conserving life. biodiversity the variety of life in an ecosystem
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Conserving LifeConserving Life
BiodiversityBiodiversity
The variety of life in an ecosystem.The variety of life in an ecosystem.
Biodiversity increases as Biodiversity increases as you near the equatoryou near the equator
3 most diverse biomes:3 most diverse biomes:
Coral ReefCoral Reef Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest Wetlands MarshWetlands Marsh
Why is Biodiversity Why is Biodiversity important?important?
Beautiful and scenicBeautiful and scenic Good for our health and an ecosystem’s Good for our health and an ecosystem’s
health health (diet, medicines, and disease prevention)(diet, medicines, and disease prevention)
Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity
Extinct speciesExtinct species
A species once present on Earth but has A species once present on Earth but has died outdied out
Endangered speciesEndangered species
A species in danger of becoming extinct.A species in danger of becoming extinct.
http://webecoist.com/2008/11/03/strange-rare-bizarre-endangered-flowers-plants-and-trees/
Threatened speciesThreatened species
A species likely to become endangered A species likely to become endangered in the near future.in the near future.
What causes the loss of What causes the loss of biodiversity?biodiversity?
““HIPPO”HIPPO” HHabitat Lossabitat Loss IInvasive Speciesnvasive Species PPoachingoaching PPollutionollution OOver population ver population
by humansby humans
1. Habitat Loss1. Habitat Loss
DeforestationDeforestation Slash and burnSlash and burn
Makes soil more Makes soil more fertile for farmingfertile for farming
Nutrient poor soil Nutrient poor soil in rain forestin rain forest
Negative Effects of Negative Effects of DeforestationDeforestation
Loss of habitat – crowds out speciesLoss of habitat – crowds out species Increases levels of COIncreases levels of CO2 2 – –
contributing to global warmingcontributing to global warming
EncroachmentEncroachment Slowly moving into a species’ habitatSlowly moving into a species’ habitat ExamplesExamples
Road buildingRoad building & & farming and housing farming and housing developmentdevelopment
2. Invasive Species2. Invasive Species
Species that are Species that are introduced into an introduced into an environment they are not environment they are not originally fromoriginally from
Synonyms for exotic: alien, Synonyms for exotic: alien, feral, invasive, introducedferal, invasive, introduced
Cane ToadsCane Toads
Released on purpose to kill Released on purpose to kill cane beetlescane beetles
Skin contains deadly toxinsSkin contains deadly toxins Practically no predatorsPractically no predators 101 have turned into 200 101 have turned into 200
million over 70 yearsmillion over 70 years
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090326.wcane0326/BNStory/Science/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_vs._Australia
Fire AntsFire Ants Stowed away on ship to Stowed away on ship to
AlabamaAlabama Sting feels like burnSting feels like burn Kills native insectsKills native insects
Killer BeesKiller Bees
More aggressive honey beesMore aggressive honey bees Escaped from lab in BrazilEscaped from lab in Brazil Kills native bee speciesKills native bee species
Non-harmful invasive Non-harmful invasive speciesspecies
WheatWheat RiceRice DogsDogs CatsCats HorsesHorses Pigs Pigs CowsCows GoatsGoats
How do they arrive?How do they arrive?
Invasive species in FLInvasive species in FL
A Burmese A Burmese python python
attempted attempted to eat an to eat an alligatoralligator
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/enter
What’s the problem?What’s the problem?
Crowd out native Crowd out native speciesspecies
No predatorsNo predators Decreases Decreases
biodiversitybiodiversity
3. Poaching3. Poaching Illegal hunting (killing) Illegal hunting (killing)
OROR Illegally removing a species from its Illegally removing a species from its
habitat habitat
Poached SpeciesPoached Species Big Cats – FurBig Cats – Fur Elephants – IvoryElephants – Ivory Rhinoceros – HornsRhinoceros – Horns Orangutans – PetsOrangutans – Pets Macaws – PetsMacaws – Pets
“In 2005 there were nearly 88,000 mammals, 1.3 million reptiles and 203 million fish imported illegally into the United States.” -Reuters
PoachingPoaching
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=7513626
4. Pollution4. Pollution
Water PollutionWater Pollution Air PollutionAir Pollution Ground PollutionGround Pollution
Water PollutionWater Pollution PesticidesPesticides
Pesticide UsePesticide Use
Pesticide= chemicals Pesticide= chemicals used to kill a pest used to kill a pest (rodent, insect, (rodent, insect, fungus, etc.)fungus, etc.)
Runoff with rainwater Runoff with rainwater puts it into local water puts it into local water systems.systems.
Disrupts aquatic food Disrupts aquatic food chainschains
DDTDDT
Pesticide used to kill mosquitoesPesticide used to kill mosquitoes Blamed for decline in bird of prey Blamed for decline in bird of prey
populationspopulations Fish in polluted water eaten by birdsFish in polluted water eaten by birds Travels up the food chainTravels up the food chain Top predators (eagles, peregrine falcons) Top predators (eagles, peregrine falcons)
affected mostaffected most
These birds lay eggs with thin shellsThese birds lay eggs with thin shells U.S. banned DDT in 1972U.S. banned DDT in 1972 DDT still used in tropical locations to fight DDT still used in tropical locations to fight
malariamalaria Some oppose ban due to DDT’s ability to Some oppose ban due to DDT’s ability to
fight malariafight malaria
Fertilizer UseFertilizer Use
Runoff into Runoff into lakeslakes
Causes rapid Causes rapid algae growth algae growth (algae bloom)(algae bloom)
Algae blocks sunlight and….Algae blocks sunlight and…. Plants die (less oxygen)Plants die (less oxygen) Decomposers break down dead Decomposers break down dead
plants (& use up oxygen)plants (& use up oxygen) No oxygen available to other No oxygen available to other
animals and they “suffocate” animals and they “suffocate”
MercuryMercury
Mercury released into the air when burned, Mercury released into the air when burned, and mixes with rainfall to get into the water.and mixes with rainfall to get into the water.
Found in high quantities in fish Found in high quantities in fish Can damage nervous and reproductive Can damage nervous and reproductive
systems (Pregnant women and young kids systems (Pregnant women and young kids at highest risk)at highest risk)
Hatters used mercury to Hatters used mercury to shape felt hats and often shape felt hats and often were poisoned. “Mad as a were poisoned. “Mad as a Hatter” references this.Hatter” references this.
Mercury can
accumulate in the food
chain.
Mercury is Mercury is often often combined combined with other with other metals for metals for fillings fillings (ADA says (ADA says this is safe)this is safe)
Air PollutionAir Pollution Pollutants released into air usually from Pollutants released into air usually from
burning fossil fuelsburning fossil fuels
Air Pollution causes…Air Pollution causes…
Global warmingGlobal warming Ozone depletionOzone depletion Acid RainAcid Rain Carbon Monoxide Carbon Monoxide
poisoningpoisoning
Ground PollutionGround Pollution Soil becomes polluted Soil becomes polluted
when air pollutants when air pollutants drift to the ground or drift to the ground or when water leaves when water leaves pollutants behind as it pollutants behind as it flows through the soil.flows through the soil.
5. Over Population of 5. Over Population of HumansHumans
Population numbersPopulation numbers
OverpopulationOverpopulation As more humans are added to our As more humans are added to our
planet, the demand for natural resources planet, the demand for natural resources (for energy, food and shelter) increases (for energy, food and shelter) increases and more land is cleared for and more land is cleared for development.development.