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Published byJohn Cunningham Modified over 9 years ago
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Biodiversity
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A Measure of how many species are in an area
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Why is Biodivers ity Important ?
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Why Maintain Diversity? Ecosystem Services!
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To purify our air and water (phytoplankton)
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To reduce floods (vegetation)
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To generate fertile soil…
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To pollinate…
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To cycle nutrients…
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To protect from erosion…
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To control agricultural pests!
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Why We Need Species? Economic Goods!
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Why We Need Species? Sources of Food
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Aspirin Codeine Why We Need Species? Sources of Medicines
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Provide us with recreation Ecotourism: giving $$ to a country to view their environment. Why We Need Species?
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Contain genetic info that tells the story of Earth! Why We Need Species?
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# of Species? 1.3 million catalogued ≈ 8.7 ± 1.3 mill –Undiscovered: insects, fungi, bacteria
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Threatened Species Species has few individuals and is near becoming endangered.
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Gelada Baboon
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Grizzly Bear
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Northern Spotted Owl Threatened-US ESA Habitat loss in Canada and No. US! Need old growth forest, top predators, and are specialists.
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Species has fewer individuals; at risk of becoming extinct. Endangered Species
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White Abalone
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Barred Bandicoot
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Case Study: California Condor Scavenger bird; eats dead carcasses. 2005 = 273 individs. Endangered: low birth rates, late sexual maturity, poaching, lead poisoning, DDT, and power lines. X Ray shows bottle caps and metal shards
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of E. S. Intrinsic Characteristics of E. S. Extremely localized/require LARGE territory Low birth rates Island species/extreme specialists Low adaptability Late sexual maturity
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Species no longer exists on Earth. 1,138 documented today since 1600 Extinct Species
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Tecopa Pupfish, CA
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Yangtze River Dolphin AKA Bajii Last sighting 2004 Causes: heavy transportation on river, overfishing, dams, collision w/ boats, H 2 O pollution.
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Case Study: Passenger Pigeon 200 yrs ago 3-5 billion –world’s most abundant bird –1 flock =10 mi wide, 100 mi long) Killed for its meat Martha died in 1914.
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Types of Extinctions Background extinction: 3- 30 species die/yr Caused by natural selection. Mass Extinction: 1000’s spcs die/yr Caused by dramatic env. change. 5-6 so far Humans causing 6 th ??
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Too many people! Weak/no laws High consumption rates Root Causes of Extinction
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Humans Cause Extinction Habitat Loss/ Habitat Fragmentation
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Humans Cause Extinction Hunting/Poaching
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Humans Cause Extinction Overfishing
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Humans Cause Extinction Capture and Sale of Exotics 2.5 million birds caught illegally / yr 1 bird in store = 10 deaths in transit
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Humans Cause Extinction Global Warming
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Introduction of Non-Native Species – species that does not belong in area. Humans Cause Extinction Cane Toad Zebra Mussels in Great Lakes Iceplant at Beach
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Non-Natives/Exotics Cause problems w/ native species because: 1.Can usually outcompete natives 2.Eat same food resources as natives 3.No natural predators in new area. 4.Reproduce w/ no limits on growth. Amer. Bullfrog in CA Crayfish in CA
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