Transcript Biological Diversity & Conservation

Vanishing Species
Biodiversity refers to the variety
of life in an area.
A. The simplest and most common
measure of biodiversity is the
number of species that live in a
certain area.
B. Terrestrial biodiversity tends
to increase as you move toward
the equator. WHY?
Tropical regions contain 2/3 of
all land species on Earth.
Why is biodiversity important?
1. Aesthetic value--beauty
2. Nature—many relationships
among organisms are yet to be
discovered. The loss of a species
could have detrimental
consequences for other living
things.
3. Life depends on life.
4. Stability to an ecosystem.
Ex. If a vital part (bolt) fails on
an airplane the plane crashes.
5. Importance to people.
Ex. Oxygen, diet, clothes,
furniture, medicines
II. Extinction - disappearance
of a species when the last of
its members dies.
A. Extinction can result from
natural processes. Many
species become extinct
because of humans.
B. Threatened species-population
of species declines rapidly.
C. Endangered species –numbers
become so low extinction is
possible.
III. Threats to Biodiversity
A. The largest threat to
biodiversity is habitat loss.
B. Habitat fragmentation is the
seperation of wilderness areas
from other wilderness areas.
1. Biotic Issues: large predators
cannot get enough food.
2. Abiotic issues: Cutting down the
rain forests canopy will dry out
the area therefore changing the
climate
Edge effect--The
different conditions
along the boundaries of
an ecosystem.
C. Habitat Degradation: is
the damage to a habitat by
pollution.
Three Types of Pollution
1. Air- The greatest source of air
pollution is burning of fossil
fuels. Acid Precipitation- (pH
values(0-7) Sulfur Dioxide
from factories and exhausts
that combine with water vapor
in the air to form acidic drops
of water vapor.
•Acid precipitation damages plant
tissues and interfere with plant
growth.
The ozone layer protects living
organisms from receiving
ultraviolet radiation.
2. Water -excess fertilizers and
animal waste causes algal
blooms cause clogging of the
gills of fish. Abandoned drift
nets kill sea life.
3. Land – Use of pesticides (DDT)
The average American produces
1.8 kg of solid waste daily.
Sanitation and Human Health Activity
D. Introduction of Exotic Species—
not native to a particular area.
Ex. Kudzu, zebra mussels
The Threat to Biodiversity Movie
Conservation of Biodiversity
I. Strategies of Conservation
biology--studies methods and
implements plans to protect
biodiversity.
A. Legal protections of species:
1. U.S. Endangered Species Act
of 1973--Made it illegal to harm
species on the endangered or
threatened species list.
2. International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES)
has established species lists
for which international trade
is prohibited or controlled.
B. Natural resource conservation
(preserving habitats)—protecting
whole communities and
ecosystems by creating nature
preserves. Ex. Yellowstone
National Park
1. Only 6% of the Earth’s surface
is protected in this way.
2. Sustainable use-strive to
let people use the
resources of wilderness
areas in ways that will not
damage the ecosystem.
3. Habitat corridors-natural
strips that allow the
migration of organisms
from one area to another.
C. Reintroduction programs:
Release organisms into an
area where their species
once lived.
1. An organism that is held
by people is said to be in
captivity.
Did You Know?
In the U. S., 735 species of plants and
496 species of animals are listed as
threatened or endangered.
There are more than 1,000 animal
species endangered worldwide.
There are more than 3,500 protected
areas in existence worldwide: 3% of
our total land area.
Teacher Activities/Labs
Burrowing Owls
Managing the Everglades Ecosystem
Endangered Species Activity
Teacher Resource Page
Glencoe
Puzzle Maker
Notes, Labs, Activities
Slide show of endangered animals
Endangered animals by Alabama counties
1. Why do larger islands tend to
have a greater biodiversity than
smaller islands?
2. The anti-malarial drug quinine
came from the bark of the
______ tree.
3. ______ is the source of drugs for
Hodgkin’s disease and leukemia.
4. Willow bark is the original
source of ____________.
5. List some organisms that are
extinct.
6. List some organisms that are
threatened.
7. List some organisms that are
endangered.
8. ________________ are the
synthetic chemicals that break
down the ozone layer.
9. _________________ is the
pesticide that was commonly
sprayed on crops to control
insects and sprayed on water to
kill mosquito larvae.
10. Name two species of
predators that laid eggs with
very thin shells that cracked
easily, killing the chicks inside,
due to DDT being in their
bodies.
Answers
1. Why do larger islands tend to
have a greater biodiversity
than smaller islands?
Larger islands have more space
and are more likely to have a
greater variety of environments
and ecosystems.
2. The antimalarial drug quinine
came from the bark of the
___________ tree.
cinchona
3. __________________ is the
source of drugs for Hodgkin’s
disease and leukemia.
Rosy periwinkle
4. Willow bark is the original
source of ____________.
aspirin
5. List some organisms that are
extinct. Passenger pigeons,
woodland caribou, relic
leopard frog, Louisiana prairie
vole
6. List some organisms that are
threatened.
African elephants, sea otters,
loggerhead turtles
7. List some organisms that are
endangered.
California condor, Florida
manatees (“sea cows”)
8. _______ are the synthetic
chemicals that break down the
ozone layer.
Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFC’s
9. _____ is the pesticide that was
commonly sprayed on crops.
(this pesticide has been
banned) DDT
10. Name two species of
predators that tended to lay
eggs with very thin shells that
cracked easily, killing the
chicks inside, due to DDT
being in their bodies.
American bald eagle and the
peregrine falcon