
 Chytrid
 Mammal disease
 Communicable between animals and humans
INVASIVE SPECIES
 Brought from place to place by humans
 Characteristics of a successful invasive species
 Adaptable to many environment
 Competitive
 Few natural predators
 Kudzu in the US
 Burmese pythons in Florida
 Cane toads in Australia
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
 Amphibians and reptiles are declining because of all of these factors,
including enigmatic declines
 43% of amphibian species are endangered
 1 in 5 reptile species are endangered
 Hard to tell severity of impact-animals are secretive, don’t notice
declines until the animals are almost gone
WHY IS CONSERVATION IMPORTANT?
 Protecting biodiversity
 Preserving balance of nature
 Sustainable use
 Every species has the right to live
 We have a duty to protect other species
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
 Don’t keep the animals you find in the wild as pets
 Don’t release exotic animals into a non-native habitat
 Try to recycle, use less electricity, and other practices to decrease
amount of pollution
QUESTIONS?