10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 1 Biodiversity

AB Which do you like better? 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 2

AB Which do you like better? 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 3

What do you think biodiversity means? 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 4

Bio = Bio diversity What does “ Bio ” mean? 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 5

Bio diversity Diversity = Variety What does “ Diversity ” mean? 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 6

Definition: Biodiversity ‘The variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are part, including the diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.’ Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence of all living things Scientists have identified more than 2 million species. Tens of millions -- remain unknown The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made possible by complex interactions among all living things including microscopic species such as algae, virus, bacteria, fungus etc. 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 7

There are 3 components of biodiversity 1. Diversity of genes Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but they're not the same because their genes are different. Chihuahua Beagle Rottweilers 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 8

2. Diversity of species For example, monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all different species. Saki Monkey Golden SkimmerMeadow Beauty There are 3 types of biodiversity 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 9

3. Variety of ecosystems Prairies, Ponds, and tropical rain forests are all ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of species living in it. Prairie Rain Forest Florida Sand hill Pond There are 3 components of biodiversity 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 10

Should we be concerned about biodiversity? What we know: The Earth is losing species at an alarming rate Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur each year. Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur each year. when species of plants and animals go extinct, many other species are affected. when species of plants and animals go extinct, many other species are affected. 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 11

Biodiversity has Intrinsic Value Intrinsic Value = Something that has value in and of itself 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 12

Biodiversity also has utilitarian Value Utilitarian Value = the value something has as a means to another’s end. Utilitarian values include: Goods Services Information 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 13

Ecological Value “Extinction is the most irreversible and tragic of all environmental calamities. With each plant and animal species that disappears, a precious part of creation is callously erased” (Michael Soule, 2004) If too many species or keystone species are lost, eventually it leads to the failure of ecosystem function 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 14

Threats to Biodiversity As our numbers climb, we expand agricultural conversion, import invasive species, hunt more species, degrade habitat, fragment and lose habitat, pollute water and air, impact climate. The UN Millenium Assessment found losses in biodiversity in the past 50 years ’was more rapid than ever before in human history’. To sustain Earth’s life- support services, from food security, resilience to natural disasters, and access to clean water and raw materials, improvements are needed to address biodiversity losses and changes (extinctions, changes in population sizes, distribution, species composition, genetic diversity). 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 15

Threats to biodiversity Habitat destruction Pollution Species Introductions Global Climate Change Exploitation 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 16

Threats to Biodiversity Major factors impacting biodiversity 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 17

Threats to Biodiversity 1.Habitat Degradation –Includes conversion from suitable to unsuitable, lowering quality, fragmentation of habitats –Causes: many industries (e.g. forestry, agriculture, development, fishing, mining, chemical) 2.Invasive Species –With our help, species have the ability to get virtually anywhere in the world –Direct actions: predation, parasitism, disease, competition or hybridization –Indirect paths: changing abundances, disruption of mutualisms, modifying habitat, reducing habitat quality) 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 18

Threats to Biodiversity 3. Overexploitation –Hunting, collecting, fishing (and indirect by-catch), trade of animals (and parts) 4. Anthropogenic Climate Change –Climate has been a cause of previous mass extinctions –Couple this with lower abundance, invasive species and other problems, a severe impact is likely from climate change –Climate change will also trigger additional biological responses (e.g. malaria in temperate places) –“Snowballing” effect of the invasion of the alien root pathogen 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 19

Threats to Biodiversity Direct effects of Snowballing 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 20

Threats to Biodiversity 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 21 Indirect effects of Snowballing

Threats to Biodiversity 5. Anthropogenic Pollution –There are direct discharges of chemicals into the environment, there are also pollutants released into the atmosphere –Toxic chemicals (e.g. mercury, lead) are found even in remote areas –Also have the problem of bioaccumulation (or biomagnification) 10/27/2015Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan 22