1. Biodiversity 1

2. Jan 14, 2011 Aim: What factors contribute to biodiversity?
Do Now: List the following in the order from least to most biodiversity. Add in as many different environments as you can.
Classroom floor, parking lot, forest, school yard 2

3. Biodiversity – Many Kinds of Life
Variety of life in an ecosystem
Can measure by number of species present
Increases as you go closer to the equator (temperatures are warmer) because they have more sunlight and rain -> longer growing seasons -> they have more food 3

4. 4

5. Humans need Biodiversity
List as many things you regularly use (besides food) that comes from living things.
Sponges
Cotton clothing
Glue
Paper
Food
Drink 5

6. Biodiversity and Human illness
We need a high number of different species so that living things can withstand changes in the world around them
Many plants and animals make substances that can be used for medicine
We can learn more about diseases
Plants grow well in drought conditions 6

7. Using Plants for Medicine
Cinchona tree bark has quinine which cures malaria
Velvet bean plant has hormone used to treat Parkinson’s 7

8. Reducing Biodiversity
Name as many different reasons biodiversity can be reduced
Global warmingkills species
Extinction
Over hunting
Not enough are reproducing
Habitat loss
Building of cities 8

9. Extinction and Endangerment
Extinction is when a species that was alive on Earth but has now died out
Mass extinction 65 million years ago wiped out 2/3 of all species
Mass extinction usually followed by presence of new species
Endangered species: species that could soon disappear, in danger of becoming extinct, will require human intervention to survive 9

10. Recently Extinct Species
Yangtze River Dolphin (Baji)‏
Lived in China
Declared extinct in 2006 10

11. Extinct: Saint Helen's Olive
Found ONLY on Mount Saint Helen's, a volcano in Northwestern US
Last known individual died in captivity in 2003

12. Most Likely Extinct Galapagos sunstar
Has not been seen in over 25 years

13. Endangered African black rhinoceros13

14. Loss of Habitat threatens species
Threatened species: species is likely to become endangered in the near future
There is still time to help species recover on its own 14

15. Does the government have the right to ban trade?15

16. Feb 1, 2011 AIM: How can introduced species damage an ecosystem?
DN: Write down what you know about bedbugs, and why do you think NYC has such a problem with them right now.
HW #1 – Exam corrections due Wed. Explain what the question wants, what you need to know, and the correct answer.

17. The problem of Introduced Species
Native Species – species that were already living in that place
Introduced Species – were brought to a place by people. Sometimes on purpose, other times by accident.
If an introduced species does so well that is out- competes the natives, then it is considers an Invasive Species.

18. Cane Toads – Big Problem!
Native to Hawaii
Introduced to Australia as a form of natural pest control
Spreading everywhere, eating EVERYTHING
Killed several endangered species

19. Bed Bugs – an invasive species in NY?
Becoming epidemic (widespread)‏
May be brought here accidentally by travelers
“Hitchhikers”
Sturdy, hard to kill
Why do you think they spread so fast in NYC?

20. Burmese Pythons Invade Florida!
People bought them as tropical pets
Got too big, scary, pet owners released them into Florida's Everglades swamps
Why do you think this was a TERRIBLE idea?

21. Burmese Pythons Invade Florida!
Pythons flourished (grew and reproduced quickly) in the swamps
Little competition
Prey have no defenses
Can take on alligators
Over 300 were captured in 2010
Hope the unusually cold winter will kill them

22. Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Invade US
Brought over by accident on boats, planes
Eat and kill trees FAST, destroy entire forests
Trees have no defense
Immune to pesticides
No natural predators

23. Kudzu – Invasive Plant in Southern US
Native to Japan
Introduced on purpose to US for its usefulness
Grows super-fast

24. Kudzu Grows Fast
March 2006
October 2006

25. What Can Be Done?
Be careful – check suitcases, bags, bedsheets, and clothes when traveling
Checkpoints at state and country borders
Ban (forbid) transport of organisms tagged as potentially invasive

26. Quick Quiz
What is the difference between threatened, endangered, and extinct species?
How can introduced species result in other species becoming endangered or even extinct? 26