1. LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT 17 TH MILLER/SPOOLMAN CHAPTER 4 Biodiversity and Evolution

2. In the News--Hydrological Cycle a-rising-tide-of-contaminants epa-unveils-plan-to-restore-great-lakes

3. HW For Thursday, 9.24: Read pp. 80-88 (Core Case Study through section 4.2) Review (p. 101): #1 Critical Thinking Questions (p. 102): #1, #3 For Friday, 9.25: Read pp. 88-95 (sections 4.3-4.5) Review (p. 102): #5

4. Core Case Study: Why Should We Protect Sharks? 400 known species 6 deaths per year from shark attacks 79-97 million sharks killed every year Fins Organs, meat, hides Fear 32% shark species threatened with extinction Keystone species Cancer resistant

5. Threatened Sharks Fig. 4-1, p. 80

6. 4-1 What Is Biodiversity and Why Is It Important? Concept 4-1 The biodiversity found in genes, species, ecosystems, and ecosystem processes is vital to sustaining life on earth.

7. Biodiversity Is a Crucial Part of the Earth’s Natural Capital (1) Species: set of individuals who can mate and produce fertile offspring Scientists estimate that there are probably 10-14 million species on Earth, but only 1.9 million have been identified. Need a job? Unidentified are mostly in rain forests and oceans.

8. Biodiversity Is a Crucial Part of the Earth’s Natural Capital (2) Species diversity Genetic diversity Ecosystem diversity Biomes: regions with distinct climates/species Functional diversity Biodiversity is an important part of natural capital

9. Natural Capital: Major Components of the Earth’s Biodiversity Fig. 4-2, p. 82

10. Major Biomes Fig. 4-5, p. 84

11. Major Biome: Appalachian Mountains—Deciduous Forest

12. Biodiversity—Why you should care … The earth’s biodiversity is a vital part of the natural capital that helps keep us alive and supports our economies. Food, wood, fiber, energy, medicine … Biodiversity plays a critical role in preserving the quality of the air and water, maintaining the fertility of topsoil, decomposing and recycling waste, and controlling populations of species (checks and balances). Free ecological services Simply put, biodiversity helps sustain life on earth.

13. Science Focus: Have you thanked the insects today? Bad rep: sting us, bite us, spread disease, eat our food, invade plants Pollination: lets flowering plants reproduce sexually Free pest control: insects eat other insects We need insects more than they need us.

14. Importance of Insects Fig. 4-A, p. 83 Ted Video: Hidden Beauty of Pollination

15. Monarchs Monarchs--National Geographic Monarchwatch.org

16. Individuals Matter: Edward O. Wilson: A Champion of Biodiversity Loved bugs as a kid Specialized in ants Widened scope to earth’s biodiversity Theory of island biogeography First to use “biodiversity” in a scientific paper

17. Edward O. Wilson Colbert Report with E.O. Wilson Colbert Report with E.O. Wilson Anyone need a demo topic?

18. 4-2 How Does the Earth’s Life Change Over Time? Concept 4-2A The scientific theory of evolution explains how life on earth changes over time through changes in the genes of populations. Concept 4-2B Populations evolve when genes mutate and give some individuals genetic traits that enhance their abilities to survive and to produce offspring with these traits (natural selection).

19. Key Points—Biological Evolution Populations—not individuals—evolve by becoming genetically different. Steps in the process: 1. Random genetic mutations 2. Natural selection Environmental conditions favor (“select”) some individuals over others due to the presence of adaptive traits. 3. Differential reproduction: Individuals with the trait produce more surviving offspring than other members of the population produce.

20. Key Points—Biological Evolution Genes mutate, individuals are selected, and populations evolve such that they are better adapted to survive and reproduce under existing environmental conditions. E.g., gray wolves with thicker fur in snowy, cold environments

21. Adaptation through natural selection has limits Adaptive genetic traits must precede change in the environmental conditions Reproductive capacity Species that reproduce rapidly and in large numbers are better able to adapt

22. Three common myths about evolution through natural selection—Explain these. 1.“Survival of the fittest” is not “survival of the strongest”. 2.Organisms do not develop traits out of need or want. 3.No grand plan of nature for perfect adaptation.

23. Three common myths about evolution through natural selection—Explain these. 1.“Survival of the fittest” is not “survival of the strongest”. Fitness is a measure of reproductive success. 2.Organisms do not develop traits out of need or want. Giraffe 3.No grand plan of nature for perfect adaptation. At least from the scientific viewpoint, no grand plan has been identified.

24. 4-3 How Do Geological Processes and Climate Change Affect Evolution? Concept 4-3 Tectonic plate movements, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and climate change have shifted wildlife habitats, wiped out large numbers of species, and created opportunities for the evolution of new species.

