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What is biodiversity? Variety of life in an area – Determined by the # of different species Importance: – Increases stability of ecosystem and contributes.

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Presentation on theme: "What is biodiversity? Variety of life in an area – Determined by the # of different species Importance: – Increases stability of ecosystem and contributes."— Presentation transcript:

1 What is biodiversity? Variety of life in an area – Determined by the # of different species Importance: – Increases stability of ecosystem and contributes to health of biosphere

2 Why is diversity important to ecology? More diverse = more likely to flourish in the long run – If multiple organisms fill each niche, when trouble hits one organism, the role can still be filled by another

3 What is biodiveristy? Agenda for Thursday Oct 27 th 1.Root word quiz 2.Finish notes 3.Review game TEST TOMORROW!!

4 Species Diversity Number of different species and relative abundance of each – increase as you go towards the equator Biodiversity hot spots

5 Importance of Biodiversity Direct Economic value Preserve plants and animals we use Some plants provide medicinal uses Preserve desirable genes – Food crops – most crops come from a few species Close relatives exist in the wild Disease resistant plants in wild – create disease resistant crops

6 Importance of Biodiversity Indirect Economic Value Plants provide oxygen, natural processes clean water – Water cycle, carbon cycle, wetlands – New York City – create $6 Billion water filtration system or clean wetlands to filter water

7 Importance of Biodiversity Aesthetic and scientific value Camping Hunting Research

8 Threats to Biodiversity

9 Non-native/Introduced and Invasive species Invasive - species that are not native to Minn. – cause economic, env’t, harm or harm human health No predators, parasites, and competition to keep in check – No natural enemies Not all are harmful – Pheasants

10 Common Invasives Buckthorn Zebra Mussels Emerald Ash Borer Silver Carp

11 Human Impact Results in a loss of diversity in both biotic and abiotic aspects – land use, the cutting of vast areas of forest, and pollution of the soil, air, and water Adding or removing organisms to ecosystems Increasing demand for energy – Many risks are associated with use of fossil and nuclear fuels

12 Human Impact - pollution Air pollution acid rain damage to the ozone layer Smog global warming

13 Atmospheric carbon dioxide

14 Human Impact - pollution Water pollution Eutrophication – accumulation of nutrients in water (Nitrogen) – causes excessive algal growth – This leads to a reduction in oxygen levels and the death of aquatic life

15 Threats chart

16 Conserving Biodiversity How do we conserve and protect biodiversity? Endangered Species Act Protected areas – National Parks – State Parks – International Protected areas Large reserves protected by buffer zone

17 Conserving Biodiversity Identify hot spots – Endemic species – species found only in one area Corridors – Between habitat fragments – Allows animals to move safely – Creates a larger piece of land = sustain wider variety of species and genetic variation – Can spread disease

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19 Restoring Ecosystems Abandoned land can recover to create a new ecosystem

20 Restoring Ecosystems Bioremediation – using living organisms to detoxify an area – Gulf coast oil spill and bacteria Biological Augmentation – adding natural predators to a degraded ecosystem


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