1. Biodiversity Section 1: What is Biodiversity?
Section 2: Biodiversity at risk
Section 3: The Future of Biodiversity

2. What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity: number of different species in a
given area.
involves cataloging all species on Earth.
estimated at about 1.7 million “known” different species.
actual numbers may be closer to 10 million.

3. Levels of Diversity
Species: number of different species in an area (biodiversity).
Ecosystem: variety of habitats, communities, ecological processes.
Genetic: different genes within all members of a population.

4. Benefits of Biodiversity
1. Species are connected
to ecosystems.
* diversity ensures healthy ecosystems; balanced energy and nutrient cycles.
**keystone species: critical to the health of an ecosystem.
ex. sea otter and kelp beds.

5. Benefits of Biodiversity (cont’d)
2. Species are basis of
genetic variation.
* genetic diversity increases survival in the face of environ-
mental changes.
** decreased members of species, reduces genetic variety; increases risk of genetic disorders.

6. Benefits of Biodiversity (cont’d)
3. Species represent a source of useful chemical and industrial materials.

7. Benefits of Biodiversity (cont’d)
4. Species should be preserved for ethical, religious, or aesthetic reasons.

8. Section 3: The Future of Biodiversity
Slowing species loss
Involves new approaches
to conservation:
Captive-breeding programs- breeding species in captivity,
later releasing them into the wild.

9. The Future of Biodiverity (cont’d)
Preserving genetic material- germ plasm (genetic material within reproductive cells) is stored in banks for future research or species-recovery.

10. The Future of Biodiversity (con’t)
Zoos, aquariums, parks and gardens- may be able to preserve a fraction of the world’s endangered species.
**Bottom line: saving a few individuals does not preserve a species.

11. The Future of Biodiversity (cont’d)
The most effective
way to save a species is
to protect its habitat:
Habitat conservation focuses on bio-hotspots.
Research is needed to determine how big a reserve is to save the species.

12. Legal Protection for Species
Regulations to prevent
extinction of species
includes:
Endangered Species Act- U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFW) currently estimates 1272 species of plants and animals are endangered or threatened.

13. Legal Protection for Species
International Union for
Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources
(IUCN):
CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
Earth Summet- established Biodiversity Treaty

14. Private Conservation Efforts
World Wildlife Fund- encourages wildlife protection through sustainable practices
Nature Conservancy- purchases millions of hectares of habitat worldwide