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Biodiversity Notes.

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Presentation on theme: "Biodiversity Notes."— Presentation transcript:

1 Biodiversity Notes

2 Primary Learning Objectives
To know the advantages of preserving biodiversity. To know the major causes of species becoming endangered. To be able to list the things that humans are doing to help save endangered species.

3 Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

4 Why Should We Save Endangered Species?

5 Medicinal Benefits In the United States, 56% of the 150 most popular prescribed drugs contain natural compounds found in the wild This could be the tip of the iceberg. Less than 1% of all plant species have been screened for potential medicinal applications.

6 Medicinal Benefits At the current extinction rate, experts estimate that the Earth is losing one major drug every two years.

7 Medicinal Benefits The Pacific yew, a slow-growing tree found in the Pacific Northwest, was historically considered a "trash" tree that was burned after clear-cutting forests. A substance found in its bark--now marketed as Taxol®--was identified and approved for the treatment of ovarian, breast, and lung cancer.

8 Economical Benefits Protecting endangered species isn't just the right thing to do - it makes economic sense, too. Commercial salmon fishing once provided over 60,000 jobs and $1.25 billion in profit for Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

9 Economical Benefits Over the past 20 years, salmon populations have severely declined because of dams, clear-cutting, and overgrazing along streams.

10 Economical Benefits America's National Parks hosted 280 million recreational visitors in 2001, who spent an estimated $10.6 billion in the communities around parks That spending supported 212, tourism-related jobs.

11 Economical Benefits In 1998, the World Tourism Organization reported that nature-related tourism accounts for approximately 20 percent of all international travel.

12 Ecological Benefits We tend to take nature for granted and assume that ecosystem services that we depend on will continue regardless of human activities. But when species become endangered, it means that the health of our ecosystems is deteriorating.

13 Ecological Benefits Some of the services nature provides for "free" include: Producing raw materials like food, timber, medicines, and dyes. Purifying water Decomposing wastes

14 Ecological Benefits Recycling nutrients Creating and maintaining soils
Controlling pests Aiding pollination Regulating local and global climates

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16 Aesthetic Benefits Beyond the ecological and economic benefits of biodiversity, many people feel a connection with nature. Many find nature enjoyable and relaxing, something that's difficult to put a price on.

17 Aesthetic Benefits Our challenge as a society is to recognize this connection with nature and to reestablish ourselves as part of a healthy global ecosystem.

18 Why Do Species Become Endangered?

19 Loss of Habitat As the human population increases more and more buildings, roads and parking lots are built. Each expanding human community results in the shrinking of wildlife habitat.

20 Loss of Habitat In addition to taking up more space, more people means a greater demand for resources that come from the land. Therefore we see a continual increase in land used for agriculture, logging, mining and drilling.

21 Loss of Habitat Each of these activities not only results in the loss of habitat for natural species but also pollution of the surrounding areas.

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24 Pollution Chemicals used in agriculture, such as fertilizers and pesticides, are absorbed by surrounding plants, animals, and soils. These chemicals can alter soil and water composition and prove harmful, if not fatal, to numerous species.

25 Acid rain, caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, causes the acidification of lakes and rivers, making them uninhabitable for most species. Pollution

26 Pollution Increased production of greenhouse gases results in global warming. As global warming alters temperatures, humidity, soil and vegetation, it can ruin a habitat for an endangered species.

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28 Invasive Species Invasive alien species are harmful, non-native plants, animals, and microorganisms that are introduced into an environment in which they did not evolve. Usually, they have no natural enemies to limit their reproduction and therefore spread rampantly.

29 Invasive Species As a result the invasive species out competes native species for resources and causes a decline in the population of the native species. Three problem invasive species in New York State are purple loose strife, zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil.

30 Purple Loosestrife

31 Zebra Mussels

32 Invasive Species Eurasian Water milfoil is an invasive plant species that spreads easily and grows quickly. Eurasian Water milfoil crowds out native plants reducing biodiversity, diminishes fish habitat and negatively impacts wetland habitats.

33 Invasive Species Dense growths inhibit water recreation like boating, swimming and fishing. As a result, Eurasian Water milfoil adversely affects the local tourist-dependent economy by decreasing recreational utility.

34 Invasive Species It was most likely brought to this continent by ships and has since spread to almost every continental state and throughout Canada. Eurasian Water milfoil was first discovered in Lake George in By 1998, the aquatic plant had spread to 127 known sites, 31 of which contain dense growths.

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38 The Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act (ESA), enacted in 1973, is the nation's primary tool for conserving rare plants and animals.

39 The Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act's goal is to recover rare species to the point where they don't need the law's protections.

40 The Endangered Species Act
Currently over 1,200 U.S. species and over 550 foreign species are listed as either threatened or endangered. Endangered species: At risk of going extinct. Threatened species: At risk of becoming endangered.

41 When a species is listed, it means that it's in trouble and needs protection. Although biological need is supposed to be the only factor determining whether a species is listed, often politics play a role, too. Listing wide-ranging species, or species that are in the way of powerful development interests, can be extremely difficult and controversial.

42 The Endangered Species Act
In designating critical habitats, factors besides biological need can be considered. Habitats crucial to species recovery are often left unprotected because people fear the economic consequences. In fact, critical habitat has been designated for less than 1/2 of all listed species.

43 The Endangered Species Act
Recovery plans typically identify a wide range of actions that will help to recover the species. These may include Reintroduction of species into formerly occupied habitat land purchase and management captive breeding habitat restoration and protection


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