BIODIVERSITY

ECOLOGY: The study of interactions among living and nonliving things ABIOTIC FACTORS Non-living factors Soil, temp., precipitation BIOTIC FACTORS Living factors Ex) plants & animals

Organism / Species / INDIVIDUAL A group of organisms so similar that they breed and produce fertile offspring

All members of a particular species that live in the same area POPULATION All members of a particular species that live in the same area

All the populations that live and interact in the same environment. COMMUNITY All the populations that live and interact in the same environment.

Ecosystem All the communities that live together with the abiotic factors in the same environment.

Biosphere The combined parts of the lithosphere, hydrosphere & atmosphere where life exists.

INQUIRY ACTIVITY! Draw this diagram. Where do the following terms go in the diagram? Ecosystem Biosphere Community Individual Population Explain to a neighbor & write your answers.

Pre- assigned groups Group research: Divide and Conquer! BIOME PROJECT Pre- assigned groups Group research: Divide and Conquer!

BIODIVERSITY The variety of different species in an ecosystem. All of the variety of organisms in the biosphere.

BIODIVERSITY IS DEPENDENT ON… Genetic Variation within Populations: The difference that exist in a species genetic makeup which makes one individual different from one another individual. Variations of populations with ecosystems Genetic variation within three butterfly species. Three different butterfly species (top row) show distinct wing colors and patterns. When individuals from the same three species are born in a different season, they each show different wing color and pattern phenotypes (bottom row). This is a reflection of the variation that exists in the gene pool.

Importance of Biodiversity include: Resource use: Species can provide us with foods, industrial products and medicines

Healthy/Stable Ecosystems: Organisms are important to the flow of energy and matter through the food web.

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY DUE TO: Loss of habitat Demand for wildlife products

Pollution Introduced species

EXTINCTION Disappearance of a species from all or part of its range Mass extinction: an extinction that has killed many species at one time Ex) Dinosaurs Species Extinction: one species disappears from the planet Ex) Dodo bird, Tasmanian Wolf Local extinction: A species disappears from 1 location but may be found in another location

Today, we try to protect entire ecosystems AND single species. CONSERVATION EFFORTS Today, we try to protect entire ecosystems AND single species. Seed Banking Endangered Species Act (ESA) Land Allocation (preserves) Captive Breeding

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY: HIPPO

H: HABITAT LOSS Destruction of ecosystem for profit OR indirectly caused by human induced climate change Causes include: Land for farms & people Selecting & planting monocultures (simplification of diversity) Fragmentation by humans for housing, transportation, agr.

Mid 1960’s Mid 1970’s Mid 1980’s Primary Forest Secondary Forest

I: INVASIVE SPECIES Harmful species Introduced usually by human activities. Invasive species are generally thought to cause economic or environmental harm. Aquatic species may be transported in the ballast of ships or attached to the ship’s hull. Invasive species travel in the cargo of ships, planes, trains. The pet trade accidentally or intentionally spreads invasive species

Are Invasives always BAD? Invasive species are primarily responsible for 42% of species on the threatened or endangered species list. Invasive species prey on native species Invasive species outcompete native species for resources (nutrients and space) Loss of native species due to invasive species disrupts food webs. Are Invasives always BAD? Most introduced species are beneficial to society. Introduced species provide food, shelter, and medicine. Some organisms are introduced to control the populations of invasive species

In this photo provided by the Everglades National Park, the carcass of a six-foot American alligator is shown protruding from the midsection of a 13-foot Burmese python Monday, Sept. 26, 2005 in Everglades National Park, Fla., after the snake apparently swallowed the alligator, resulting in the deaths of both animals. (Everglades National Park photo)

P: POLLUTION Pollution (Oil spills, human agricultural waste, fertilization, pesticides, acid deposition, greenhouse gases, etc) caused by human activities has a negative effect on biodiversity. Pollution may include chemical substances, noise, heat, or light. Pollutants may be naturally occurring and harmful when they exceed natural levels.

P: POPULATION 7.2 Billion and counting. The expansion of human population and affluence, especially in the developing world harms natural ecosystems.

O: OVERHARVESTING/OVERUSE Overhunting, overfishing, destructive harvesting practices (cyanide, dynamite), illegal trade, exotic pet industry

Invasive Species Assignment You have been assigned one of the following invasive species to research. As a group, you are responsible for gathering information about your invasive species and creating a way to present the information to the rest of the class. Group 1 Kudzu Group 2 Brown Tree Snake in Guam Group 3 Zebra Mussel in USA Group 4 Argentina Fire Ant in USA Group 5 African Honey Bee in USA Group 6 Burmese Python in Florida Everglades Group 7 European Starling in USA Group 8 Cane Toad in Australia You need to find the following about your assigned invasive species: What is it? Where is it from? How and/or why did it get here? Why is it harmful?

Destructive Fishing Practices

Seventy percent of each haul of trawler fishing is considered by-catch. Dolphin as by-catch in drift net.