Chapter 6 Humans In The Biosphere Section 6-3 Biodiversity

The Value of Biodiversity Diversity = Variety Ecosystems Diversity Species Diversity Genetic Diversity

The Value of Biodiversity Key Concept Biodiversity is one of Earth’s greatest natural resources. Species of many kinds have provided us with foods, industrial products, and medicines.

Threats to Biodiversity Key Concept: Human activity can reduce biodiversity by altering habitats, hunting species to extinction, introducing toxic compounds into food webs, and introducing foreign species into new environments.

Habitat Alteration & Fragmentation Creates Biological Islands Costa Rica Rainforest Project

Demand For Wildlife Products Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Demand For Wildlife Products Body Parts Fur, horns, gall bladders, feathers, etc.

Pollution Biological Magnification Toxic chemicals concentrate in tissues and are passed up the food chain. Higher concentrations accumulate at each level until the animal is toxic to itself, or any organism that eats it. DDT

Invasive Species Zebra Mussel Leafy Spurge Nutrias Kudzu Varroa Mites Dutch Elm Disease

Invasive Species Zebra Mussel Leafy Spurge Nutrias Kudzu Varroa Mites Dutch Elm Disease

Invasive Species Zebra Mussel Leafy Spurge Nutrias Kudzu Varroa Mites Dutch Elm Disease

Invasive Species Zebra Mussel Leafy Spurge Nutrias Kudzu Varroa Mites Dutch Elm Disease

Conserving Biodiversity Key Concept: Conservation efforts focus on protecting entire ecosystems as well as single species National Parks Marine Sanctuaries Tropical Megareserves