1. Ch Biodiversity

2. Sect. 1 Objectives
Describe the diversity of species types on Earth, relating the difference between known numbers and estimated numbers.
List and describe three levels of biodiversity.
Explain four ways in which biodiversity is important to ecosystems and humans.
Analyze the potential value of a single species.

3. Biodiversity(biological diversity) – the number of different species in a given area
Plants
Trees, shrubs, flowers, weeds
Animals
Mammals, insects, fish, crustaceans
Fungus
Insects
Bacteria
Etc.

4. How many are there? 1.7 million species are known
Most are insects
10 million species are estimated to exist

5. Levels of Diversity
Species diversity – number of different species in an area
Ecosystem diversity – variety of habitats, communities
Genetic diversity –
number of genes
contained in all
members of a
population

6. What makes everything different?
Genes (DNA) – code for different traits or characteristics that can be inherited
Everyone's is different (unless you are an identical twin)

7. Why is Biodiversity Important?
All species are dependant on other species and are depended on by others
Everyone fits in the food web/chain
If you remove
one link, all the
others will fall

8. – one species that many others depend on
Keystone species – a species that is critical to the functioning of the ecosystem because it affects the survival and abundance of many other species
– one species that many others depend on

9. Ex: Sea Otters 1. Otters killed for fur 2. Sea urchin population grew
3. Kelp disapeared

10. Ex: Prairie dogs
Their burrows act as homes to other creatures, including burrowing owls, badgers, rabbits, black-footed ferrets, snakes, salamanders, and insects.Their burrowing activity works to loosen and churn up the soil, increasing its ability to sustain plant life.Their foraging and feeding practices enable a more nutritious, diverse and nitrogen-rich mixture of grasses and forbs (broad-leafed vegetation) to grow.The enriched vegetation attracts an amazing array of wildlife who graze in their colonies.Black-tailed prairie dogs play an integral role in the prairie food chain; they are a critical food source for such animals as the endangered black-footed ferret, swift fox, coyotes, hawks, eagles and badgers.

11. Biodiversity and Survival
More genetic diversity means the population has a greater chance of surviving environmental changes. (ie: global warming)
Ex: Hemophilia

12. Biodiversity and Humans
More organisms the more things for us
Food
Antibiotics
Clothing
Shelter
Chemicals

13. Ecotourism – tourism that supports the conservation and sustainable development of ecologically unique areas
Has become very popular lately

14. Sect. 2 Objectives
Define and give examples of endangered and threatened species.
Describe several ways that species are being threatened with extinction globally.
Explain which types of threats are having the largest impact on biodiversity.
List areas of the world that have high levels of biodiversity and many threats to species.
Compare the amount of biodiversity in the United States to that of the rest of the world.

15. All species are considered one of these: depending on their natural numbers
Extant
Threatened
Endangered
Extinct

16. Extant – living animals

17. Threatened – still abundant in its natural habitat but is likely to become endangered because of their declining numbers
                                     

18. Endangered – so few individuals that they are likely to become extinct

19. Extinct – no known individuals still alive

20. Species most at risk
Animals that are more likely to become extinct are those that:
Have small populations
Migrate
Need large or special habitats
Are exploited by humans
Currently humans are the greatest cause of extinctions!

22. Species can be threatened by
Humans
Hunting
Loss of habitat (75% of current extinctions)
Deforestation
Damming
Burning
Growing cities
Pollution
Poaching
Invasive species
Natural Causes
Interbreeding
Natural Disaster
Disease

23. Exotic – not native to an area
When brought to a new area exotic species can cause the extinction of other species they out compete
Ex: Fire Ant
Horny Toads (Desert Horned Lizard) eat ants
Fire ants (exotic species) kill horny toads.
Horny toads are now threatened!

24. Generalist Species
Species with a broad niche, can survive in many different places
HUMANS
Often are invasive species

25. Specialist Species
Species with a narrow niche. Only live in a small range of environmental factors
Fewer if these because they can become extinct more readily

26. Critical Areas
Tropical Rain Forests – over half the worlds species live here
Most species have not been named, yet
But, lots of these are disappearing
Due to habitat destruction by humans!
Coral Reefs and Coastal areas
Islands – why?

27. Biodiversity Hotspots – high number of endemic species but are threatened by humans

28. Madagascar Biodiversity Hotspot
Endemic Species
80% of plants
91% of reptiles
100% of lemurs (10% of worlds primate population)
Only 18% of the original forests remain!!

29. Sect. 3 Objectives
List and describe four types of efforts to save individual species.
Explain the advantages of protecting entire ecosystems rather than individual species.
Describe the main provisions of the Endangered Species Act.
Discuss ways in which efforts to protect endangered species can lead to controversy.
Describe three examples of worldwide cooperative efforts to prevent extinctions.

30. Ch. 10 Ecolog
Read in your book, in Sect. 3, about the following ways to save species. In your Ecolog write a brief description of each!
Captive-Breeding programs
Preserving Genetic Material
Zoos, etc.
Conservation Strategies
Write a paragraph about why it is important to save species and the biodiversity around the world.