1. Ecosystems, Endangered Species, Biodiversity, and Us

2. Questions What is an ecosystem?
What is biodiversity? Why is it important?
Should we focus on the preservation of endangered species and not the species ecosystem or vice versa? Why or why not?

3. Important terms… Ecosystem Endangered Species Biodiversity Niche
Alien Species
Strategic Habitat Conservation

4. Endangered Species are…
A population of organisms of which are at risk of becoming extinct
Species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range

5. A community is…
The group of interacting species in any given area

6. A habitat is…
The geographical locations and environmental conditions where a plant or animal species lives

7. An ecosystem is… Everything that exists in a particular environment
An ecosystem includes living things, such as plants and animals, and things that are not living, such as rocks, soil, sunlight, and water.
A community and the physical environment in which the community lives
The combination of habitats and communities

8. Ecosystems

9. Ecosystems

10. Biodiversity is…
In an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals
Is a measure of the health of ecosystems
The totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region
The existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment
The degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet
Video

11. Three levels of biodiversity
Species diversity
Ecosystem diversity
Genetic diversity

12. Why biodiversity is important…
Every species has a right to exist
Species value of its usefulness, directly or indirectly to humans
Insurance policy for economic activity\Provision of environmental services
Genetic resources

13. Why biodiversity is important…

14. Do we need to really care about every species?
Some people don’t think so Who Cares?

15. Every species has a place and a purpose

16. Causes of endangered species & biodiversity degradation…
Introduction of alien species
Overexploitation
Habitat conversion
Deforestation
Urbanization
Conversion to agriculture

17. Habitat conversion has…
Eliminated almost 20% of Earth’s forests
Altered 8% of Earth’s grasslands
Increased croplands by 500%

18. So who is responsible
Humans are

19. Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP)
Instead of species-by-species management HCP are a more effective ecosystem approach
They are a long-term management plan for the conservation and protection of species and their habitats on Wildlife Areas.  

20. We are responsible! We can help!
Ultimately…
We are responsible! We can help!

21. One last thought…
If we only protect endangered species instead of preserving ecosystems, who will protect humans once the entire world’s ecosystem has been destroyed

22. Resources Biodiversitya-z.org Environmental Science Eswr.com Fws.gov
Globalchange.umich.edu
Kidsplanet.org
Student.calumet.purdue.edu
Wikipedia.org