1. Biodiversity Chapter 10 Environmental Science

2. Biodiversity  Number and variety of different species in a given area  The actual number of species on Earth is unknown  Most are insects (Figure 1 – page 241)

3. Levels of Biodiversity  Biodiversity is studied at three levels  Species diversity  Differences between populations of species  Ecosystem diversity  Variety of habitats, communities, etc. within or between ecosystems  Genetic diversity  Different genes within a population  Gene – piece of DNA that codes for a specific trait

4. Benefits of Biodiversity  Species are connected to ecosystems.  Ecosystems are healthy when species do their part in the cycles within the biosphere.  Every species depends on another species whether it is obvious or not.  Keystone species  A species that are clearly critical to the functioning of an ecosystem  Example – sea otter and kelp beds

5. Benefits of Biodiversity  Species and Population Survival  Species survival depends on the level of genetic diversity  Small, isolated populations have less of a chance of survival  When a population shrinks, the genetic diversity decreases  Creates a bottleneck (Figure 4, page 243)  If population increases again, inbreeding will occur

6. Benefits of Biodiversity  Medical, Industrial and Agricultural Uses  Prescription drugs  One quarter from plants  Antibiotics  From chemicals in fungi  Crops  Originated from areas of high biodiversity  Hybrids  Crops developed by combining genetic material from other populations

7. Benefits of Biodiversity  Ethics, Aesthetics and Recreation  Some people believe that species should be allowed to exist whether they have value or not  Religious and cultural beliefs  Ecosystems provide personal enjoyment  Pets  Camping  Watching wildlife  Ecotourism  Tourism that supports the conservation and development of unique areas

8. Assignment  Section 1 Review  Page 244  # 1-4

9. Biodiversity at Risk  Mass extinction  Many species going extinct in a short period of time  Example – dinosaurs  Scientists think we are in one right now  Humans are primary cause of this  25 % of all species extinct between 1800 & 2100

10. Prone to Extinction  Endangered species  Species likely to become extinct if not protected immediately  Threatened species  Species with a declining population  Likely to become endangered if not protected

11. How Do Humans Cause Extinctions?  Habitat Destruction  Building homes  Harvesting resources  Invasive Exotic Species  Species that are not native to an area  Exotic species can threaten native species  Harvesting, Hunting and Poaching  Excessive hunting is causing extinction  Many countries have laws against poaching  Illegal hunting

12. How Do Humans Cause Extinctions?  Pollution  Pesticides  Cleaning agents  Drugs and other chemicals  Example – bald eagle  Chemical used over time (DDT)

13. Areas of Critical Biodiversity  Endemic species  Species that are native to and found only within a limited area  Scientists use the number of endemic species of plants to describe overall biodiversity of an area

14. Areas of Critical Biodiversity  Tropical Rain Forests  Over half the world’s diversity lives here  Coral Reefs  Contain majority of marine biodiversity  Provide food, tourism, coastal protection  Islands  Have limited, but very distinct species

15. Areas of Critical Biodiversity  Biodiversity Hotspots  Most threatened areas of high species diversity  25 identified areas (Figure 9, page 250)  These areas have many endemic species but are also threatened by human activities.  Biodiversity in the United States  High numbers of freshwater fish, pine trees  California Floristic Province  3,488 native plant species

16. Assignment  Section 2 Review  Page 251  # 1-4, 6

17. The Future of Biodiversity  Saving Species One at a Time  Captive-Breeding Programs  Breeding species while in captivity  Then the species will be reintroduced to their natural habitats  Example – California condor  Lost habitat, poaching, lead poisoning  In 1986, 9 condors captured  In 2002, 58 condors released and 102 in captivity  Preserving genetic material  Scientists collect germ plasm from plants & animals to save for many years

18. Saving Species One at a Time  Zoos, Aquariums, Parks and Gardens  Living museums of world’s biodiversity  Some species last hope of survival  Only have enough resources to preserve more than a fraction of world’s rare and threatened species  More study needed  Not all captive species will survive or reproduce in the wild

19. Preserving Habitats & Ecosystems  Conservation Strategies  Scientists concentrate on saving ecosystems instead of individual species  Can save more species this way  Scientists are concentrating on hotspots  Scientists are also identifying native habitats to preserve and restore  Scientists are promoting products that have been harvested with sustainable practices

20. Making A Difference  Page 264-265  Dr. Wilson  Write essay answering the following questions:  What is an entomologist?  What is a conservationist?  Why is it important to have conservationists like Dr. Wilson in the world today? (At least 3 reasons why)

21. Legal Protections for Species  US Laws  Endangered Species Act  Created in 1973 1. Protects plant and animal species in danger of extinction by adding them to a list  983 plant and animal species on endangered or threatened list in 2002 2. Protects species on the list from human harm  Fines given to people who violate the law 3. Federal government can not carry out a project that jeopardizes a listed species

22. Legal Protections for Species  Recovery & Habitat Conservation Plans  Required by Endangered Species Act by the USFWS (US Fish and Wildlife Service)  Plan must be in place for all listed species  Proposed how to protect or restore habitat  Affects real estate developers  Compromises can be reached  Habitat conservation plan  Plan protects species in large area through trade-offs or cooperative agreements

23. Legal Protections for Species  International Cooperation  International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)  In charge of protecting species and habitats  Projects of the IUCN  CITES – an International Treaty to save animals  Stopped the slaughtering of African elephants for tusks  Biodiversity Treaty  International agreement to preserve biodiversity and make sure there is fair use of genetic resources in all countries  Private Conservation Group Efforts

24. Balancing Human Needs  Trying to protect species often comes in conflict with humans  Example – An endangered species can be a source of food or income for humans  Scientists feel it is important….  To make the value of biodiversity understood by more humans  This is an important part of protecting a species

25. Assignment  Section 3 Review  Page 257  # 1-4, 6

26. Chapter 10 Review  Page 259-261  # 3-15, 17, 20-23, 26-27, 31-32