1. BIODIVERSITY / CONSERVATION

2. Variety of life on planet Earth
Biodiversity
Variety of life on planet Earth
Includes the genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
About 1.7 – 2 million organisms currently known
Estimated that there are 3 – 100 million total on Earth
WHY DO ESTIMATES VARY SO MUCH?

3. Levels of Biodiversity
Species Diversity- number of species in an area
Ecosystem Diversity- number of ecosystems or habitats in an area
Genetic Diversity- Different genes or Traits available in a population

4. Benefits for all species
Species depend on each other for survival
Keystone species- critical species that affects the survival of other species
Foundation species- primary producer within an ecosystem which if eliminated, it will collapse the system

5. Benefits of Biodiversity
Ecosystem: Loss of biodiversity at any level could lead to ecosystem instability (ex: keystone species)
Agriculture: pest resistance, commercial uses (ex: babassu palm, gives more oil than coconut and could be used for cooking, etc.)
Medicine: cures for diseases (ex: rosy periwinkle used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma) – 25% of prescriptions come from plants
Ecotourism: source of income for many countries (ex: Costa Rica)

6. Loss of Biodiversity
Organisms naturally go extinct if they cannot survive
Times when extinction rate is much greater (mass extinctions)
Currently we could be in the “Sixth Mass Extinction”

7. Loss of Biodiversity
Background extinction- Extinction through natural process.
Usually a very small number per year
Mass extinction- abrupt rise in extinction rates
Usually global
25-70% species loss
5 mass extinctions have occurred over 500 million years
Adaptive radiations- post mass extinction where diversity increases

8. Loss of Biodiversity ENDANGERED SPECIES  Serious risk of extinction
THREATENED SPECIES  Likely to become extinct soon
ENDANGERED SPECIES - A species is likely to become extinct if not protected

9. Loss of Biodiversity
Extirpated- species that have disappeared from an area where they once lived, but still exist elsewhere
Extinct- A species that once occurred but no longer exists across their original range

10. PA Endangered Species
BOG TURTLE  Draining or destruction of its habitat are causing it to go extinct… (very rare so worth money and illegally removed at times)
MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKE  Only found in historic sites due to dam building, highway construction, urbanization, forest succession, mining, and agricultural activity

11. Causes of Biodiversity Loss
1) Habitat Fragmentation: Division of habitat into smaller patches (ex: clearing forests, building roads, etc.) 75% of all extinction is caused by habitat loss
2) Invasive Species: Exotic species move in and spread (ex: Zebra mussel)
Exotic species- species introduced to an area that are not native
3) Pollution: Harmful chemicals find their way into habitats (ex: metals, oils, fertilizers)

12. Habitat Fragmentation

13. Causes of Biodiversity Loss
4) Overharvesting: Catching / hunting too much (ex: Siberian tiger)
-POACHING  Illegal capture or killing of an
organism for $$$
5) Climate Change: Warming temperatures on Earth

14. Critical Areas of Biodiversity
HOTSPOTS- areas of the world that are being destroyed rapidly
34 identified spots worldwide
Endemic Species- species that are native, and only found in that localized area

16. Critical Areas of Biodiversity
Tropical Rain forests- 7% of worlds area, 50% of earth’s species

17. Critical Areas of Biodiversity
Coral Reefs- high biodiversity, major damage is from ecotourism
worth $375 Billion

18. Protecting Biodiversity
Protect biodiversity “hotspots” (lots of organisms)
-ENDEMIC SPECIES: found only in one area
Economic approaches (ex: get paid to conserve)
Madagascar Lemurs
Galapagos Tortoise

19. Protecting Biodiversity
Endangered Species Act  Law that protects biodiversity
-Successful with Brown Pelican and Bald Eagle
-Costs can be high (ex: Spotted Owl protection caused many loggers to lose their jobs)
Captive Breeding  Process of breeding and raising organisms in controlled conditions (ex: Zoos)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)  Treaty to save biodiversity (bans transport of their body parts)

20. Legal Protection
Private groups- most successful- Green Peace, WWF, and Conservation International
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources- provides a global list of endangered and threatened species (Red List). Also controls and enforces illegal trade of poached animals or parts.