1. Biodiversity
Ms. Petrauskas

2. The importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life in a particular ecosystem; also known as biological diversity
Found by counting the number of species in a particular habitat
Species richness is the number of species in the area
* When you have species richness, you have biodiversity

3. Where to find it?
Closest to the equator is where biodiversity is greatest

4. Extinction
Refers to species that have died out and no longer can be found on earth
Natural process (wooly mammoth, dinosaurs, dodo bird): 5 in the past billion years
Asteroid or massive volcanic eruption
Humans have increased the rate of extinctions occurring: 700 in past 400 years

5. Other terms….
Extirpated: a species that no longer exists in an area (paddlefish from all of Canada)
Endangered: a species facing imminent extirpation or extinction (barn owl in some areas)
Threatened: likely to become endangered if factors reducing survival do not change (humpback whale)
Special concern: may become threatened or endangered from a combination of factors (polar bear)

6. Biodiversity threatened
Many things are reducing biodiversity including habitat loss, deforestation, urban expansion, pollution, climate change, invasive species etc…..

7. Causes Habitat loss and fragmentation
Urbanization
Introduction of non-native species
Pollution
Human consumption (deforestation, mining, wetland destruction and dumps)

8. 1. Habitat loss and fragmentation
Habitat loss: Conversion of natural habitats into farmland, urban areas and transportation routes (400 expansion)
Fragmentation: the division of a large habitat into smaller ones
larger animals need larger habitats to survive
Creates more exposure to pollution

9. Ecosystem Sustainability
Creating corridors between fragments
Increase proximity of fragments
Increase the size of habitats
Reduce outside influence

10. 2. Introduction of non-native species
Invasive species: a non-native species whose intentional or accidental introduction negatively impacts the natural environment
You are already well acquainted with some alien, or non-native, species like Kentucky bluegrass, periwinkle, lily of the valley, cats (Africa), potatoes(South America), corn (Mexico)and the dandelion..

11. Zebra Mussels
They are extremely harmful because they eat food that young fish eat, bottom feeders spike because of increased lake deposits, increase clarity due to filtration causes increased weed growth, light sensitive fish need new habitat
any surface, including other animals like mussels and block water pipes, sink bouys, cover boat hulls(reduce sailing capability)

12. Round Goby
Found throughout the great lakes, St. Clair river reaching densities of 100 per cubic centimetre of water.
Fast breeding and extremely aggressive
Feed on other fish eggs (reducing their ability to reproduce)

13. Asia long-horned Beetle
Attack both healthy and weakened leafy trees, dig holes into trees to lay eggs. 1 female can lay up to 32 eggs. The holes leave the trees exposed to disease. Kills the trees.
Limit habitat and food for many species and could impact forest and urban biodiversity.

14. Effect of invasive species
Ecological: competition can lead to population decline or extinction
Economical: Damage forests, lower crop yields, increased disease in livestock
Tourism: decrease wildlife viewing, fishing etc
Health: disease causing viruses like the west nile and pesticides can cause health issues

15. Controlling Invasives
Chemical: pesticides
Mechanical: kill them manually (pull weeds, discard of gobies and zebra mussels, put up barriers
Biological: introduce other species to control the invasives (challenging to get right, but effective)

16. 3. Pollution
Pollution: harmful contaminants released into the environment
VOC’s , CFC’s, methane, nitrous oxides, carbon dioxides-leads to global warming and acid rain
Acid precipitation: sulfur from burning fossil fuels
Change pH of lakes, rivers and streams killing fish and other aquatic species
Limestone helps neutralize
Damage terrestrial plants and change soil pH

17. Pollution cont.
Oil spills: oil is released into the ocean due to damaged oil tankers, faulty drilling and faulty oil lines (BP)
Skimming/vacuuming: collect floating oil
Bioremediation: use of micro-organisms to consume or breakdown the spilled oil
Burning: Burn the floating oil
Dispersal agents: break the oil down into small droplets with detergent

18. Plastics at Sea
The western and Eastern Pacific garbage patches (twice the size of Texas)

19. 4. Deforestation (type of habitat loss)
Clear cutting: All
Shelterwood cutting: mature
Selective: thins out mature and young

20. Activity # 1
Using your text come up with 2 solutions to each of the threats to biodiversity (Pages )
Invasive species
Pollution
Deforestation
Habitat loss and fragmentation

21. Activity # 2
In groups come up with 5 questions dealing with your topic of biodiversity
Importance and distribution
Population dynamics, carrying capacity and equilibrium
Threats to biodiversity terms
Invasive species
Pollution
Deforestation
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Maintaining biodiversity