Biodiversity and Conservation Chapter 5 Biodiversity and Conservation

What is biodiversity? The variety of species in an area The more species the more biodiversity

Where is biodiversity found? Biodiversity increases as you move toward the equator why? More rain and warm temperature Tropical rainforest has the most biodiversity Tropical areas contain over half of all land species

Why is biodiversity important? 1. Organisms are interdependent (depend on each other to survive) A loss of a species will affect other species (ex. Food chain) 2. It brings stability to the area-removal of a species affects the stability of others 3. provides resources to man such as food and medicine (more plants mean more food)

What happens with loss of biodiversity? Extinction- the disappearance of a species when its members die (reproduction stops) Endangered species-when population numbers become so low that extinction is possible Threatened species- a population that is likely to become endangered

Explain how each of the following can reduce biodiversity A. habitat loss B. habitat fragmentation C. acid rain D. introduction of exotic species Info. starts on p. 116 Leave this in notebook when complete

What decreases biodiversity? Main cause--Human population growth (man’s activities are destroying the environment)

Man’s Threats to biodiversity: 1. habitat loss Land is cleared for agriculture, timber and housing. Plants and animals lose a place to thrive

Other factors by man: 2. habitat fragmentation- separation of wilderness areas from other wilderness areas Often due to the developments in cities Increases extinction, invasion by exotic species, fires, and it changes climates

Other factors of man: 3. edge effect-when habitats meet other habitats, there are different conditions along the boundaries Species from different ecosystems come in contact often bringing in more predators to affect populations

Other factors by man 4. habitat degradation- damage to habitats by pollution 3 types of pollution: water, land and air ex. Burning fossil fuels cause acid rain

Other factors by man 5. Exotic species-introduction on nonnative species into an area Ex. kudzu, Zebra mussels in Great lakes Due to them being new, they have no predators or competition allowing them to grow fast and take over

Why is it important to conserve resources? Natural resource- parts of the environment that are useful or necessary to living things Ex. Sunlight, water, air, food, trees Must take steps to keep resources available to living things in order to survive

How do we conserve biodiversity? Protect it how? (examples) 1.legal protection of species (ex. Endangered species act) 2. preserve habitats (ex. Create natural preserves and parks) 3. creating habitat corridors- strips of land where animals can migrate (ex. Wetlands for birds) 4. reintroduction programs- release organims into areas where the species once lived (ex. Bald eagle)