Biodiversity

Chapter 10
Environmental Science
 Biodiversity
 Number and variety of different species in
a given area
 The actual number of species on Earth is
unknown
 Most are insects (Figure 1 – page 241)
 Levels of Biodiversity
 Biodiversity is studied at three levels
 Species diversity
 Differences between populations of species
 Ecosystem diversity
 Variety of habitats, communities, etc. within or
between ecosystems
 Genetic diversity
 Different genes within a population
 Gene – piece of DNA that codes for a specific trait
 Benefits of Biodiversity
 Species are connected to ecosystems.
 Ecosystems are healthy when species do
their part in the cycles within the biosphere.
 Every species depends on another species
whether it is obvious or not.
 Keystone species
 A species that are clearly critical to the functioning
of an ecosystem
 Example – sea otter and kelp beds
 Benefits of Biodiversity
 Species and Population Survival
 Species survival depends on the level of
genetic diversity
 Small, isolated populations have less of a
chance of survival
 When a population shrinks, the genetic
diversity decreases
 Creates a bottleneck (Figure 4, page 243)
 If population increases again, inbreeding will occur
 Benefits of Biodiversity
 Medical, Industrial and Agricultural Uses
 Prescription drugs
 One quarter from plants
 Antibiotics
 From chemicals in fungi
 Crops
 Originated from areas of high biodiversity
 Hybrids
 Crops developed by combining genetic material from other
populations
 Benefits of Biodiversity
 Ethics, Aesthetics and Recreation
 Some people believe that species should be
allowed to exist whether they have value or not
 Religious and cultural beliefs
 Ecosystems provide personal enjoyment
 Pets
 Camping
 Watching wildlife
 Ecotourism
 Tourism that supports the conservation and development of
unique areas
 Assignment
 Section 1 Review
 Page 244
 # 1-4
 Biodiversity at Risk
 Mass extinction
 Many species going extinct in a short period
of time
 Example – dinosaurs
 Scientists think we are in one right now
 Humans are primary cause of this
 25 % of all species extinct between 1800 & 2100
 Prone to Extinction
 Endangered species
 Species likely to become extinct if not
protected immediately
 Threatened species
 Species with a declining population
 Likely to become endangered if not protected
 How Do Humans Cause Extinctions?
 Habitat Destruction
 Building homes
 Harvesting resources
 Invasive Exotic Species
 Species that are not native to an area
 Exotic species can threaten native species
 Harvesting, Hunting and Poaching
 Excessive hunting is causing extinction
 Many countries have laws against poaching
 Illegal hunting
 How Do Humans Cause Extinctions?

 Pollution
 Pesticides
 Cleaning agents
 Drugs and other chemicals
 Example – bald eagle
 Chemical used over time (DDT)
 Areas of Critical Biodiversity
 Endemic species
 Species that are native to and found only
within a limited area
 Scientists use the number of endemic species
of plants to describe overall biodiversity of an
area
 Areas of Critical Biodiversity
 Tropical Rain Forests
 Over half the world’s diversity lives here
 Coral Reefs
 Contain majority of marine biodiversity
 Provide food, tourism, coastal protection
 Islands
 Have limited, but very distinct species
 Areas of Critical Biodiversity
 Biodiversity Hotspots
 Most threatened areas of high species diversity
 25 identified areas (Figure 9, page 250)
 These areas have many endemic species but
are also threatened by human activities.
 Biodiversity in the United States
 High numbers of freshwater fish, pine trees
 California Floristic Province
 3,488 native plant species
 Assignment
 Section 2 Review
 Page 251
 # 1-4, 6
 The Future of Biodiversity
 Saving Species One at a Time
 Captive-Breeding Programs
 Breeding species while in captivity
 Then the species will be reintroduced to their natural
habitats
 Example – California condor
 Lost habitat, poaching, lead poisoning
 In 1986, 9 condors captured
 In 2002, 58 condors released and 102 in captivity
 Preserving genetic material
 Scientists collect germ plasm from plants & animals to save
for many years
 Saving Species One at a Time
 Zoos, Aquariums, Parks and Gardens
 Living museums of world’s biodiversity
 Some species last hope of survival
 Only have enough resources to preserve more
than a fraction of world’s rare and threatened
species
 More study needed
 Not all captive species will survive or
reproduce in the wild
Preserving Habitats & Ecosystems
 Conservation Strategies
 Scientists concentrate on saving ecosystems
instead of individual species
 Can save more species this way
 Scientists are concentrating on hotspots
 Scientists are also identifying native habitats
to preserve and restore
 Scientists are promoting products that have
been harvested with sustainable practices
 Making A Difference
 Page 264-265
 Dr. Wilson
 Write essay answering the following
questions:
 What is an entomologist?
 What is a conservationist?
 Why is it important to have conservationists like
Dr. Wilson in the world today? (At least 3
reasons why)
 Legal Protections for Species
 US Laws
 Endangered Species Act
 Created in 1973
1. Protects plant and animal species in danger of
extinction by adding them to a list
 983 plant and animal species on endangered or threatened
list in 2002
2. Protects species on the list from human harm
 Fines given to people who violate the law
3.Federal government can not carry out a project that
jeopardizes a listed species
 Legal Protections for Species
 Recovery & Habitat Conservation Plans
 Required by Endangered Species Act by the
USFWS (US Fish and Wildlife Service)
 Plan must be in place for all listed species
 Proposed how to protect or restore habitat
 Affects real estate developers
 Compromises can be reached
 Habitat conservation plan
 Plan protects species in large area through trade-offs or
cooperative agreements
 Legal Protections for Species
 International Cooperation
 International Union for the Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources (IUCN)
 In charge of protecting species and habitats
 Projects of the IUCN
 CITES – an International Treaty to save animals
 Stopped the slaughtering of African elephants for tusks
 Biodiversity Treaty
 International agreement to preserve biodiversity and make sure
there is fair use of genetic resources in all countries
 Private Conservation Group Efforts
 Balancing Human Needs
 Trying to protect species often comes in
conflict with humans
 Example – An endangered species can be a
source of food or income for humans
 Scientists feel it is important….
 To make the value of biodiversity understood
by more humans
 This is an important part of protecting a
species
 Assignment
 Section 3 Review
 Page 257
 # 1-4, 6
 Chapter 10 Review
 Page 259-261
 # 3-15, 17, 20-23, 26-27, 31-32