Download Biodiversity - Net Start Class

Biodiversity:
Who cares?
Which do you like better?
A
B
Which do you like better?
A
B
Which do you like better?
A
B
What do you think biodiversity
means?
Biodiversity
What does “Bio” mean?
Bio =
Biodiversity
What does “Diversity” mean?
Diversity = Variety
Biodiversity

ALL organisms in an area

More kinds of organisms = greater biodiversity

High biodiversity = healthy, sustainable
environment
The essential interdependence of all living
things

• Scientists have identified more than 2 million species. Tens
of millions -- remain unknown
•The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made possible by
complex interactions among all living things including
microscopic species like algae and mites.
There are 3 components of
biodiversity
1.
Variety of genes
Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but
they're not the same because their genes are different.
Chihuahua
Beagle
Rottweilers
There are 3 components of
biodiversity
2. Variety of species
For example, monkeys, dragonflies, and
meadow beauties are all different species.
Saki Monkey
Golden Skimmer
Meadow Beauty
There are 3 components of
biodiversity
3. Variety of ecosystems
Prairies, Ponds, and tropical rain forests are all
ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of
species living in it.
Paines Prairie
Florida Sand hill Pond
Hoh Rain Forest
Components of biodiversity

Species diversity: the number and abundance of species

Ecosystem diversity: The variety of ecosystems found in a
place or on earth

Genetic Diversity: Variety in traits/genes in a species
Which has more cultural
diversity?
A
B
Biodiversity

Where is the biodiversity

Everywhere


Every continent and habitat
has unique life forms
Concentrated in the
tropics


Panama: > 500 species of
breeding birds
Arctic: 50-100 species

16 June 2010
Dense concentrations
Biodiversity.ppt
15
Which has more biodiversity?
A
B
Should we be concerned about
biodiversity?
What we know:
The Earth is losing species at an alarming rate

Some scientists estimate that as many as 3 species per
hour are going extinct and 20,000 extinctions occur each
year.

when species of plants and animals go extinct, many
other species are affected.
Biodiversity has Intrinsic Value
Intrinsic Value = Something that has value
in and of itself
Biodiversity also has utilitarian
Value
Utilitarian Value = the value something has as
a means to another’s end.
Utilitarian values include:
• Goods
• Services
• Information
Benefits of Biodiversity
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Food
Medicine
Clean water
Clean air
Oxygen
Space for living
(habitat)
Aesthetic/cultural
benefits
Natural resources
Inspiration for creating
16 June 2010
Biodiversity.ppt
20
Natural Resources

Vital economic natural resources

Renewable






Nonrenewable


16 June 2010
Forests (plants, wildlife)
Soils
Fresh water (lakes, rivers)
Wildlife and fisheries
Rangeland
Minerals
Fossil Fuels
Biodiversity.ppt
21
Benefits of Biodiversity
•
New/variety of food sources
–
16 June 2010
Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish
Biodiversity.ppt
22
Benefits of Biodiversity
•
Medicines
•
•
•
Plants
Jellyfish & sea
anemones
Nudibranchs
•
16 June 2010
Marine slugs
Biodiversity.ppt
23
What is Biodiversity?
The variety of life!
genes
species
ecosystems
Threats to biodiversity
Habitat destruction
Invasive (Introduced) Species
Population Growth
Pollution
Over-harvesting = Over exploitation
~HIPPO~
Threats to Biodiversity

Extinction and population
reductions

Hunting and overharvesting





16 June 2010
Tiger
Dodo
Whales
Sharks
Habitat loss
Biodiversity.ppt
26
Threats to Biodiversity

Extinction and
population reductions



16 June 2010
Pollution
Climate change
Invasive species
Biodiversity.ppt
27
Chinese Tallow Tree
Invasive Species in our area
Sustainability

Definition: when a population of plants,
animals and other living organisms can
continue to interact and reproduce
indefinitely… it is the capacity to endure, to
continue on.

The more links in a food web, the
more stable and sustainableit is.
What is
sustainable use?

To use natural resources at a rate
that the Earth can renew them.
Threats to Sustainability
Disease
Environmental change
Limited resources
Catastrophic events
Human disturbance
Invasive Species
The more organism that can fulfill a particular
niche (energy role) in an ecosystem the more
likely it is to sustain a threat.
Sustainable Use of Biodiversity

To use biodiversity in a sustainable manner
means to use natural resources at a rate that the
Earth can renew them.
What kinds of natural resources
are we talking about here?
Biodiversity and Sustainability




The biodiversity of an ecosystem contributes
to the sustainability of that ecosystem.
Higher/more biodiversity = more sustainable
Lower/less biodiversity = less sustainable
High biodiversity in an ecosystem means that
there is a great variety of genes and species in
that ecosystem.
What is Biodiversity?
The variety of life!
genes
species
ecosystems
Sustainable Use of Biodiversity

To use biodiversity in a sustainable manner
means to use natural resources at a rate that the
Earth can renew them.

It is a way to ensure that we meet the needs of
present generations and future generations.
Are we part
of these ecosystems?
Think food webs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES!

The more links in a food web, the
more stable and sustainableit is.
Protecting Biodiversity

How can we protect
biodiversity

Stop overharvesting


Sustainable yield
Hunting & fishing laws
(every state ?)


Protect habitat




16 June 2010
in developing nations ?
Refuges, parks, preserves
Endangered Species Act
Clean Air & Water Act
Stop over grazing
Biodiversity.ppt
39
Protecting Biodiversity

Endangered Species Act
(1973)



16 June 2010
Listing of “endangered” and
“threatened” species
Restricts development of
habitats
Captive breeding programs
 Release of captive bred
stocks to enhance or
recover wild populations.

http://www.fws.gov/e
ndangered/
Biodiversity.ppt
40
Protecting Biodiversity

Endangered Species Act (1973)


Goal to “recover” species so they no longer need protection under ESA
Implements U.S. participation in CITES
 “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species”
 Prohibits trade in listed species



whole organisms
parts: skins, bones, teeth, flowers, leaves, etc.
Other laws:




Marine Mammal Protection Act
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Anadromous Fish Conservation Act
etc.
16 June 2010
Biodiversity.ppt
41
Protecting Biodiversity

Refuges, parks, preserves



How big should refuges be?
Where should they be?
McArthur & Wilson “Theory of Island
Biogeography”



16 June 2010
colonization rate
extinction rate (local)
predicts number of species
Biodiversity.ppt
42
Formative Assessment
Examine the two food webs below.
Make 3 claims about why one of the food webs
below is less sustainable than the other. Support
your claims with explanation as well as evidence
from the food webs.
What can you do?
As a group brainstorm a list of things
YOU can do to protect biodiversity!