Global Science - Biodiversity Biomes Population Estimation Endangered Species Human causes Natural causes National Parks

Biomes of the world There are eight biomes: Rainforest Desert Savanna Grassland Temperate decidous Coniferous Tundra Tiaga

Biodiversity Definition: Variety of different species.

Importance of Diversity Stability- stable environment Genetic reserves- genetic diversity Medicinal- medicines Agricultural- food Industrial- building homes; things we use Scientific- experimental; new technology Aesthetic- beautiful Ethical- what should we do regarding the environment Religious- religious beliefs regarding environment

34 hotspots identified by ecologists as important and endangered centers of biodiversity. Figure 10-26

Population Estimation Why is it difficult to estimate wildlife populations?

Extinction: Lights Out Extinction occurs when the population cannot adapt to changing environmental conditions. The golden toad of Costa Rica’s Monteverde cloud forest has become extinct because of changes in climate. Figure 4-11

Extinct- Complete disappearance of a species from the earth Extinct- Complete disappearance of a species from the earth. Ex: Dinosaurs

SPECIES EXTINCTION Species can become extinct: Locally: A species is no longer found in an area it once inhabited but is still found elsewhere in the world. Ecologically: Occurs when so few members of a species are left they no longer play its ecological role. Globally (biologically): Species is no longer found on the earth.

Global Extinction Some animals have become prematurely extinct because of human activities. Figure 11-2

Endangered and Threatened Species: Ecological Smoke Alarms Endangered species: so few individual survivors that it could soon become extinct. Threatened species: still abundant in its natural range but is likely to become endangered in the near future. Figure 11-3

Swallowtail butterfly Humpback chub Golden lion tamarin Siberian tiger Grizzly bear Kirkland’s warbler Knowlton cactus Florida manatee African elephant Figure 11.3 Endangered natural capital: species that are endangered or threatened with premature extinction largely because of human activities. Almost 30,000 of the world’s species and 1,260 of those in the United States are officially listed as being in danger of becoming extinct. Most biologists believe the actual number of species at risk is much larger. Utah prairie dog Swallowtail butterfly Humpback chub Golden lion tamarin Siberian tiger Fig. 11-3, p. 224

Giant panda Black-footed ferret Whooping crane Northern spotted owl Blue whale Figure 11.3 Endangered natural capital: species that are endangered or threatened with premature extinction largely because of human activities. Almost 30,000 of the world’s species and 1,260 of those in the United States are officially listed as being in danger of becoming extinct. Most biologists believe the actual number of species at risk is much larger. Mountain gorilla Florida panther California condor Hawksbill sea turtle Black rhinoceros Fig. 11-3, p. 224

Endangered- Species with so few survivors that the species could soon become extinct. Ex: Leopard

Threatened/Vulnerable Wild species that is still abundant in its natural range but is likely to become endangered because of a decline in numbers. Ex: Northern Sea Lion

Rare A noticeable decline in a species Rare A noticeable decline in a species. Ex: African Violet & some Orchids

Case Study: The U.S. Endangered Species Act Biodiversity hotspots in relation to the largest concentrations of rare and potentially endangered species in the U.S. Figure 11-18

Indian Tiger Range 100 years ago Range today (about 2,300 left) Figure 11.8 Natural capital degradation: reductions in the ranges of four wildlife species, mostly as the result of habitat loss and hunting. What will happen to these and millions of other species when the world’s human population doubles and per capita resource consumption rises sharply in the next few decades? (Data from International Union for the Conservation of Nature and World Wildlife Fund) Range 100 years ago Range today (about 2,300 left) Fig. 11-8a, p. 230

Black Rhino Range in 1700 Range today (about 3,600 left) Figure 11.8 Natural capital degradation: reductions in the ranges of four wildlife species, mostly as the result of habitat loss and hunting. What will happen to these and millions of other species when the world’s human population doubles and per capita resource consumption rises sharply in the next few decades? (Data from International Union for the Conservation of Nature and World Wildlife Fund) Range in 1700 Range today (about 3,600 left) Fig. 11-8b, p. 230

