1. Georgia Performance Standard:
Biodiversity and Conservation
Georgia Performance Standard:
Assess and explain human activities that influence and modify the environment such as global warming, population growth, pesticide use, and water & power consumption.
Essential Questions: EQ: What types of human activities can affect the biosphere? EQ: What is the value of biodiversity? EQ: What are the current threats to biodiversity? EQ: What is the goal of conservation biology? EQ: How could a worldwide increase in temperature affect organisms?

2. Chapter 5 Biodiversity and Conservation
Section 1: Biodiversity
Section 2: Threats to Biodiversity
Section 3: Conserving Biodiversity

3. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.1 Biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species in that area.
Biodiversity increases the stability of an ecosystem and contributes to the health of the biosphere.

4. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.1 Biodiversity
The variety of genes or inheritable characteristics that are present in a population comprises its genetic diversity.
Genetic diversity increases the chances that some species will survive during changing environmental conditions or during the outbreak of disease.

5. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.1 Biodiversity
The number of different species and the relative abundance of each species in a biological community is called species diversity.

6. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.1 Biodiversity
The variety of ecosystems that are present in the biosphere is called ecosystem diversity.
An ecosystem is made up of interacting populations and the abiotic factors that support them.

7. The Importance of Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.1 Biodiversity
The Importance of Biodiversity
Most of the world’s food crops come from just a few species.
Wild species serve as reservoirs
of desirable genetic
traits that might be
needed to improve
domestic crop
species.
Teosinte plant
Domestic corn plant

8. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.1 Biodiversity
Scientists continue to find new extracts from plants and other organisms that help in the treatment of human diseases.
Madagascar periwinkle

9. oxygen to the atmosphere and remove carbon dioxide.
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.1 Biodiversity
A healthy biosphere provides many services to humans and other organisms that live on Earth.
Green plants provide
oxygen to the atmosphere and remove
carbon dioxide.
Natural processes provide drinking water that is safe for human use.

10. Factors that Threaten Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Factors that Threaten Biodiversity
The current high rate of extinction is due to the activities of a single species—Homo sapiens.
Humans are changing conditions on Earth faster than new traits can evolve to cope with the new conditions.

11. Threats to Biodiversity: Extinction & Endangered Species
Human activities are altering trophic structure, energy flow, chemical cycling, and natural disturbances.
Humans and other species depend on these processes.
Extinction occurs when a species disappears from all or part of its range.
A species whose population size is declining in a way that places it in danger of extinction is called an endangered species.
As the population of an endangered species declines, the species loses genetic diversity
Human activity can reduce biodiversity by altering habitats, hunting species to extinction, introducing toxic compounds into food webs, and introducing foreign species to new environments.

12. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation

13. 5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity

14. Habitat Alteration and Fragmentation
When land is developed, natural habitats may be destroyed. As habitats disappear, the species that live in those habitats vanish.
In addition, development often splits ecosystems into pieces, a process called habitat fragmentation.
Habitat islands are very different from large, continuous ecosystems.
The smaller the “island,” the fewer species can live there.

15. 5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Fragmentation of Habitat
The separation of an ecosystem into small pieces of land is called habitat fragmentation.
The smaller the parcel of land, the fewer species it can support.
Fragmentation reduces the opportunities for individuals in one area to reproduce with individuals from another area.
Carving the large ecosystem into small parcels increases the number of edges—creating edge effects.

16. Destruction of Habitat
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Habitat Loss
If a habitat is destroyed or disrupted, the native species might have to relocate or they will die.
Destruction of Habitat
The destruction of habitat, such as the clearing of tropical rain forests, has a direct impact on global biodiversity.

17. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Disruption of Habitat
The declining population of one species can affect an entire ecosystem.

18. Pollution
Many forms of pollution can threaten biodiversity, but one of the most serious problems occurs when toxic compounds accumulate in the tissues of organisms
EX: DDT
In biological magnification, concentrations of a harmful substance increase in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web.
affects the entire food web, although top-level carnivores are at highest risk.

19. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Pollution
Pollution and atmospheric changes threaten biodiversity and global stability.
Biological magnification is the increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms as trophic levels increase in a food chain or food web.

20. Introduced Species
Invasive species increase their populations because their new habitat lacks the parasites and predators that control their population “back home.”
Apparently harmless plants and animals that humans transport around the world either accidentally or intentionally.
Introduced into new habitats, these organisms often become invasive species (exotic) that reproduce rapidly.

21. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Overexploitation
Overexploitation, or excessive use, of species that have economic value is a factor increasing the current rate of extinction.
Bison
Passenger pigeons
Ocelot
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Ocelot

22. Acid Precipitation (Acid Rain)
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Acid Precipitation (Acid Rain)
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.
Assessing Water Quality

23. Chemical Transformation Emissions to Atmosphere
The Formation of Acid Rain
Section 6-2
Chemical Transformation
Nitric acid
Sulfuric acid
Condensation
Emissions to Atmosphere
Nitrogen oxides
Sulfur dioxide
Dry Fallout
Precipitation
Acid rain, fog,
snow, and mist
particulates, gases
Industry
Transportation
Ore smelting
Power generation

24. Other organisms in the water suffocate.
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Eutrophication
Eutrophication occurs when substances rich in nitrogen and phosphorus flow into waterways, causing extensive algae growth.
The algae use up the oxygen supply during their rapid growth and after their deaths during the decaying process.
Other organisms in the water suffocate.

25. 5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Introduced Species
Nonnative species that are either intentionally or
unintentionally
transported to a
new habitat are
known as
introduced
species.
Introduced species often reproduce in large numbers because of a lack of predators, and become invasive species in their new habitat.

26. Checkpoint!
Examine the list of natural resources shown below. Then, classify each natural resource as either renewable or nonrenewable.
a. Wood
b. Fossil fuels
c. Aluminum
d. Wool
e. Gold
Describe the impact that the loss of nonrenewable resources would have on the environment.
Natural resources are materials that are supplied by nature. A renewable resource is one that is replaceable.
A nonrenewable resource is one that cannot be replenished by natural processes. Once a nonrenewable resource is used up, it is gone forever.

27. Human Activity: EQ: What types of human activities can affect the biosphere?
Humans take part in local and global food webs and chemical cycles within the biosphere.
Human activities can change the flow of energy in an ecosystem and reduce the ability of ecosystems to recycle nutrients.    
Hunting and gathering
Agriculture
Industry
Urban development.

28. Human Activities Section 6-1 Hunting and gathering Agriculture
that have changed the biosphere include
Hunting and
gathering
Agriculture
Industrial
growth
Urban
development
may have once caused
often relies on the methods of the
have resulted in
Extinctions of
large animals
Green
revolution
High standard
of living
Increased
pollution
which increased
Food supply
Pesticide use
Monoculture
use
Go to Section:

29. Hunting, Gathering & Agriculture
Environmental Benefit:
Dependable supply of food
Increase in nutrition (Green Revolution)
Domestication of animals
Environmental Cost:
Pesticides and fertilizers that contaminate water and soil, thus harming ecosystems and changing biomes forever.
Overgrazing, erosion, deplete water and energy supply

30. Industrial Growth & Urban Development
The Industrial Revolution
Large-scale agriculture
Growth of cities
Higher standard of living
Depleted fossil fuels
Pollute air, water, and soil
Farmland and natural habitats are consumed
Plant and animal populations become depleted

31. What is the goal of conservation biology?
Conservation biology is a goal-oriented science that seeks to counter the biodiversity crisis.

32. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.3 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.

33. Protecting Biodiversity
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.3 Conserving Biodiversity
Protecting Biodiversity
Currently, about seven percent of the world’s land is set aside as some type of reserve.
The United Nations supports a system of Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage sites.

34. The consumption rate of natural resources is not evenly distributed.
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.3 Conserving Biodiversity
Natural Resources
The consumption rate of natural resources is not evenly distributed.

