1. Conservation Biology

2. Environmental Science
The study of the interaction between humans and their own environment

3. Major Threats to Biodiversity
Habitat loss
Human alteration of habitat is the single greatest threat to biodiversity
Introduced species: invasive/nonnative/exotic species
Overexploitation:
harvest wild plants/animals
Global change: alter climate, atmosphere, & ecological systems  reduce Earth’s capacity to sustain life

4. Biodiversity Hot Spots
Contain 50% of the earths organisms, yet only cover about 2.6% of our planet's surface

5. Human Impacts on the Environment
Pollution
Introduction of contaminants into a natural
environment that causes instability, disorder,
harm to the ecosystem
Air
Soil
Thermal
Water

6. Three factors determine a pollutant’s severity
waste material that pollutes air, water or soil
Three factors determine a pollutant’s severity
its chemical nature
the concentration
the persistence

7. Effects of Pollution Smog
combination of smoke and fog, contains nitrogen and sulfur oxides
small particles, and ozone

8. Acid Rain Result of burned fossil fuels from factories and autos
React with water to make it acidic (pH 4 or less)
Damages buildings, bridges, ecosystems, bodies of water, plants, animals
Range of pH Across the US

9. Thinning Ozone Layer
Ozone (O3): form of oxygen that is different than what we breathe
in upper atmosphere: absorbs dangerous UV radiation
in lower atmosphere: causes pollution and respiratory problems
result of CFC’s released into air from propellants and refrigerants

10. Climate Change (Global Warming)
Increase in global temperature due to greenhouse gases in
upper atmosphere (CO2, methane)
Result of burning fossil fuels, deforestation
Effects: rapidly changing weather patterns, melting of polar ice caps, rising sea levels, droughts, increased intensity of storms

13. Effect of ocean pH on Marine Species

14. Effect of Increased CO2 on Reef Biodiversity

15. Sea Ice Change

16. Eutrophication Mississippi basin dead zone (red)
Process where a body of water no longer contains enough oxygen to support species naturally found in it
Excess nitrogen from agriculture enters aquatic ecosystems
Algae and bacteria bloom/die  reduce oxygen  fish and invertebrates die
Organisms die due to lack of oxygen
- hypoxia- low oxygen
- anoxia- no oxygen
Mississippi basin dead zone (red)

17. Deforestation
Removal of trees from forests for lumber, farms, mines, or development
Leads to resource depletion
Affects the carbon cycle: not enough CO2 being removed or O2 being produced
Reduces biodiversity in ecosystems

18. One side of dam is flooded, other side loses water source:
Dams
Environmental Issues
One side of dam is flooded, other side loses water source:
Soil Erosion
Lack of sediments downstream erodes channel
Loss of nutrients and resources to ecosystem
Species Extinction
Due to flooding or loss of water
Fish species die out
Species dependent on water die
Disease
Sitting water breeding ground for disease harboring insects

20. Wise use of resources to protect and preserve their supply
Conservation
Wise use of resources to protect and preserve their supply
Conservation Biology
Science to identify, protect, and manage natural areas that still retain much biodiversity

22. The biosphere has a limited capacity to renew or repair itself.
Human Resource Use
The biosphere has a limited capacity to renew or repair itself.
Primary Production: total energy stored through photosynthesis
Ecological footprint: human impact on ecosystems
Includes use of
land and water
people’s production of wastes and pollution
Sustainability: ability to meet human needs so the human population can survive indefinitely
- develop new technologies for living
- slow or reverse human population growth
- reduce consumption of resources

23. Sustainable Development Techniques
Finding ways to use resources that do not destroy or deplete resources for future generations
Crop Rotation
practice of growing a series of dissimilar types of crops in the same
area in sequential seasons
Reduces soil erosion and depletion of minerals from soil

24. Reforestation
restocking of existing forests and woodlands which have been depleted
soaks up pollution and dust from the air, rebuild natural habitats
reduces global warming since forests facilitate absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide

25. Contour Plowing
plowing across a slope following its elevation contour lines
rows formed slows water run-off during rainstorms to prevent soil erosion and allows the water time to settle into the soil
ruts run perpendicular to slopes

26. Make changes, make a difference!