Chapter 7: Biodiversity and ConservationMr. ManskopfNotes also are at http://www.manskopf.com

Chapter 10 Biodiversity Big IdeasThere is a huge diversity of life on Earth that is critical to all species. .There are some factors about species that make them prone to extinction. Human activities are causing large numbers of species to go extinct.

Section 1: Our Planet of Life: What is biodiversity?How many species live on Earth?Describe the types of biodiversity.Explain why biodiversity is important.Terms: biodiversity, genes, keystone species, ecotourism

About 1.7 million species are knownEstimates vary from greater than 10 millionWhy so many unknown?

BiodiversityWhich species rule the world?

BiodiversityBiodiversity: the number of different species in a given areaTropical rain forestsWhat factors lead to biodiversity?

Types of BiodiversitySpecies Biodiversity: number of different species in an areaEcosystem Diversity how many types of habitats in an areaGenetic Diversity the number of genes in all members of a population

Types of BiodiversityGenetic diversity: Differences in DNA among individualsSpecies diversity: Variety of species in a given areaEcosystem diversity: Variety of habitats, ecosystems, communities

Ecosystem diversity often leads to species diversity and often genetic diversity

Did You Know? In general, biodiversity increases toward the equator.

Who cares about Biodiversity?A Variety of Answers

What is a gene?Gene: a piece of DNA code for a specific trait inherited Tall, short, brown eyes, etc.Genetic Diversity among corn

Benefits of DiversityGenetic Diversity Key To Survivalsmall isolated populations unlikely to surviveGenetic mutations from inbreeding can occurMore diversity = more likely to survive

Why is genetic diversity important?Cavendish banana The fungus Fusarium oxysporum wiped out the previous species of bananas (the Gros Michel) in the 1950s. Now its back, having evolved to be able to take on the previously resistant back-up species of banana the Cavendish that replaced the superior Gros Michel banana after it was wiped out.

Benefits of Diversity: Ecosystem ServicesIntact environments provide ecosystem services, such as water purification and pest control. High biodiversity increases stability of communities and ecosystems, enabling them to perform services. Stable ecosystems are resistant and resilient.

Benefits of DiversityKeystone Species: species that is critical to ecosystem survivalSea otterGrey WolfBeaver

Keystone SpeciesFood Web Depends Upon Krill

Benefits of DiversityMedical, Industrial, Agricultural usesFood, cloths, shelter, chemicals and medicine often comes from variety of organismsSee table 1 pages 261

Medical Medicine: Organisms contain compounds that are useful for treating disease.

Did You Know? Of the 150 most prescribed drugs in the United States, 118 originated in nature.The yew tree, an original source of Taxol, a cancer-fighting drug

Benefits of BiodiversityEthics, Aesthetics and RecreationMoral, religious purposes for all speciesPersonal enjoymentDolphin Tour Off NJ Beaches

Benefits of BiodiversityEcotourism: tourisms that supports conservationWildlife, birding, wilderness hikingPeople make $ by having people view wildlife

Section 1 ReviewHow many species live on Earth?Describe the types of biodiversity.Explain why biodiversity is important.Terms: biodiversity, genes, keystone species, ecotourism

Section 2: Biodiversity at RiskWhat does it mean when a species is threatened or endangered?What makes some species more prone to extinction?What are the largest threats to biodiversity?What areas are likely to have high biodiversity?Terms: endangered species, threatened species, exotic species, endemic species, poaching

Biodiversity has increased over time, but mass extinctions are also natural events (5 major events)

How do we get this data?

ExtinctionsSpecies gone foreverNORMALMass Extinction: short period of time when large number of species go extinct (65 MYA)Currently in mass extinctioncaused by humansRapid climate change

There have been five mass extinctions in Earths history. Each time, more than 1/5 of all families and 1/2 of all species have gone extinct.

Biodiversity at RiskThe current extinction rate is 100 to 1000 times greater than the natural background rate.In 2009, 1321 species in the U.S. were classified as endangered or threatened.Endangered: At serious risk of extinctionThreatened: Likely to become endangered soon through all or part of its range

ExtinctionsCertain traits make some species more vulnerable:Small populationsSpecializedNeed large rangeMigrationValuable to humans

Species squeezed into smaller and smaller fragmented habitat

Current ExtinctionsEndangered Species: is likely to go extinct if actions not takenThreatened: population declining and likely to become endangered

Current ExtinctionsTNC estimates 1/3rd of 21,000 identified U.S. animal and plant species are vulnerable.30,000 of the worlds species and 1,200 in U.S. are officially endangered.