African Elephant Probable range 1600 Range today Fig. 11-8c, p. 230 Figure 11.8 Natural capital degradation: reductions in the ranges of four wildlife species, mostly as the result of habitat loss and hunting. What will happen to these and millions of other species when the world’s human population doubles and per capita resource consumption rises sharply in the next few decades? (Data from International Union for the Conservation of Nature and World Wildlife Fund) Probable range 1600 Range today Fig. 11-8c, p. 230

Asian or Indian Elephant Figure 11.8 Natural capital degradation: reductions in the ranges of four wildlife species, mostly as the result of habitat loss and hunting. What will happen to these and millions of other species when the world’s human population doubles and per capita resource consumption rises sharply in the next few decades? (Data from International Union for the Conservation of Nature and World Wildlife Fund) Former range Range today (34,000–54,000 left) Fig. 11-8d, p. 230

History of Extinctions Endangered Species History of Extinctions Extinctions have existed long before humans had an influence However:

The current extinction crisis is the first to be caused by a single species- US! . This is happening faster than ever; a few decades versus thousands to millions of years. Humans are eliminating not only the species but, the environment. Ex. Tropical rainforest

Effects of Humans on Biodiversity The scientific consensus is that human activities are decreasing the earth’s biodiversity. Figure 4-13

Human Caused Extinction Causes include: HIPPO C Habitat Destruction Invasive species Population Growth Pollution Over-harvesting Climate Change

Species and families experiencing mass extinction Bar width represents relative number of living species Millions of years ago Era Period Extinction Current extinction crisis caused by human activities. Many species are expected to become extinct within the next 50–100 years. Quaternary Today Cenozoic Tertiary Extinction 65 Cretaceous: up to 80% of ruling reptiles (dinosaurs); many marine species including many foraminiferans and mollusks. Cretaceous Mesozoic Jurassic Extinction Triassic: 35% of animal families, including many reptiles and marine mollusks. 180 Triassic Extinction Permian: 90% of animal families, including over 95% of marine species; many trees, amphibians, most bryozoans and brachiopods, all trilobites. 250 Permian Carboniferous Extinction 345 Figure 4.12 Fossils and radioactive dating indicate that five major mass extinctions (indicated by arrows) have taken place over the past 500 million years. Mass extinctions leave many organism roles (niches) unoccupied and create new niches. Each mass extinction has been followed by periods of recovery (represented by the wedge shapes) called adaptive radiations. During these periods, which last 10 million years or longer, new species evolve to fill new or vacated niches. Many scientists say that we are now in the midst of a sixth mass extinction, caused primarily by human activities. Devonian: 30% of animal families, including agnathan and placoderm fishes and many trilobites. Devonian Paleozoic Silurian Ordovician Extinction 500 Ordovician: 50% of animal families, including many trilobites. Cambrian Fig. 4-12, p. 93

Natural Extinctions Causes include Climate change Change in ecosystem Lack of adaptations to change

National Parks – Mission Statement On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the NPS. The “Organic Act” states that the fundamental purpose of the NPS “is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

National Parks contain: • Habitat protection for 378 threatened or endangered species. • 1.5 million archeological sites. • 27,000 historic and prehistoric structures. • 100 million museum items, including George Washington’s inaugural coat and Carl Sandburg’s typewriter. • 17,000 miles of trails. • The world’s largest carnivore, the Alaskan Brown Bear. •

The world’s largest living things, Giant Sequoia trees. • The highest point in North America, Mt. McKinley (20,320 feet); in Denali National Park. • The longest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave National Park, with more than 365 mapped miles of caves. • The country’s deepest lake, Crater Lake in Crater Lake National Park, at 1,932 feet. • The lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, at 282’ below sea level.

Case Study: Stresses on U.S. National Parks Overused due to popularity. Inholdings (private ownership) within parks threaten natural resources. Air pollution. Figure 10-23