1. Intro

2. Introduction
Puffins are creatures that live in northern and cold environments
They are birds that have a fairly narrow niche
They are currently endangered
Their numbers were dropping fast

3. Introduction
Puffins have low numbers because they were previously hunted for their eggs, meat and feathers
They were a valuable resource, but they were over hunted almost to extinction

4. Introduction
Once their numbers were low, much of their territory was over taken by predators
These predators pushed the puffins almost to extinction

5. Introduction
Without the puffins, the islands had a large number of predatory gulls and dramatically dipped in biodiversity
Species on the island started to disappear
These missing species adversely affected the island

6. Introduction
In 1973, a biologist named Steven Kress started “Project Puffin”
His conservation group removed predators and reintroduced puffins one specific island
They started by introducing four pairs of puffins

7. Introduction Every year they introduced more puffins to the island
In 2005 they have over 76 pairs of mating puffins on the island
These puffins helped return the island to their natural state

8. Video

9. Introduction to Biodiversity

10. Biological Wealth
Even if we are a person who lives in a major city, we need this biological wealth
We need interacting microbes to keep our soil fertile
We need diverse plant life to maintain our oxygen levels
We need diverse animal life to maintain our food supply

11. Two Kinds of Value
The Passenger Pigeon was a species that lived in the united states
It used to form flocks that were so large they would darken the sky in many areas of the country
It was the most numerous bird in the United States

12. Two Kinds of Value
In the 19th century humans hunted them to extinction
They were reduced from millions to hundreds in a matter of a few years
Finally they were only found in zoos

13. Two Kinds of Value

14. Two Kinds of Value
Species hold value to both humans and the environment
There are two main types of value
Instrumental Value
Intrinsic Value

15. Instrumental Value
Many organisms have a positive affect on the world around them
They are part of the food web and healthy ecosystems
If an organism has a benefit to another form of species it is said to have instrumental value

16. Instrumental Value
Many species of plants and animals have instrumental value to humans
This is because humans tend to use or eat parts of an organism
Without these organisms there would be no ecosystem capital

17. Intrinsic Value
Sometimes organisms have little or no value to other organisms than themselves
These organisms and organisms that have value to others all possess value to themselves
An organism that has value for its own sake is said to have intrinsic value

18. Intrinsic Value
While some organisms have a very small instrumental value, they all have an intrinsic value
This intrinsic value is the root of many debates in animal rights
With animals rights people often debate the intrinsic value of organisms

19. Biodiversity
Remember biodiversity is defined as the amount of different species that live in a particular ecosystem
This can be helped or hurt by the actions of humans
It is important to understand how we can affect biodiversity

20. Biodiversity
Several species that are watched by the government are open for hunting during the year
These species are closely watched and regulated by the government
Their numbers are hunted at a sustainable level
Hunters open up new niches for other organisms in an environment

21. Biodiversity
Hunting often does more good than harm for the environment
Animals are hunted at a sustainable level
Biodiversity is increased in an ecosystem
Many hunters are members of groups that try to preserve areas of land so they may hunt on them

22. Biodiversity
There are several animals that are well suited to suburban life
These animals are protected from hunters because they live in close proximity to humans
This means that their numbers have increased as suburbs have become more abundant in recent years

23. Biodiversity
Without natural predators in the suburbs these animals often grow to large populations
They start to take over the niches of other organisms and reduce biodiversity
Their large populations causes them to have interactions with humans
Their interactions cause hundreds of millions of dollars of damage a year

24. Biodiversity
There are some very serious problems that are involved with backyard animals
They have become roadway hazards
Many animals are becoming a nuisance
Without predators they are becoming overpopulated

25. Biodiversity Dangerous animal encounters with humans are on the rise
Disease has increased
Animal feces are starting to pile up

26. Backyard Animals

27. Biodiversity

28. Value of Wild Species
New wild species are often helpful because there is a real need for products from the ecosystem
Many new products can be synthesized, grown and developed from new species
Medicines, new crops, new genes, new pesticides and more have yet to be discovered

29. Value of Wild Species Earlier we defined ecosystem capital
Ecosystem capital is the sum of the wealth for human enterprises provided by natural systems
This is a multi million dollar industry in the world

30. Value of Wild Species
Many of the aspects of ecosystem capital require a wide and diverse range of species
This includes plants, animals and microbes
These species are wildly valuable to the management of natural systems

31. Value of Wild Species
Currently we have identified and described around 2 million species on the planet
That includes plants, animals, fungi and microscopic organisms
Scientists estimate that here are between 5 and 30 million species on the planet

32. Value of Wild Species
These species form the wealth that we harvest from natural systems
Biological wealth is the ecosystem capital that sustains human activity and economy in the world