Download 6.3 Biodiversity PowerPoint Notes

6.3 Biodiversity PowerPoint Notes
THINK ABOUT IT
From multicolored coral reefs to moss-draped forests, variety is “the spice of life.”
Variety in the biosphere gives us more than interesting things to look at. Our wellbeing is closely tied to the well-being of a great number of other organisms,
including many that are neither majestic nor beautiful to our eyes.
The Value of Biodiversity
Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity’s benefits to society include contributions to _______________ and
__________________, and the provision of ecosystem goods and services.
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the total of all the _______________
____________________________________.
What kinds of biodiversity exist, and what value do they offer society?
Types of Biodiversity
Biodiversity exists on three levels:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
__________________________ refers to the variety of habitats, communities,
and ecological processes in the biosphere.
The _______________________________________, or in a particular area, is
called species diversity. To date, biologists have identified and named more than
________________ species, and they estimate that at least ________________
more are yet be discovered.
____________________________ can refer to the ______________ of all
different forms of _____________________ carried by a particular species, or by
all organisms on Earth.
Within each species, genetic diversity refers to the total of all different
______________________ present in that species.
Valuing Biodiversity
Biodiversity is one of Earth’s greatest natural resources. When biodiversity is lost,
significant ____________ to the ____________ and to _______________ may be
lost along with it.
Biodiversity’s benefits to society include contributions to _____________ and
_________________, and the provision of ecosystem ___________ and
_________________.
Biodiversity and Medicine
_________________ are the original source of many medicines. For example, a
foxglove plant contains compounds called digitalins that are used to treat
______________________.
These plant compounds are assembled according to instructions coded in
___________. The genetic information carried by diverse species is like a “natural
library” from which we have a great deal to learn.
Biodiversity and Agriculture
Most crop plants have wild relatives. For example, wild potatoes in South America
come in many colorful varieties.
These wild plants may carry genes we can use—through plant breeding or genetic
engineering—to __________________ or __________________, or other useful
___________, to crop plants.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
The number and variety of species in an ecosystem can influence that
ecosystem’s _________________, ______________, and value to humans.
Sometimes the presence or absence of a single keystone species, like the sea
otter, can completely change the nature of life in an ecosystem. When the otter
population falls, the population of its favorite prey, sea urchins, goes up.
Population increases in sea urchins cause a dramatic decrease in the population
of sea kelp, the sea urchin’s favorite food.
Also, healthy and diverse ecosystems play a vital role in maintaining __________,
____________, and ______ quality
Threats to Biodiversity
What are the most significant threats to biodiversity?
Humans reduce biodiversity by ___________________, ____________,
introducing ______________________, releasing pollution into food webs, and
contributing to climate change.
Human activity today is causing the greatest wave of extinctions since
___________________ disappeared. The current rate of species loss is
approaching ________ times the “typical” rate.
As species disappear, the potential ________________ to human knowledge that
is carried in their genes is ___________.
_____________ diversity is related to ___________ diversity. The more
genetically diverse a species is, the greater its chances of _____________
__________________. So as human activity reduces genetic diversity, species
are put at a greater risk for extinction.
Species diversity is also linked to ________________ diversity. As ecosystems
are damaged, the organisms that inhabit them become more
_____________________________.
Altered Habitats
When natural habitats are eliminated for ___________________ or for urban
development, the number of species in those habitats ___________, and some
species may _______________________.
Development often splits ecosystems into pieces, a process called __________
________________, leaving habitat “islands.” A biological island can be any patch
of habitat _____________________________.
For example, deforestation for housing developments in Florida has led to forest
“islands.”
The smaller a habitat island, the ___________ the species that can live there and
the smaller their ______________. Both changes make _____________ and
_____________ more vulnerable to other disturbances.
Hunting and the Demand for Wildlife Products
Humans can push species to extinction by hunting.
Some animals are hunted for _______ or for their valuable _________ or skins.
Others, like green parrots, are hunted to be sold as _________.
Hunted species are affected even more than other species by habitat
fragmentation because fragmentation increases _________________
__________________ and limits available _________________________ for
prey.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) ______
international trade in products from a list of ____________________
_____________________.
Introduced Species
Organisms introduced to new habitats can become invasive and
_______________ _______________.
One European weed, leafy spurge, infests millions of hectares across the Northern
Great Plains. Leafy spurge displaces grasses and other food plants, and it can
sicken or kill cattle and horses.
Pollution
Many _______________ threaten biodiversity.
___________, for example, prevents birds from laying healthy eggs.
Acid rain places stress on land and water _________________.
Increased ______________________ in the atmosphere is dissolving in oceans,
making them more ______________, which threatens biodiversity in
________________ ecosystems.
Climate Change
Organisms are adapted to their environments and have specific tolerance ranges
to ______________ and other _______________ conditions.
If conditions change beyond an organism’s tolerance, the organism must
___________ to a more suitable location or ________________________.
Species in fragmented habitats, such as these forest “islands” in Florida, are
particularly vulnerable to climate change because if conditions change they may
not be able to _____________________ to a suitable habitat.
Conserving Biodiversity
How do we preserve biodiversity?
To conserve biodiversity, we must preserve individual _____________, preserve
_____________ and ______________, and make certain that human neighbors of
protected areas benefit from participating in conservation efforts.
Protecting Individual Species
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) oversees species survival plans
(SSPs) designed to protect threatened and endangered species.
In the AZA captive breeding program, mating pairs of animals are carefully
selected to ensure maximum genetic diversity. The ultimate goal of an SSP is to
___________________________ to the __________.
More than __________________________ are currently covered by SSPs.
Preserving Habitats and Ecosystems
Global conservation efforts today strive to protect not just individual species but
entire _______________________. The goal is to preserve the natural
____________________ of ________________________________ at once.
Governments and conservation groups work to set aside land as ________ and
______________________. The United States has national parks, forests, and
other protected areas. ___________________________________ are being
created to protect coral reefs and marine mammals.
To make sure that conservation efforts are concentrated in the most important
places, conservation biologists have identified ecological “______ ___________”.
An ______________________________________ is a place where significant
numbers of species and habitats are in immediate danger of extinction.
By identifying these areas, ecologists hope that scientists and governments can
better target their efforts to save ______________________________
____________________.
Preserving Habitats and Ecosystems: Ecological Hot spots (shaded)
Considering Local Interests
Protecting biodiversity often demands that individuals change their ___________
or the way they ______________________________. It is often helpful to offer
some reward or incentive to the people or communities involved.
The United States government, for example, has offered _______________ to
people who’ve installed ______________________ or bought _____________
cars.
Many communities in Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia have set aside
land for ___________________________ and _______________
___________________, like Thailand’s Elephant Nature Park, to attract tourist
dollars.
In some Australian communities, farmers were paid to ________ _____________
along rivers and streams as part of wildlife corridors ___________________ forest
fragments.
Considering Local Interests
The use of ________________ is one strategy aimed at encouraging industries to
cut __________________ use.
Companies are allowed to release a certain amount of ______________ into the
environment. Any unused carbon may be __________________ at a set market
value or traded to other companies.
This strategy encourages industries to pay for ______________ __________
machinery and to adopt ____________________________ practices.