Biodiversity part 2

Vocabulary: Endangered species – at serious risk of extinction Threatened species – likely to become endangered soon

4. Endemic species – found in one area and nowhere else in the world 3. Extirpation – disappearance of a species from a particular area, but not globally The tiger has been extirpated from most of its original range (p. 201) 4. Endemic species – found in one area and nowhere else in the world The Coastal Redwood is endemic to central California and Oregon (p.215)

5. Living Planet Index Developed by the WWF and UN Environment Program Summarizes population trends for a set number of species that are closely monitored fro reliable data Tracks species decline Between 1970 and 2005 the index fell by 30% (p.208)

Causes of Biodiversity Loss: Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation This is the primary source of population decline for 85% of mammals and birds. Siberian tigers are isolated in the mountains of their former range, with unsuitable populated areas in between Less then 1% of the original American prairies remain, bird populations there have declined by 90%

2. Invasive species – non-native species whose populations increase rapidly and displace native species Zebra mussels entered the Great Lakes on cargo ships, and have caused billions of dollars in damage (p.210)

3. Overharvesting – harvesting a population faster than it can repopulate including hunting, fishing, and poaching Many fish species are currently in danger of extinction due to overfishing Large animals with low reproduction rates are particularly at risk (tigers, elephants, rhinos)

4. Climate Change has global effects on biodiversity Extreme droughts are causing population declines Melting sea ice has caused the polar bear to become endangered. Less ice means they must swim farther for food, sometimes drowning. (p.211)

White Board Questions What is the living Planet Index and what does it suggest about current biodiversity trends? it tracks species decline, shows a 30% decline since 1970

2. What are 4 major factors affecting biodiversity today 2. What are 4 major factors affecting biodiversity today? Habitat loss, overharvesting, invasive species, climate change 3. Which one currently has the greatest overall effect? Habitat loss

4. How is climate change different from the other factors? It is global

Protecting Biodiversity Legal efforts: 1. US Endangered Species Act: (1973) protects species that are endangered or threatened, and the ecosystems on which they depend. 2. CITES (1975) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species: prohibits the hunting and selling of endangered species or their products

Species Survival Plans: manage, protect and reintroduce to the wild Captive breeding programs are carried out by zoos and botanical gardens 2. Cloning - using a non-endangered species as a surrogate mother These programs increase the population but if their habitat has been lost they can never be released

Habitat Approaches: Biodiversity Hotspots - areas that have a high number of endemic species and are rapidly loosing biodiversity. (p.216) Preserving Biodiversity Hotspots is critical to preserving global biodiversity 2. Wildlife corridors –built to connect fragmented habitats (p.217)