Environmental Science Chapter 10 Biodiversity Notes #2

Biodiversity - Protecting Public Policy  Endangered Species – such low numbers remain, that extinction is expected Ex. Florida Panther (loss of habitat)  Threatened Species – dropping numbers, likely to be endangered if they are not protected Ex. Northern Spotted Owls  Most in danger those with small population Special habitat needs/ migration needs

Biodiversity - Protecting Endangered Species Act (1973) 1. List the Endangered and Threatened Species 2. May not catch or kill the listed species 3. Gov’t can’t do any project that would endanger the listed species 4. The gov’t must come up with recovery plans for each of the endangered and threatened species The US has the strongest laws that protect endangered species

Biodiversity - Protecting Preventing Extinction:  IUCN – International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources  200 governments  700 private organizations Prints a list of worldwide endangered and threatened species, along with methods of effective ways of helping preserve those species  CITES – banned ivory Saved African Elephants from poaching Why is that more effective than limiting ivory sales?

Biodiversity - Protecting Saving Individual Species  Captive Breeding Programs Zoos, botanical gardens, and wildlife parks are ideal for this Ex. California Condor Ex. Gray Wolf  Botanical Gardens  Germ-Plasm Banks Store genetic material or seeds Germ plasm = content of plant seeds Importance of genetic diversity

Biodiversity Saving Ecosystems  Puts focus on whole ecosystem rather than Individual species  Why? Its saving all the species in one place, not just those that are on the list (which helps those on the endangered list and the unknowns) The health of the biosphere depends on the health of individual ecosystems

Future of Biodiversity Issues with protecting Biodiversity  Developers v. Environmentalists Why is there friction between these two groups?  Short term v. long term resources  Job security v. biodiversity  Balancing human needs v. other species Ex. Developed country v. developing country The developing country destroys land/habitat for survival, hunting for food