Transcript Biodiversity and Conservation ppt

Biodiversity and Conservation
What is biodiversity?
• Bio = life
• Diversity = differences among organisms
• Biodiversity = the variety of living organisms
found in an area
• Where can you find biodiversity?
Biodiversity varies around the world:
Do you see a pattern?
• Number of species of mammals:
– Canada – 163
– US – 367
– Mexico – 439
• In one hectare of forest you are likely to find:
– Peru – 300 tree species
– US – 30 tree species or less
Where are you most likely to find the
MOST biodiversity?
Why is biodiversity important?
• Organisms are adapted to live together!
• Ecologists know many relationships – many
have yet to be discovered
• What could happen if lack of biodiversity leads
to…
– Loss of a major predator?
– Breaking the relationship among symbiotic
organisms?
What is meant by the phrase
“Life depends on life?”
• Animals need plants
• Plants couldn’t exist without animals to
pollinate
• Plants need decomposers to break down
nutrients
• Living things create niches for other living
things!
Importance to People
• What does biodiversity offer to Humans?
• Biodiversity gives humans:
–
–
–
–
Oxygen
Diverse diet
Materials (clothes, furniture, buildings)
Medicinal supplies (world pharmacy)
• Penicillin cam from the mold Penicillium
• Antimalarial drug came from the cinchona tree
Preserving biodiversity ensures there will
be living things to use in the future!
Loss of Biodiversity
Extinct
Endangered
Threatened
Disappearance numbers so
of a species
low that
extinction is
possible
Population
declining
rapidly
Ex) Dodo Bird, Ex) Peregrine
Tasmanian
Falcon, Black
tiger
Footed Ferret
Ex) Polar Bear,
Boreal Toad
Extinct Animals and
Plants
Endangered Plants/Animals
Threats to Biodiversity
• Species are usually well adapted to their
habitats…
• What happens when these habitats are
changed?
Threats to Biodiversity
• Habitat loss
• Habitat
fragmentation
• Habitat
degradation
• Water/Land
pollution
• Introduction of
exotics
Habitat Loss
• Habitat loss = removal/disappearance of
habitat
• Effect: organism are displaced (must go
somewhere else)
• Ex:
– deer in your yard
– bears in garbage
Habitat Fragmentation
• Habitat fragmentation = obstruction (road,
development, etc) that separates a habitat
into sections
• Example: Road through a forest prevents
animals/plants from moving to other side
Habitat Fragmentation
• Can cause problems with
– Migration
– “island effect” or – smaller less biodiversity
– Invasion of exotic species
– Lack of reintroduction after fires
– Changes is climate
– Edge effect
Habitat Fragmentation
• Edge Effect= changes along ecosystem
boundaries
Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat Degradation= to make a habitat unlivable
Habitat Degradation: Pollution
•
•
•
•
Pollution can be air, water, or land
Examples:
Acid Precipitation
CFC’s in atmosphere
Acid Precipitation
CFC’s, ozone, and global climate
change… oh, my!
Introduction of
Exotic/Invasive Species
Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species
• Do not belong in habitat
• Few/no predators in new habitat
• Reproduce/spread out of control
Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species
• Woolly Aldegid
Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species
• Kudzu
Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species
• Pythons in Everglades
Conservation of Biodiversity
• Conservation biology = a new field that studies
methods and implements plans to protect
biodiversity
• Effective strategies are based on ecological
principles
• Many species are threatened because of people,
so working with humans is a major part of
conservation biology
Legal Protection
• US Endangered Species Act
• CITES (Convention on International Trade of
Endangered Species)
Habitat Preservation
Habitat Preservation
• What does it mean to be sustainable?
• Sustainable use = using resources wisely –
waste less
• Habitat Corridors = connect pieces of land to
overcome habitat fragmentation
Preservation
• What does a reintroduction program try to
do?
• Example: California condors
• What does a zoo/captivity aim to do?
• What is a seed bank?
Preservation
• Captivity – under human control
• Reintroduction – putting species back in
natural environment
What kinds of problems are there with
reintroduction?
• Animals may lose natural
instinct
• Loss of natural instincts is
harder on animals than
plants
• What kinds of problems
might plant
reintroductions have?