Transcript BIODIVERSITY REVIEW

BIODIVERSITY REVIEW
Wilderness
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The U.S. Wilderness Act designated
certain lands as wilderness areas.
These lands are called National
Parks.
What is wilderness?
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An area of land that is not inhabited
by people
Biodiversity is…
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The variety and number of different
organisms living in an ecosystem
How does biodiversity affect the
following?
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Agriculture: the more plants and animals
we have, the more food is available to us
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Medicine: drugs and treatments come
from plants and animals.
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If a disease were to wipe out a certain variety
of crops, then if we preserve biodiversity, we
will still have food available!
If we did not have certain plants and animals,
and even bacteria and fungus, then we would
not have such medicine – like antibiotics.
Ethics: Plants and animals are living
things!
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THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE!!!
How does biodiversity affect the
following?
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Ecotourism: Tourists are attracted to
places with high biodiversity due to their
wildlife and beauty.
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People will pay money to go to a Park or
Hotspot to enjoy its Biodiversity!
Stability of Ecosystems: If you remove
one species from an ecosystem, then any
organisms that it depends on/depends on
it, will then be affected.
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Think of what happens when you remove an
organism from its food chain or niche.
Stability of Ecosystems:
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ENDEMIC SPECIES
A species that is native to an area.
It can only be found in that area!
Humuhumunukunukuapua’a to Hawaii 
Koala/Kangaroo to Australia
Emperor Penguin to Antarctica
CAN YOU COME UP WITH OTHERS!?!?!
Stability of Ecosystems:
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KEYSTONE SPECIES
A species that is crucial to the function of
its environment. Its removal will
dramatically affect remaining organisms
in its ecosystem.
Sea stars that maintain shellfish
populations.
Sea otters maintain urchin populations –
who maintain kelp populations.
Grizzly bears add fertilizer to soil.
CAN YOU COME UP WITH OTHERS!?!?
Stability of Ecosystems:
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THREATENED SPECIES:
“Almost Endangered”
Protected Species
Grizzly Bear
Lynx
Bald Eagle
Panda
Polar Bear
Stability of Ecosystems:
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ENDANGERED SPECIES
“Almost Extinct”
Protected Species
Caribou
Manatee
Blue / Humpback Whale
Atlantic Salmon
Gorilla
Sea Otter
Jaguars/Pumas
Stability of Ecosystems:
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EXTINCT SPECIES
All gone…
T rex
Dodo
Mammoth
Saber Tooth Tiger
Giant Sloth
Quagga (half zebra/half horse)
QUICK QUIZ:
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Which is species will most likely
become extinct the first?
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One living in a small population
One living in a large population
One that breeds quickly
One that is protective outer shells and
withstand extreme conditions
QUICK QUIZ:
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ANSWER:
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An organism that lives in a SMALL
POPULATION will most likely become
extinct the first due to the small
number of genes/diversity in that
population!
Reasons for Extinction:
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A. Species not native to an area will
threaten the native species due to no
natural predators
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B. Collecting horns from rhinos and
elephants
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INVASIVE SPECIES
POACHING
C. People use animals as food, plants,
wood, medicine, and for pets
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HUNTING
Reasons for Extinction:
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D. Deforestation is a cause of:
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E. Toxins leak into food web and cause
biomagnification:
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POLLUTION
F. Fishing to provide food for a family
(legally):
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HABITAT DESTRUCTION
HUNTING
G. With the rise in populations, more land is
being destroyed for homes:
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HABITAT DESTRUCTION
Reasons for Extinction:
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Illegal hunting and fishing:
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Following Endangered Species Act’s
regulations on deer hunting:
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POACHING
HUNTING
Selling/trading an
endangered/threatened species:
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POACHING
Reasons for Extinction:
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Buying honeysuckle and hibiscus
plants, originally from the tropics,
for your backyard:
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INVASIVE SPECIES
Animals choke and strangle
themselves on plastic and litter in
the ocean:
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POLLUTION
The picture below…
… is a HOT SPOT
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Islands
Rainforests
Coral Reefs
Coasts – Rocky/Sandy
Salt Marshes
Endangered Species Act
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1. list of endangered/threatened species
compiled by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2. “Protected species” are protected from
harm – such as they can not be killed,
uprooted, or sold/traded
3. Prevents any kind of activity that will
potentially harm protected species
4. Species recovery plan for all listed
species