25. Movement of the Earth’s Continents over Millions of Years Fig. 4-8, p. 89

26. Geologic Processes Affect Natural Selection Tectonic plates affect evolution and the location of life on earth Locations of continents and oceans have shifted Species physically move, or adapt, or form new species through natural selection Earthquakes Volcanic eruptions

27. Climate Change and Catastrophes Affect Natural Selection Ice ages followed by warming temperatures Collisions between the earth and large asteroids New species Extinctions

28. Changes in Ice Coverage in the Northern Hemisphere During the last 18,000 Years Fig. 4-9, p. 89

29. Ice Age and the Southern Appalachians As you can see from Figure 4.9 (p. 89), a large portion of the Northern Hemisphere was covered in ice roughly 18,000 years ago. As ice encroached on the northern areas of present-day U.S., northern tree species were “pushed” south. In our region, these species were able to survive at higher elevations [cooler], and some of these species remain today. Cheesy Mt. Mitchell video

30. HW Discussion For Monday, 9.28: Read pp. 95-101 (section 4.6 through case studies) Review (p. 102): #8, #9 Data Analysis (p. 103): All

31. Island Biogeography Theory Robert MacArthur and E.O. Wilson See “Science Focus,” p. 94 Summary of Theory: Smaller islands tend to have fewer species than do large islands: Smaller target Higher extinction rate because of fewer resources Islands closer to nearest mainland will have more species than islands farther away: Low immigration rates for islands far away Theory also used to study wildlife in “habitat islands,” such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

32. Habitat Fragmentation

33. Homework For Tuesday, 9.29: Carefully read the Case Study, “Why are Amphibians Vanishing?” (p. 97) and answer the following questions: What major ecological roles do amphibian species play? List 9 factors that help to threaten frogs and other amphibians with extinction. What are three reasons for protecting amphibians?

34. 4-4 How Do Speciation, Extinction, and Human Activities Affect Biodiversity? Concept 4-4A As environmental conditions change, the balance between formation of new species and extinction of existing species determines the earth’s biodiversity. Concept 4-4B Human activities can decrease biodiversity by causing the extinction of many species and by destroying or degrading habitats needed for the development of new species.

35. How Do New Species Evolve? Speciation: one species splits into two or more species Geographic isolation: happens first; physical isolation of populations for a long period Reproductive isolation: mutations and natural selection in geographically isolated populations lead to inability to produce viable offspring when members of two different populations mate

36. Geographic Isolation Can Lead to Reproductive Isolation Fig. 4-10, p. 91

37. Extinction is Forever Extinction Biological extinction Local extinction Endemic species Found only in one area Particularly vulnerable Background extinction: typical low rate of extinction Mass extinction: 3-5 over 500 million years

38. Golden Toad of Costa Rica, Extinct Fig. 4-11, p. 92

39. 4-5 What Is Species Diversity and Why Is It Important? Concept 4-5 Species diversity is a major component of biodiversity and tends to increase the sustainability of ecosystems.

40. Species Diversity: Variety, Abundance of Species in a Particular Place (1) Species diversity Species richness: The number of different species in a given area Species evenness: Comparative number of individuals

41. Species Diversity: Variety, Abundance of Species in a Particular Place (2) Diversity varies with geographical location The most species-rich communities Tropical rain forests Coral reefs Ocean bottom zone Large tropical lakes

42. Global Map of Plant Biodiversity Supplement 8, Fig. 6, p. S36

43. Species-Rich Ecosystems Tend to Be Productive and Sustainable Species richness seems to increase productivity and stability or sustainability, and provide insurance against catastrophe How much species richness is needed is debatable

44. 4-6 What Roles Do Species Play in an Ecosystem? Concept 4-6A Each species plays a specific ecological role called its niche. Concept 4-6B Any given species may play one or more of five important roles—native, nonnative, indicator, keystone, or foundation—in a particular ecosystem.

45. Each Species Plays a Unique Role in Its Ecosystem Ecological niche, niche Pattern of living: everything that affects survival and reproduction Water, space, sunlight, food, temperatures Generalist species Broad niche: wide range of tolerance Specialist species Narrow niche: narrow range of tolerance

46. Specialist Species and Generalist Species Niches Fig. 4-13, p. 95

47. Case Study: Cockroaches: Nature’s Ultimate Survivors 3500 species Generalists Eat almost anything Live in almost any climate High reproductive rates

48. Cockroach Fig. 4-15, p. 96

49. Species Can Play Five Major Roles within Ecosystems Native species Nonnative species Indicator species Keystone species Foundation species

50. Indicator Species Serve as Biological Smoke Alarms Indicator species Provide early warning of damage to a community Can monitor environmental quality Trout Birds Butterflies Frogs

51. Case Study: Why Are Amphibians Vanishing? (1) Habitat loss and fragmentation Prolonged drought Pollution Increase in UV radiation Parasites Viral and fungal diseases Climate change Overhunting Nonnative predators and competitors

52. Case Study: Why Are Amphibians Vanishing? (2) Importance of amphibians Sensitive biological indicators of environmental changes Adult amphibians Important ecological roles in biological communities Genetic storehouse of pharmaceutical products waiting to be discovered

53. Red-Eyed Tree Frog and Poison Dart Frog Fig. 4-17a, p. 98

54. Keystone Species Play Critical Roles in Their Ecosystems Keystone species: roles have a large effect on the types and abundances of other species Pollinators Top predators

55. Case Study: Why Should We Care about the American Alligator? Largest reptile in North America 1930s: Hunters and poachers Importance of gator holes and nesting mounds: a keystone species 1967: endangered species 1977: comeback, threatened species

56. American Alligator Fig. 4-18, p. 99

57. Foundation Species Help to Form the Bases of Ecosystems Create or enhance their habitats, which benefit others Elephants Beavers

58. Three Big Ideas 1.Populations evolve when genes mutate and give some individuals genetic traits that enhance their abilities to survive and to produce offspring with these traits (natural selection). 2.Human activities are decreasing the earth’s vital biodiversity by causing the extinction of species and by disrupting habitats needed for the development of new species.

59. Three Big Ideas 3.Each species plays a specific ecological role (ecological niche) in the ecosystem where it is found.

60. Critical Thinking Questions, p. 102 #6 #7 #8

61. What’s left? Remnant Archipelago reading and questions AP Review Questions, Chapter 4 Study!