Ecology Notes Part 4 Chapter 5 Biological Diversity and Conservation

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Ecology Notes Part 4 Chapter 5Biological
Diversity and Conservation
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Biological Diversity

• 1.Biodiversity
• Variety of species in a specific area

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A. Importance of Biodiversity

• Interdependence of organisms
• Life depends on life
• Stability
• more species and greater diversity allows for
  better chances of survival
• Importance to people
• Foods
• Industrial products
• Medicines such as painkillers, antibiotics, heart
  medication, anti-depressants, anti-cancer drugs
• Depend on other organisms for oxygen, nutrients
• Clothes, Furniture, Beauty
• Can you think of any other reasons why
  biodiversity is important?

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B. Loss of Biodiversity

• Extinction
• Disappearance of a species when the last of its
  members die
• Passenger Pigeon (1914)
• Endangered Species
• Numbers become so low that extinction is possible
• Humpback Whale
• Threatened Species
• Populations decline rapidly and are likely to
  become endangered
• Grizzly Bear

http//ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/StartTESS.do
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2) Threats to Biodiversity
There are 4 main problems Habitat Loss
Habitat Fragmentation Habitat Degredation
Exotic/Introduced Species

• Habitat Loss
• The largest threat to biodiversity
• Ex. Amazonian rainforest
• Ex. Coral reefs

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2)Threats to Biodiversity

• B. Habitat Fragmentation
• Separation of wilderness areas
• from other wilderness areas

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Figure 52.7a
Forest fragmentation experiment in Brazil
100 ha fragment
1 ha
1 hectare (ha) study plots,forest interior
1 hectare (ha) study plots,forest interior
1 ha
1 ha
10 ha
1 ha
100 ha fragment
10 ha
1 ha studyplot, forestedge
10 ha
Unfragmented
Fragmented
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a) Biotic Effects of Fragmentation

• 1. Increased extinction of local species less
  biodiversity
• 2. Animals that require large areas in which to
  graze can no longer do so
• 3. Likewise large predators can not obtain enough
  to eat in a small spot
• 4. Migration becomes difficult
• 5. Species starve or get wiped out after events
  like extreme fires.
• 6. Geographic isolation leads to genetic
  isolation
• 7. New opportunities for invasions by introduced
  or exotic species

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b) Abiotic Effects of Fragmentation

• 1. Climate can change in the areas
• Think about the temperature in a forest vs. open
  spaces
• 2. Edge Effect The different conditions along
  the boundaries of an ecosystem
• As areas become smaller, the changes at the
  edges start to influence the conditions inside.

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2)Threats to Biodiversity

• C. Habitat degradation
• Damage to a habitat by pollution
• Types Air, Water, and Land

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a) Air Pollution

• Importance can have negative effects on
  organisms, such as breathing problems, genetic
  mutations, as well as irritating the eyes nose.
• Causes Volcanic eruptions, forest fires,
  Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
• burning fossil fuels the 1 cause

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Air Pollution examples

• Acid Precipitation
• Caused by emissions from burning fossil fuels.
  These emissions combine with water vapor in the
  air to form rain, snow, sleet and fog with low pH
  values
• Leeches nutrients from the soil, kills plants,
  lowers pH of water supplies, Responsible for
  killing many trees in US forests
• Also strongly effects lake ecosystems killing
  plants, animals other organisms

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Air Pollution examples

• Ozone layer
• Ozone O3
• Absorbs some of ultraviolet waves striking
  atmosphere natural sunscreen
• CFCs break down ozone
• CFCs used in refridgerators, air conditioners,
  some aerosols and used to make polystyrene
• Spring hole at largest
• Hole allows more UV rays in which causes
  increased exposure to UV radiation, this can lead
  to mutations.

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b) Water Pollution

• Importance degrades aquatic habitats in streams,
  rivers, lakes and oceans thereby strongly
  affecting and even killing aquatic life.
• Causes a) Excess fertilizers, animal wastes
  from farms can be carried into the water. These
  extra nutrients cause algal blooms which can
  further harm aquatic life by removing needed
  oxygen from the water. Additionally, silt from
  eroded soils can clog gills of fishb)
  Detergents, heavy metals, chemicalsc) Abandoned
  drift nets entrap many species

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Water Pollution
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Land Pollution

• The average American produces about 1.8 kg of
  solid waste daily
• Most trash becomes part of landfills
• Possible contamination of ground
• water supplies
• 3. Pesticides
• DDT passed through
• food chains/webs.

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Exotic / Introduced Species

• Species that are not native to a particular area
• People generally introduce a new species into an
  ecosystem
• Can cause problems for native species

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Figure 52.5, 2
Introduced species
When species that are not native are introduced
to an area, a number of different problems can
occur.
Competition In NorthAmerican marshes,
purpleloosestrife is crowding outnative
organisms.
Predation The brown treesnake has extinguished
dozens of bird species onthe island of Guam.
Disease An introducedfungus has virtually
wiped out the American chestnut.
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Conservation of BiodiversityAre you part of the
solution or part of the problem?
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Conservation Biology

• Study and implementation of methods to protect
  biodiversity
• Natural resources
• Parts of the environment that are useful or
  necessary for living organisms
• Legal protection of species
• US Endangered Species Act 1973
• http//endangered.fws.gov/esa.html
• Illegal to harm endangered or threatened species

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Conservation Biology

• 3. Preserving habitats
• a. Natural Preserves - examples
• Yellowstone National Park
• Big Cypress National Preserve
• Crater Lake National Park
• b. Habitat Corridors
• Protected strips of land that allow the migration
  of organisms from one wilderness area to another
• Allows populations to be connected to each other
• Why is this important?

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Conservation Biology

• 4. Working with people
• Rangers educate and protect
• The try to teach Sustainable use
• Enable people to use natural resources in way
  that will benefit them and maintain the ecosystem

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5. Reintroduction and Species Preservation
Programs

• Release organisms into an area where the
  species once lived

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Conservation Biology

• 6. Captivity
• Organism that is held by people
• How is captivity a helpful form of
• Conservation Biology?

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Conservation Biology

• 7. Protecting Plant Species
• A. Protect environment
• B. Cool seeds and store for long periods of time
  in a seed bank

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50 ways to save the planet

• Ask yourself Are you part of the problem, or
  part of the solution.
• Please find at least 50 ways you can help save
  the planet ?
• Due the day of the ecology unit exam.

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50 ways to save the planet

• Options
• A. 50 WAYS Poster
• no bigger than 11 x 17
• no smaller than 81/2 x 11
• B. Pick one way to help save the planet and do a
  video PSA
• C. Make a VIDEO or POWERPOINT ON YOUR 50 WAYS

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50 ways to save the planet

• Submit all electronic products
• via email to
• lfutch_at_amphi.com
• or
• turn in as a
• CD or DVD