Transcript 4.0 Changes in biological diversity

Brainstorm: What are some ways
that we contribute to the
reduction in biodiversity of
species?
 Extinction
– disappearance of a species from
Earth

Ex.
 Extirpation

– disappearance from an area
Ex.
 Endangered
– species at risk at being extinct
or extirpated

Ex.
 Threatened
– likely to become endangered
Ex.
 Special
Concern – species vulnerable to
natural events

Ex.
Natural Causes
-catastrophes
(volcanoes, floods,
fires)
-food scarcity
-disease
-overspecialization
(ex. Koala)
Human Causes
-habitat destruction
(pollution and industry)
-over-hunting
-introduction of invasive
(non-native) species
 Natural
Selection – when nature chooses the
species with the most suitable traits to
survive
 Artificial Selection – when humans select and
breed organisms for certain traits
What are some examples on the farm or in
Viking where artificial selection is being
done?
Examples:
Breeding “champion” dogs
Using the seeds from the largest plant crops
Corn – see pg. 66
We use biotechnology to choose traits.
Bio – living
Technology – tools to make desirable outcomes
Biotechnology – using living organisms to
create desirable products
1. Creating Clones – creating identical
organisms using technology



You can remove cells from a plant, grow and
divide them to create seeds.
Ex. Carrot
ADV> many clones can be made quickly from 1
plant
“But the first successful cloning experiment was
done in 1958 by F.C Steward, who was at the
time the director of the Laboratory for Cell
Physiology, Growth and Development at
Cornell University. He cloned a carrot, by
taking the cells from the roots, and using that
to clone the carrot. This may seem simple to
us today, but thanks to F.C Steward now we
can almost clone any plant. This discovery
made him famous worldwide, and was the
first start of cloning.”
- The science, ethics, and benefits of human cloning 1,2 ).
http://www.bio.miami.edu/~cmallery/150/devel/c8.20x16.carrot.jpg
2. Artificial Insemination – when sperm are
inserted into a female with a needle, to
encourage fertilization


Ex. Breeding cattle
ADV> many cows can quickly be inseminated
from one bull with desirable traits
3. In vitro fertilization – uniting a sperm and
egg outside of a female (fertilization) then
placing the zygote inside the female for
growth

Ex. Cattle – farmers can ensure all offspring are
females
4. Genetic Engineering – altering the DNA of an
organism; most common is inserting a gene
from one species to another
Ex. Insulin into bacteria
Ex. Toxin genes in crops
Ex. Insect resistant canola
 Risks




Reduction in variation of a crop or herd – more at
risk to disease
Unsuccessful pregnancies, birth defects, deaths
in clones
Weeds interbreeding with crop
What happens to the other embryos??
 Dolly
the Sheep
 Dolly #2: How Stuff Works
Conservation – the protection and management
of biological diversity
In order to conserve biodiversity, we must
reduce negative human impacts on
biodiversity
1. Protected Areas
 When the government sets aside land for
natural habitats and ecosystems

Ex. Jasper National Park
 Allows
in-situ conservation – the
maintenance of populations in their own
ecosystems
Who maintains this area?
2. Charity Restoration Groups
 These groups restore damaged
ecosystems or encourage
preservation or restore species
Ex. Ducks Unlimited
Ex. World Wildlife Fund
-use money to help bring animals back to
their natural environment
3. Resource Use Policies
 Governments have made laws preventing the
hunting or destroying of endangered or
threatened species
Ex. Whooping Crane, Trumpeter Swan
 Accord
for Protection of Species at Risk –
prevents extinction of species from human
activities
4. Controlling Exotic
Species
 Exotic species with no
predators and that
spread quickly must be
managed

Ex. Purple loosestrife
Each stem can produce 2.7 million
seeds!!!!
5. Conservation of Genetic Resources
 Zoos -Endangered animals are kept here to
breed them and pass on their genes

Called ex-situ conservation – conservation of a
species outside of its habitat
 Seed
banks - A program where seeds of each
variety of plant are kept

Canada has the barley and oat seed bank
 Forms
of ex-situ (out of habitat) conservation