Biodiversity Possibly as few as 3200 tigers remain in wild-WWF

Biodiversity Number of different species in an area Oceans may contain 10 million new species. What types of species live in Utah?

Value of Biodiversity Economic-food, medicine, clothing, ecotourism Ecological-all organisms are connected to others ◦ Keystone species- influences the survival of many other species, like sea star and sea otter

Factors that affect biodiversity Area- large=more species Climate- More species closer to equator ◦ Tropical rainforests have 7% of land area, but more than half of species Niche diversity- Special job in the environment Gene pool diversity- Diverse gene pool can adapt to environment changes

Extinction Disappearance of all members of a species from Earth Dinosaurs Dodo birds Mammoths Passenger pigeons

Endangered Species In danger of becoming extinct in near future Giant panda Tiger Black-footed ferret Right whale Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle

Threatened Species Could become endangered in near future Bald eagle Lynx Prairie dog Bog turtle

Causes of Extinction Habitat destruction Poaching Pollution Exotic Species

Conservation Captive breeding Laws and treaties Habitat preservation

How scientists study the environment Sociologist- studies the environment’s society and its interaction with the environment Environmentalist- studies environmental impact on the ecosystem Cartographer- maps the environment Zoologist- studies animals Meteorologist- studies the weather Botanist- studies the plants