1. Biodiversity

2. Biodiversity
The variety of life in an ecosystem.

3. Biodiversity increases as you near the equator

4. 3 most diverse biomes:
Coral Reef
Tropical Rainforest
Wetlands Marsh

5. Why is Biodiversity important?
Beautiful and scenic
Good for our health and an ecosystem’s health
(diet, medicines, and disease prevention)

6. Loss of biodiversity

7. Extinct species
A species once present on Earth but has died out

8. Endangered species A species in danger of becoming extinct.

9. Threatened species
A species likely to become endangered in the near future.

10. What causes the loss of biodiversity?
“HIPPO”
Habitat Loss
Invasive Species
Poaching
Pollution
Over population by humans

11. 1. Habitat Loss Deforestation Slash and burn
Makes soil temporarily more fertile for farming
But rain forests have nutrient poor soil.

12. Negative Effects of Deforestation
Loss of habitat – crowds out species
Increases levels of CO2 – contributing to global warming

13. Encroachment Slowly moving into a species’ habitat Examples
Road building & farming and housing development

14. 2. Invasive Species
Species that are introduced into an environment they are not originally from
Synonyms for exotic: alien, feral, invasive, introduced

15. Cane Toads Released on purpose to kill cane beetles
Skin contains deadly toxins
Practically no predators
101 have turned into 200 million over 70 years

16. Fire Ants Stowed away on ship to Alabama Sting feels like burn
Kills native insects

17. Killer Bees More aggressive honey bees Escaped from lab in Brazil
Kills native bee species

19. Non-harmful invasive species
Wheat
Rice
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Pigs
Cows
Goats

20. How do they arrive?

21. A Burmese python attempted to eat an alligator
Invasive species in FL
A Burmese python attempted to eat an alligator

23. What’s the problem? Crowd out native species No predators
Decreases biodiversity

24. 3. Poaching Illegal hunting (killing) OR
Illegally removing a species from its habitat

25. Poached Species Big Cats – Fur Elephants – Ivory Rhinoceros – Horns
Orangutans – Pets
Macaws – Pets
“In 2005 there were nearly 88,000 mammals, 1.3 million reptiles and 203 million fish imported illegally into the United States.” -Reuters

26. Poaching

27. 4. Pollution
Water Pollution
Air Pollution
Ground Pollution

28. Water Pollution
Pesticides
Fertilizers
Mercury

29. Pesticide Use
Pesticide= chemicals used to kill a pest (rodent, insect, fungus, etc.)
Runoff with rainwater puts it into local water systems.
Disrupts aquatic food chains

30. DDT Pesticide used to kill mosquitoes
Blamed for decline in bird of prey populations
Fish in polluted water eaten by birds
Travels up the food chain
Top predators (eagles, peregrine falcons) affected most

31. These birds lay eggs with thin shells
U.S. banned DDT in 1972
DDT still used in tropical locations to fight malaria
Some oppose ban due to DDT’s ability to fight malaria

32. Fertilizer Use Runoff into lakes
Causes rapid algae growth (algae bloom)

33. Algae blocks sunlight and….
Plants die (less oxygen)
Decomposers break down dead plants (& use up oxygen)
No oxygen available to other animals and they “suffocate”

34. Phytoplankton Bloom

35. Mercury
Mercury released into the air when burned, and mixes with rainfall to get into the water.
Found in high quantities in fish
Can damage nervous and reproductive systems (Pregnant women and young kids at highest risk)

36. Hatters used mercury to shape felt hats and often were poisoned
Hatters used mercury to shape felt hats and often were poisoned. “Mad as a Hatter” references this.

37. Mercury can accumulate in the food chain.

39. Mercury is often combined with other metals for fillings (ADA says this is safe)

40. Air Pollution
Pollutants released into air usually from burning fossil fuels

41. Air Pollution causes… Global warming Ozone depletion Acid Rain
Carbon Monoxide poisoning

42. Ground Pollution
Soil becomes polluted when air pollutants drift to the ground or when water leaves pollutants behind as it flows through the soil.

44. 5. Over Population of Humans

45. Population numbers

46. Overpopulation
As more humans are added to our planet, the demand for natural resources (for energy, food and shelter) increases and more land is cleared for development.

49. Review What is biodiversity?
Why is biodiversity important in an ecosystem?
What five actions cause a loss of biodiversity? (HIPPO- spell them out)
Think about it- What could humans do to reduce the loss of biodiversity? Describe at least two ways humans could help protect biodiversity.