1. Biodiversity: Who cares?

2. A B Which do you like better?

3. What do you think biodiversity means?

4. Bio = Bio diversity What does “ Bio ” mean?

5. Diversity = Variety What does “ Diversity ” mean? http://youtu.be/iThpkXWVeqE

6. Why is biodiversity important? Human beings are dependent for their health, well-being and enjoyment of life on basic biological systems and processes. People get food and many medicines and industrial products from the wild and domesticated components of biological diversity.

7. 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.

8. Threats to biodiversity Habitat Fragmentation Pollution Species Introductions Global Climate Change Exploitation

9. Habitat Fragmentation When habitats are destroyed or partially destroyed –Ex. Cutting down trees in forests to develop the land

10. Pollution When humans place synthetic materials into the ecosystem carelessly Ex- throwing a plastic bag into to lake or trash onto the ground

11. Species Introductions Bringing a new species into an already established ecosystem. This could result in a predator-prey relationship –Ex: there was an Asian fish introduced into Lakes in Chicago, this fish eats a tremendous amount of food, causing a depletion of resources available to other fish

12. Global Climate Change When a change in temperature results in the destruction of habitats ex- ice caps are melting due to global warming, causing polar bears to lose their environments (they are now endangered species)

13. Exploitation The over-usage of a species for unnecessary needs –Ex- fur coats require hundreds of animals to be killed for a profit –Ex- Elephants are currently endangered due to exploitation for their tusks made out of Ivory

14. Threats to Biodiversity Extinction and population reductions –Pollution –Climate change –Invasive species 16 June 2010Biodiversity.ppt14

15. Threats to Biodiversity Extinction is a process that happens when an entire species permanently disappears from the biosphere due to the death of the species ’ last member. Endangered Species- any species who's numbers become so low that extinction is possible

16. Threats to Biodiversity Threatened species – when a population of a species is likely to become endangered. Threatened Endangered EXTINCT