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Published byRussell Mosley Modified over 9 years ago
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Chapter 5
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Vanishing species Biodiversity = Variety of life in an area –# of species Where is the greatest biodiversity? –Warm places more biodiversity than cold 163 mammal species in Canada 367 mammal species in US 439 mammal species in Mexico
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If two identical climates, then the larger area typically has more biodiversity. General rules: –1) warmer areas have greater biodiversity –2) larger areas have greater biodiversity
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Why is biodiversity important? –Life needs life –biodiversity brings stability to an ecosystem –Medicine –Genetic cross breeding can increase productivity in food and animals.
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Threatened- Population of a species starts a rapid decline. Endangered- when a species # become so low that extinction is possible. Extinct- the disappearance of a species when the last of its members dies. –Can be local or world-wide –Can occur naturally or due to unnatural disturbances
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Threats to Biodiversity Habitat Loss- –The biggest threat to biodiversity (natural and unnatural) –when habitats are gone the essentials of life for some organisms are gone as well.
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Habitat Fragmentation- –The separation of wilderness areas –Fragmentation can occur when roads, buildings, etc. are expanded into undisturbed wilderness. –Fragmentation can occur naturally from flooding, mountain formation, etc.
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Biotic Issues of fragmentation- –Lack of range to feed and breed –Lack of enough food –Lack of migration routes Abiotic Issues of Fragmentation- –Climate change (edge effect = different conditions at the edge of a biome then the middle) –Lack of water and mineral resources
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Habitat degredation- damage to the habitat by pollution. –Water pollution- degrades aquatic habitats
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Land Pollution- degrades land habitats. Can be…. –Trash –Chemicals –Other items
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Introduction of Exotics (alien) species- The introduced species my out compete native species for resources.
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Conservation Biology Conservation biology = a field of biology that studies methods and implements plans to protect biodiversity.
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Legal protection –Endangered Species Act (1973) – law that made it illegal to harm any species on the endangered or threatened species list.
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Preserving Habitats- Protecting whole ecosystems –National wildlife refuges, parks, grasslands, wilderness areas, forest, etc.
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Sustainable use- strives to let people use resources of a wilderness area in ways that will not damage the ecosystem.
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Habitat corridors- uses natural strips to connect small areas of habitat. –Allows for migration –Allows for a small area to “act” as a larger area ecologically
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Reintroduction Programs- releasing an organism into an ecosystem where it once lived.
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Captivity- organism held by people. (I.e. Zoos)
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