35. Land Resources
Sustainable Use:
contour plowing
leaving the stems and roots of the previous year’s crop in place to help hold the soil
planting a field with rye rather than leaving it unprotected from erosion
Plowing Soil erosion: wearing away of surface soil by water and wind
Farming, overgrazing, and drought Desertification

36. Forest Resources Takes a long time to grow back
Temperate forests of the northeastern United States can be considered renewable
Old-growth forests in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest are considered nonrenewable
Takes a long time to grow back
Contains a rich variety of species
Deforestation erosion, grazing or plowing  permanent changes to local soils and microclimates that prevent the regrowth of trees

37. Forest Resources Sustainable Use:
mature trees can be harvested selectively to promote the growth of younger trees and preserve the forest ecosystem
Foresters plant, manage, harvest, and replant tree farms in places where forests have already been cut.
Tree farms can now be planted and harvested efficiently, making them fully renewable resources.
Tree geneticists are also breeding new, faster-growing tree varieties that produce high-quality wood.

38. Ocean Resources: + produce animal protein.
Overfishing Fish populations declined
Sustainable Use:
limit the catch
Aquaculture (farming of aquatic organisms)
+ produce animal protein.
- can pollute water with fish wastes and can damage local aquatic ecosystems

39. Air Resources: Air Resources:
Burning of fossil fuels  pollute the air and cause smog
Combustion processes release acidic gas  acid rain kill plants and standing water ecosystems
Sustainable Use:
Automobile emission standards
Clean Air Regulations on industries

40. Water Resources: Renewable Resource Sustainable Use:
Total supply of fresh water is limited
Oil spills
Sewage  overgrowth of algae and bacteria; disease
Sustainable Use:
Wetlands purifying water that passes through them.
Water treatment plants

41. Sustainable Agriculture
Biological Pest Control
The use of predators and parasites
to control destructive insects
minimizes pesticide use as well as crop damage
Cover Crops
Legumes, grasses, and other
cover crops recycle soil nutrients, reduce fertilizer need, and prevent weed growth.
Controlled Grazing
By managing graze periods and herd
densities, farmers can improve nutrient cycling, increase the effectiveness of precipitation, and increase the carrying capacity of pastures.
Crop Rotation
Different crops use and
replenish different nutrients.
By rotating crops, the loss
of important plant nutrients
is decreased.
Contour Plowing
Contour plowing reduces
soil erosion from land runoff. On hilly areas, plowing is done
across the hill rather than
straight up and down.

42. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.3 Conserving Biodiversity
Resources that are replaced by natural processes faster than they are consumed are called renewable resources.
Resources that are found on Earth in limited amounts or those that are replaced by natural processes over extremely long periods of time are called nonrenewable resources.

43. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Renewable resources can regenerate and are therefore replaceable.
not necessarily unlimited
Ex: trees, freshwater (can be limited by drought and overuse)
Nonrenewable resources cannot be replenished by natural processes.
fossil fuels
Coal
Oil
Natural gas

44. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation

45. Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.3 Conserving Biodiversity
Restoring Ecosystems
The larger the affected area, the longer it takes for the biological community to recover.

46. The use of living organisms, such as prokaryotes, fungi, or
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.3 Conserving Biodiversity
Bioremediation
The use of living organisms, such as prokaryotes, fungi, or
plants, to detoxify a polluted area is called
bioremediation.

47. Biological Augmentation
Chapter 5
Biodiversity and Conservation
5.3 Conserving Biodiversity
Biological Augmentation
Adding natural predators to a degraded ecosystem is called biological augmentation.
Ladybugs help control aphid populations.
Photo courtesy of Nature’s Control

48. Checkpoint!!
1. List three ways in which other organisms have proved to be a benefit to humans.
2. Compare biodiversity with other natural resources, such as wood and fossil fuels. Do you think biodiversity is a renewable or a nonrenewable resource? Explain your answer.
3. What can be done to preserve the biodiversity of organisms?