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Endangered Species
Most common reason for loss of species: habitat destruction Question: What are edge effects? Methods for protecting species Preservation of wild spaces Controlled breeding programs Education Legislation
1. 2. 3. 4.
Why Biodiversity?
What is it? Variety of species living in ecosystems What are benefits? 1. Stable ecosystems 2. Medicines/drugs 3. Climate stabilizations 4. Nutrient stabilization
Biodiversity: 3 types
1. genetic diversity: variety of
genes or inheritable characteristics that are present in a population
Biodiversity: Species
2. species diversity: number of different species and the relative abundance of each species in a biological community Problem today: endangered species
Hot spots
Biodiversity: Ecosystem
ecosystem diversity: variety of ecosystems that are present in the biosphere Problem today: Coral reef decline
It is likely that some of the worlds unidentified species will have economic value. A. true B. false
1. 2.
A B
Teosinte plant
Madagascar periwinkle
A. ecosystems that decompose wastes B. organisms that provide food and shelter C. plants that contain medicinal substances D. species that have desirable genetic traits
1. 2. 3. 4.
A B C D
Threats to Biodiversity
Extinction Rates Background extinction: The gradual process of species becoming extinct is Mass extinction: an event in which a large percentage of all living species become extinct in a relatively short period of time.
Threat to biodiversity
Overexploitation, or excessive use, of species that have economic value is a factor increasing the current rate of extinction
Threat to biodiversity
Disruption of Habitat
The declining population of one species can affect an entire ecosystem.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-panda-baby/bamboo-bears/1975/
Threat to biodiversity
Fragmentation of Habitat
habitat fragmentation: separation of an ecosystem into small pieces of land smaller the parcel of land --> fewer species Reduced reproduction Carving the large ecosystem into small parcels increases the number of edgescreating edge effects.
Threats to Biodiversity
Acid Precipitation Sulfur and nitrogen compounds react with water and other substances in the air to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Acid precipitation removes calcium, potassium, and other nutrients from the soil, depriving plants of these nutrients.
Threats to Biodiversity
Introduced Species - (Invasive Species)
Nonnative species that are either intentionally or unintentionally transported to a new habitat are known as introduced species.
Introduced species: reproduce in large numbers because of a lack of predators Ex: snakes on a plane!
QuickTime and a BMP decomp resso r are neede d to see this picture.
QuickTime and a BMP decomp resso r are need ed to see this picture.
1. 2. 3. 4.
A B C D
POLLUTION THREATS
GLOBAL DIMMING
Contrails
What if we clean up the air (particulate pollution)?? We need to for health reasons If greenhouse gasses still produced, then no more masking and the warming is FAR worse-so we might breathe easier but all the bad effects of warming could devastate us
This graph compare the effects of different factors on the rise of temperaturesnote when aerosol/sulfate emissions began to go down what happens to the climate.
Consequences:
smog - breathing problems, health hazard to those with respiration problems like asthma San Fernando valley
Out bottom:
Water is cold at bottom of lake: much colder than natural: again changing fish pop.
Other problems:
Fish ladders Silting in Controlled flooding
Effects:
Filter feeders (clams/shellfish) Accumulate toxin when warm water causes algal bloom
DDE
Prevents effective Calcium fixation Eggshells Eagles
Rachel Carson
Results
Unintended results: In non-targeted species due to biological magnification Accumulated amounts had greater effects through the food chain DDT banned in US Developing countries now? Residence time of chemicals in environment now
QuickTime and a BMP decomp resso r are neede d to see this picture.
Eutrophication
Run-off Dead Zone Excess decomposition Anoxic (without O2)
Changes what can grow there
Conserving Biodiversity
Natural Resources The consumption rate of natural resources is not evenly distributed.
Conserving Biodiversity
renewable resources: Resources that are replaced by natural processes faster than they are consumed
nonrenewable resources: Resources that are found on Earth in limited amounts or those that are replaced by natural processes over extremely long periods of time.
Fossil Fuels: coal, oil Natural Gas Hydropow er (dams: turbines) Nuclear
Infrastructure, versatile, Polluting, greenhouse cheap emissions, non-renewable Easy to use in homes, efficient heating, cooking, hot water Non-polluting to atm; somewhat renewable; cheap Accessible; somewhat renewable Emissions, polluting; Dangers: leaks, explosions Available sites used; habitat impacts: fish, etc. Problem with waste storage; public stigma for safety; radiation
Hydropower
Adv: Non-polluting to atm; somewhat renewable; cheap Available sites used; Habitat impacts: fish, etc
Nuclear
Accessible; somewhat renewable Problem with storage of wastes; public stigma for safety: radiation
Energy cont
Energy Source Advantages Disadvantages
Biomass burning
(common for developing
countries for cooking; heating)
Solar
Emissions, high water usage, efficiency problems, uses same land as food production Locations; NIMBY; bird deaths; Costly now, not 24 hour source Expensive; not 24 hr source; scale
Wind Power
Cape Cod AT Locations; NIMBY; bird deaths Costly now; not 24 hr source
Solar
Types: Photovoltaic Thermal
Expensive; not 24 hr source; scale
Energy cont
Energy Source Advantages Disadvantages
Tidal
Locations; impacts to habitats unknown; scale Efficiency; costly; small scale (cell phones, etc)
Tidal turbine
Conserving Biodiversity
Sustainable use means using resources at a rate in which they can be replaced or recycled while preserving the long-term environmental health of the biosphere.
Peace Plus One
1. 2. 3. 4.
A B C D
Conserving Biodiversity
How can we improve sustainability? How do we remediate? Who does this work?
(could it be YOU?)
Protecting Biodiversity
Corridors between habitat fragments Restoring Ecosystems
The use of living organisms, such as prokaryotes, fungi, or plants, to detoxify a polluted area
Biological Augmentation
(Biological Control)
Carrying Capacity
(see ppt Ecology part 2, slide 19-29)