Types of endangered species worldwide

How do humans cause extinctions?HIPPOHabitat destruction Invasive speciesPopulation (humans) growthPollutionOverharvesting

Habitat Loss/Fragmentation

Habitat FragmentationHabitat fragmentation: Patches of suitable habitat surrounded by unsuitable habitat In general, larger habitat fragments can support greater biodiversity than smaller fragments

Humans Causing ExtinctionsHabitat Destruction causes 75-80%Large creatures need lot of landInvasive Species: exotic species not native to area can destroy an ecosystem

Invasive SpeciesInvasive species can out-compete and displace native species.

Invasive SpeciesCA Agricultural Checkpoints

Humans Causing ExtinctionOver-harvesting excessive hunting (bison in U.S., fish)Poaching: illegal huntingCommon in poor countries for food, medicines, incomePollution air, water, land

Causes of Extinction Climate ChangeIncreasingly becoming a factor in biodiversity lossUnlike the other factors, climate change will have a potentially global effect on biodiversity.

Areas of Critical BiodiversityHotspots: areas threatened that contain high biodiversityRoughly 25 worldwideMadagascar Parts of California

HotspotsLarge numbers of endemic species: species native to that area

US Hotspots

Areas of Critical BiodiversityTropical Rain ForestsCoral ReefsCoastal EcosystemsIslandsWhy these areas????

Just 2.3% of the planets land surface is home to 50% of the worlds plant species and 42% of its vertebrate animal species.

Section 2 ReviewWhat does it mean when a species is threatened or endangered?What makes some species more prone to extinction?What are the largest threats to biodiversity?What areas are likely to have high biodiversity?Terms: endangered species, threatened species, exotic species, endemic species, poaching

Section 3: Future of BiodiversityList and describe efforts to save individual species.Explain the advantages of protecting entire ecosystems rather than individual species.Describe the main parts of the Endangered Species Act.Terms: Endangered Species Act, habitat conservation plans, CITES

Saving Individual SpeciesCaptive Breeding Programs: breeding species in captivity with hopes of reintroducing into native habitatsGerm Plasm: saving genetic material for possible future use(seeds, eggs, DNA)Zoos and Aquariums

Saving Individual SpeciesDoes little to preserve speciesCaptive individuals may not survive in wildSmall populations have difficult time with inbreeding, diseasesLast resorts

Preserving Habitat and EcosystemsMost effective way to save a species is protect its habitat.Some species require large areasWhat about when they leave protected areas? (Wolves in Yellowstone

Legal ProtectionsMany countries have laws to protect wildlifeSome weak some strongU.S. law Endangered Species Act (ESA)

ESAEndangered Species Act Passed 1973Protect plant and animals in danger of extinctionList created of those threatened and endangeredCurrently 1,300+ listed

ESAForbids governments and citizens from harming listed species and habitatsForbids trade in products made from listed species

ESAProtects listed species from harmNo development that harms listed speciesWhat does that all mean?Can a Shopping Mall be built where listed species lives?Spotted Owl

ESASpecies recovery plan must be madeHabitat Conservation Plans: plans to protect species habitatWhy do you think ESA may be controversial? Who would not like this law?

ESAESA:1973-2004: 92 to 1,300+ species listed

37 Species removed (14 recovery, 8 extinctions, rest discovered more)

60% plants, 40% animals

TNC says 1/3rd of all U.S. species30,000 not 1,260

NJ ESA Listhttp://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/tandespp.htm

Wildlife Corridors Connect habitat fragments enabling once-isolated populations to interbreedInterbreeding increases genetic diversity.

Yellowstone to Yukon

InternationallyCITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) illegal to trade endangered speciesIvory Tusks

InternationallyMuch more difficult among may poorer countriesInternational treaties hard to ratify, verifyOceans of particular concernhttp://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/

Section 3 ReviewList and describe efforts to save individual species.Explain the advantages of protecting entire ecosystems rather than individual species.Describe the main parts of the Endangered Species Act.Terms: Endangered Species Act, habitat conservation plans, CITES

Chapter 10 Biodiversity ReviewThere is a huge diversity of life on Earth that is critical to all species. .There are some factors about species that make them prone to extinction. Human activities are causing large numbers of species to go extinct.